What unique smell do you know?

[FAST6191]

As the topic title says. What is a smell you figure few others reading will know and do you have any interesting stories there? Gross, pleasant, rare, feats you can do because of it*, did you do some science to discover it... all good for additional anecdotes here. If you are one of the many anosmia sufferers around here then a world of no smell is also interesting -- many will have shut their eyes/been somewhere completely dark, or worn headphones that block out all sound (possibly even done an anechoic chamber) but no smell is a harder one to pull off.

*having now collected books for several years I find I can tell the smell of books going back to the 1700s and periods, presses/locations (US/Canada, UK, Czech republic, France, Germany all being quite different in 1800s through early 1900s) and things besides. I don't know how well I would do in a blind test, and it works best in combination when I can see the paper as well, but I have opened many books now and been spot on with the age before I make it to the relevant page in it. I find the worst is probably late 80s and early 90s general interest books. It was never great at the time but seems now the binders, inks and whatever was used to treat the pages have an even more unpleasant chemical smell.

 

[DinohScene]

The smell of dank bud.

 

[Vila_]

the smell of when I know I've read this question already on reddit...

 

[grey72]

Your mom's

 

[FAST6191]

the smell of when I know I've read this question already on reddit...

I might have borrowed topics from elsewhere (though never bothered with that site) but this was all me. Was looking at a bottle of squash and wondering what the poor bastard that gets to sort that in 6 months when it lands in Vietnam or something was going to smell (I have left some around in the past), hence this topic.

Your mom's

Do you know where she is? Some people are looking for her.

 

[slaphappygamer]

The smell of wet vasoline. Vasoline has been wet, for months, without ventilation and is very stinky.

 

[grey72]

Do you know where she is? Some people are looking for her.

In my kitchen

 

[Little_Anonymous_Hacker]

A clean, freshly opened diaper.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

The smell of sizzling electronics. Had a power strip short internally a few weeks ago and it created a smell I have never smelled before. Chemically and sort of peppery or spicy. Didn't smell like burning or melting plastic (it didn't get far enough.) The smell is hard to describe with words but it's such a distinct smell, once you know it you'll easily recognize it. I thought it might be ozone (as high voltage arcing creates ozone but I guess 220V might not be enough) but the smell stayed on the power strip and was still there a couple days later. Then I threw it away.

Also. This thread seems like it could go downhill very quickly...

 

[phatphatz]

the smell of alian flesh.

 

[subcon959]

Wonder how many people these days are familiar with the smell of the wax for stamp sealing.

 

[Deleted member 545975]

A uplifting, spirit boosting smell, I used to frequent feeling as a kid, gazing at the night sky, and at times, clouds in, and otherwise, as trees near the place I live in, at that night time. I consider that mind state allows different receptability to smells, and otherwise I interpret as information transmitted via air.

 

[JuanMena]

When I was in kindergarten and 1st grade, both of my teachers used a perfume called Amore.
And I would get my hair done with Caprice.

I can't help but mix those two aromas when I remember those days.

PS: My first grade teacher looked exactly like Sean Young. Add round crystal glasses, a finer cheekbone and plastic wraps on both arms.

 

[Conn0r]

A uplifting, spirit boosting smell, I used to frequent feeling as a kid, gazing at the night sky, and at times, clouds in, and otherwise, as trees near the place I live in, at that night time. I consider that mind state allows different receptability to smells, and otherwise I interpret as information transmitted via air.

Holy shit. How very wordy yet nondescript.

 

[GeekyGuy]

Yeast. At least, that's what I think it is. To be honest, since my brain biopsy last year, I've been hyper-sensitive to smells and tastes, especially sweet smells. But anytime I walk by the bread aisle in my store, it's overwhelming and disgusting. I'm pretty sure it's the yeast from the cheap breads. I use Ezekiel bread here at home, and I don't sense any of that nasty smell when I'm toasting/eating it. I also don't smell it when I'm in the bakery. So, I think it's something to do with the cheaper breads.

 

[Alexander1970]

What unique smell do you know?​

Really classic UHU (fluid) Glue from the 70s.From my Childhood/School.
Not that Stuff from today.

And,NO,I am not a "Glue Sniffer".....I think.

 

[Mollycule]

DMT freebase (smoked)

Can detect that smell anywhere!

 

[AsWeGoAlong14]

Not sure what is actually is, but I just know it as "red sand". Very distinct smell, and I'm not really sure where it comes from? I can always smell it near cars, and only in the summer.
When I ask my family if they can smell it, they think I'm going insane.

 

[AncientBoi]

Old man's smell, hands down! yuck

[sniffs the air, and me] oops, it's me. never mind guys. [goes n hides]

 

[Anxiety_timmy]

The smell of old cabinets that still smell like they did almost 12 years ago. Gives me an acid trip every time.