- smelling odors that are not actually present.
There are several other varieties of hallucinations that can accompany episodes of sleep paralysis in addition to visual and auditory hallucinations. This can make sleep paralysis even more horrifying if you have never experienced it before and do not know what you are experiencing.
Occasionally, sleep paralysis sufferers will also experience the sensation of being caressed, pressed, or stroked. These physical hallucinations are merely another brain byproduct.
This is not the end of the senses that could be deceived into perceiving (or sensing) something that is not present.
During the duration of a sleep paralysis episode, phantom odors are experienced by a large percentage of those who report the condition. What type of odor they describe will vary widely, but it will typically be extremely unpleasant: Among them have been smoke, burnt food, and burning hair, as well as fragrances and other sweeter aromas.
