I get what you mean… as long as it’s from a distance or a long time after it sprayed. I was recently in the vicinity of a skunk that had just sprayed (not at me, but happened maybe 50 feet away max), and holy shit it’s so, so much worse up close. I had an N95 on and had to retreat because the stench was unbearable. Like burning tires and acid and it’s SO overwhelming that you can fucking taste it.
0/10, would avoid if possible. I still find the smell from a good distance like a 6/10 though.
I got excited the first day I saw a case of chocolate agar come in. Then I read what it was.... 😔
Now, some of the labs where they compounded, they had all the flavor extracts, so doing inventory on that stuff I'd take my time and take big whiffs of fake banana and grape candy flavor. Way better than the VOCs and weird metals I normally got to smell in most of the lab and chem store areas.
"The Battle of Winter and Spring," ASM's 2018 Agar Art Contest first-place winner, by Ana Tsitsishvili, Undergraduate Student, Agricultural University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
The liquid growth medium my college used smelled so, so much like a mix between chicken noodle and miso soup it was unnerving. Mostly because of how good it smelled. Lucky microbes in their soup bath.
Fresh cut hay reminds me of helping my grandparents. So you’re not alone with the farm/ rural smells. Alfalfa is a sweet, neutral scent - I’d argue it’s better than some of the perfumes and cologne out there that just smother me with their smell
It's the only thing I could have and describe as, "baby vomit as a prevailing odour, with hints of Stilton, chocolate, and a lot of pinesol in the background" as something positive.
When the toilet has been cleaned with a lot of chlorine/bleach, and I pee in it, it smells nice.
It's probably not good for me, but I can't help but take a few sniffs when that happens.
Potassium cyanide. We used a very dilute form of it as a laboratory reagent (a safer alternative to its cousin hydrogen cyanide, in case that’s what you’re thinking of). It just smells clean - sort of like a candle that’s labeled as “fresh laundry” or “spring breeze”.
Xylene. I think it's maybe used as a paint thinner in some cases? I work in a lab where it is used daily in fairly large quantities (although not for thinning paint). I love it. Highly toxic tho lol.
The local species of squash bugs. They're a lot like stink bugs, when you disturb them they emit what's commonly described as "a foul odor". Except that foul odor in this species smells like a super concentrated artificial tutti-frutti bubble gum scent to me. It's overpowering to the point that it almost burns your nostrils at first, but it fades super quickly and doesn't linger like regular awful stink bug smell.
Diesel - not sniffing the container, but smelling burnt diesel in the air. Also the slightly putrid smell of a creek after it rains and all the gunk has been moved around and the sun has been blasting it and you can almost chew on the odour, it's that thick. I rather like that.
Magic The Gathering cards, pretty sure it's some part of the lamination process.
Under the house smell, earthy aroma that has stagnated for a few years.
Moss covered valleys and crevices, basically where moss is so concentrated that it just jumps into the nose.
Gasoline
Steam Deck fan smell
Oh so you're the reason they put out that health and safety statement.
No, Valve went out of their way to make it smell like electric strawberry.
Beat me to it
Wtf I thought I was alone
Gasoline.
Gasoline and motor oil.
the sharpie pro marker
Lapsang Souchong tea, most people seem to hate it. Also plastic glue
Secondhand cigarette smoke (but not too strong) even though i've never smoked
Skunk
This is mine too. Smells like weed to me.
I get what you mean… as long as it’s from a distance or a long time after it sprayed. I was recently in the vicinity of a skunk that had just sprayed (not at me, but happened maybe 50 feet away max), and holy shit it’s so, so much worse up close. I had an N95 on and had to retreat because the stench was unbearable. Like burning tires and acid and it’s SO overwhelming that you can fucking taste it.
0/10, would avoid if possible. I still find the smell from a good distance like a 6/10 though.
Microbiology labs. It’s this weird microbe-on-agar musk.
I got excited the first day I saw a case of chocolate agar come in. Then I read what it was.... 😔
Now, some of the labs where they compounded, they had all the flavor extracts, so doing inventory on that stuff I'd take my time and take big whiffs of fake banana and grape candy flavor. Way better than the VOCs and weird metals I normally got to smell in most of the lab and chem store areas.
Wow, cool! I had never thought about it, but it certainly makes sense you'd need blood in those dishes to get certain things to grow.
There are a ton of them, though I've only seen about a half dozen of these. Wikipedia has a nice list of what they are and what they're used for.
There are even contests for agar art.
"The Battle of Winter and Spring," ASM's 2018 Agar Art Contest first-place winner, by Ana Tsitsishvili, Undergraduate Student, Agricultural University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
ELI5 video how it's made
That's a good one, I like it too!
The liquid growth medium my college used smelled so, so much like a mix between chicken noodle and miso soup it was unnerving. Mostly because of how good it smelled. Lucky microbes in their soup bath.
Ick! Glad you like it because I don't! I work adjacent to a microbiology lab and I hate when the smells end up wafting in!
It's pharmacies for me. Not sure how to explain it, but it's smell I really like for some reason
My man's sweaty taint.
Okay, we can all go home now, we found the winner
Lol, it's actually a pretty common thing among gay men!
Is that anecdotal, or are there surveys to back that up? Because that would be amusing.
I missread that as mom
The first time a heater turns on for the year
Tbh the smell gives me a tiny bit of anxiety because I'm always hoping that a fire doesn't break out lol
I smelled that 🥰
There’s a distinct musty basement smell. Not like…moldy and swampy, but just a little damp.
Alfalfa. I even have scents made after it, which has led many to suggest I'm taking my role as a rural woman too far.
Fresh cut hay reminds me of helping my grandparents. So you’re not alone with the farm/ rural smells. Alfalfa is a sweet, neutral scent - I’d argue it’s better than some of the perfumes and cologne out there that just smother me with their smell
My dog, including her paws
omg me too!! i have a dachshund, hbu
I have no idea, apparently she was found as a street puppy. She is not very big, but bigger than a dachshund
Crackers
Rubber cement
I don't think I'd feel the same way now, but kid me used to think it smelled interesting. Oddly pleasant even.
Cannabis.
It's the only thing I could have and describe as, "baby vomit as a prevailing odour, with hints of Stilton, chocolate, and a lot of pinesol in the background" as something positive.
Bakelite, especially fresh sawed or sanded.
Delicious cancer.
Cigarette smoke drifting on cold air
Can't really put it into cohesive words. But the smell of something like a basement/garage/stairwell, a bit damp/moist. Smells like petrichor
Cocaine
Freshly poured asphalt.
fresh gear grease is kinda nice. got a bit of a black peppery scent that's quite pleasant
Gasoline exhaust, but not diesel. Maybe the engine should be old as well....
Me.
I had a partner who smelled weirdly almost indistinguishable from me. Now my own scent reminds me of them.
A long time ago I dated a girl whose natural scent was this subtle heady musk.
Oh, but it was intoxicating. 30 years and I can still remember it.
I like to smell people.
Creosote, not the plant but the stuff they treat wood with. Smells like piers and amusement parks. Love it. Carcinogenic.
I once read an article about how Valve is discouraging customers from smelling the exhaust of the Steam Deck.
Intrigued and willing to risk a couple brain cells for science, can confirm, it does smell nice.
When the toilet has been cleaned with a lot of chlorine/bleach, and I pee in it, it smells nice. It's probably not good for me, but I can't help but take a few sniffs when that happens.
It's definitely unhealthy, but perhaps you enjoy it in trace amounts? Bleach combined with the ammonia present in urine creates chlorine gas.
MMmmm chloriiiine.....
Those giant metal permanent markers and yo mom's feet.
Potassium cyanide. We used a very dilute form of it as a laboratory reagent (a safer alternative to its cousin hydrogen cyanide, in case that’s what you’re thinking of). It just smells clean - sort of like a candle that’s labeled as “fresh laundry” or “spring breeze”.
A newly opened package of those survey marker flags you stick in ground. It smells like those old vinyl pool floaties dialed up to 11.
Leather oil + dry horse poop
Sweaty gym dude smell that’s kinda like hot dogs and beer and feet combined. Love it
Xylene. I think it's maybe used as a paint thinner in some cases? I work in a lab where it is used daily in fairly large quantities (although not for thinning paint). I love it. Highly toxic tho lol.
As a vegetarian: the smell of a quality sausage being fried.
Oil, turpentine, Coleman Campfire Fuel
The local species of squash bugs. They're a lot like stink bugs, when you disturb them they emit what's commonly described as "a foul odor". Except that foul odor in this species smells like a super concentrated artificial tutti-frutti bubble gum scent to me. It's overpowering to the point that it almost burns your nostrils at first, but it fades super quickly and doesn't linger like regular awful stink bug smell.
Ether
Chloroform
Nicotine, and antifreeze..
Old books/old libraries
Sweat
Diesel - not sniffing the container, but smelling burnt diesel in the air. Also the slightly putrid smell of a creek after it rains and all the gunk has been moved around and the sun has been blasting it and you can almost chew on the odour, it's that thick. I rather like that.
Magic The Gathering cards, pretty sure it's some part of the lamination process. Under the house smell, earthy aroma that has stagnated for a few years. Moss covered valleys and crevices, basically where moss is so concentrated that it just jumps into the nose.