r/AskReddit Jan 28 '23

What’s a weird smell you love and why?

[removed] — view removed post

25 Upvotes

59

u/Familiar_Kiwi8480 Jan 28 '23

The smell of gravel after it just started raining. Especially if its during the summer and the gravel is warm.. I don't know what it is about the smell of wet rock, but its just amazing.

15

u/Isa_in_Aurebesh Jan 28 '23

Petrichor!

5

u/eQuantix Jan 28 '23

One of the best words ever

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3

u/Familiar_Kiwi8480 Jan 28 '23

Never even knew it had a name!!

3

u/Nimindir Jan 28 '23

I live around temperate rainforests. To me, petrichor is what summer smells like. It never really 'feels like summer' until I smell it. The first time I realized that was one morning the first year after moving to a city, I was waiting for the bus to work and got this great big whiff of petrichor and was like 'aaaahhhhh, it's finally summer!'

It was the middle of September.

32

u/Prudent_Valuable603 Jan 28 '23

Play dough that comes in those little yellow plastic jars. Reminds me of happy peaceful carefree childhood moments.

6

u/heyitsdoza Jan 28 '23

You just unlocked that memory for me. Wow

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26

u/failedrorschachtest Jan 28 '23

The smell of new books. Takes me back to my childhood.

22

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

[deleted]

5

u/Aware-Stranger-2319 Jan 28 '23

I cannot stand that smell! So funny to hear you love it 😂 II have my husband put candles out after I leave the room

1

u/Pterodactyl_Souffle Jan 28 '23

It gives me a headache!

2

u/Nimindir Jan 28 '23

For me it's matches. Can't get enough of that sulfur stink.

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17

u/Vibing_Yo Jan 28 '23

Pool chlorine. Especially for indoor pools

-5

u/Fun-Mistake578 Jan 28 '23

That’s pee…

4

u/biggreenfartcloud Jan 28 '23

Then pee smell good

3

u/LiehTzu Jan 28 '23

Pee smells like ammonia. Semen smells like chlorine.

-1

u/Pterodactyl_Souffle Jan 28 '23

This. What you're smelling is the byproducts of chlorine reacting with other chemicals in the water.

10

u/moldyfishfinger Jan 28 '23

You can smell chlorine when it interacts with just air and water.... Doesn't mean pee

-3

u/Pterodactyl_Souffle Jan 28 '23

True. ...but it's pee...

-3

u/john5-2 Jan 28 '23

True. The smell that people think is chlorine, is actually urea, a chemical in pee.

5

u/moldyfishfinger Jan 28 '23

No it's not. It's chloramine. And it smells that way when exposed to oxygen and other substances, such as urine, sweat, body oil, dandruff, etc.

The mere presence of chloramine smell does not mean pee.

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32

u/PaineCiera Jan 28 '23

Old books, not really sure why.

4

u/Universal-Cereal-Bus Jan 28 '23

Reminds me of my childhood rummaging through a second hand book shop. I love that smell.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

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2

u/Charliegirl03 Jan 28 '23

Book ink is one of my favorite smells in the world. I sniff every book I read. But older books are definitely better.

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16

u/weezerfanforever Jan 28 '23

I’ve always like the smell of gasoline. I don’t know why.

16

u/BryanAdam98 Jan 28 '23

Water coming out of a garden hose. The combination of polyurethane and the metallic ozoneness of the water is heaven.

14

u/Large_Writing788 Jan 28 '23

Balls. Rubber of tennis balls.

11

u/funwithafork Jan 28 '23

Is this one or two smells🤔

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2

u/VincentVanGTFO Jan 28 '23

Lassie has entered the chat

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14

u/Freedom_4Ever Jan 28 '23

Pencil shavings from sharpening a wood pencil. Have always liked it for some reason.

32

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

That gasoline smell in older cars. I just always associate it to my childhood as my dad owned a mustang from the 60’s when I was younger.

5

u/LiehTzu Jan 28 '23

Ah sweet carcinogens!

2

u/Equivalent_Bunch_187 Jan 28 '23

And lead. Don’t forget the lead…ahhh.

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2

u/Robert_Hotwheel Jan 28 '23

My dad has a few first gen Camaros and I always loved the smell of the exhaust fumes from those cars when I was a kid.

12

u/unknownJamie Jan 28 '23

petrichor, it is so refreshing and it makes me feel happier on bad days

6

u/LiehTzu Jan 28 '23

Rainy day smells are the best

9

u/KiraMona563 Jan 28 '23

Matches after the flame goes out

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8

u/JoachimAizenberg Jan 28 '23

You see when you enter a garage? And it smells like gasoline and rubber, I love that.

8

u/MediaIndependent5981 Jan 28 '23

Sawdust. Since I was a kid I’ve always loved that smell. It’s wonderful.

2

u/Nimindir Jan 28 '23

Mmmmm slightly-toasted wood particles...

7

u/DandiestFreak Jan 28 '23

Not really sure why but the smell of a musty basement.

5

u/yeonings Jan 28 '23

Call me weird but I love smelling sharpie markers. Not sure why.

6

u/sblade77 Jan 28 '23

The smell of a cement stairwell or cellar - so good.

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5

u/SylviaMarsh Jan 28 '23

Woodland fire (responsibly lit, of course; I live in Scotland where woodland/bush fires aren't a major fire hazard). That smell of burning wood and smoke are a spectacular delight.

3

u/lu-ann Jan 28 '23

Fresh coat of paint

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3

u/jonahhillisnotfat Jan 28 '23

Diesel and dirt. My dad was a mechanic for farm vehicles growing up and there is a certain smell that just feels like home to me.

Also, the smell of sawdust/freshly fallen trees. While my husband isn't a mechanic, he works a job that combines all three distinct smells, (diesel, dirt and trees.)

4

u/Tadakadabranz Jan 28 '23

Kitten necks… just under the chin is the best place to sniff those furry little bags of love ❤️

4

u/Alternative-Dot-1042 Jan 28 '23

I just love the smell of chlorof…

3

u/catbra74 Jan 28 '23

Burnt toast - reminds me of my Grandparent's farm. Old style toaster always burned the toast. I'm transported back there whenever I smell burnt toast now

4

u/verdantsf Jan 28 '23

Oh damn. Those kinds of memories hit the hardest.

3

u/TimeTravelMishap Jan 28 '23

When you pass a dead skunk on the road. Live skunk smells different I don't know why.

3

u/freyaliesel Jan 28 '23

I love the smell of my cat’s breath

5

u/IcyCrust Jan 28 '23

My cat's breath smells like cat food.

3

u/Glittering-Wall-9536 Jan 28 '23

gasoline, tbh i have no idea why but i love it

5

u/daddyfatsac Jan 28 '23

Puppy breath.

2

u/JenishBab Jan 28 '23

Petrol.... It smells like money 💰

3

u/ijustwannanostuff Jan 28 '23

Do you also like the smell of eggs..?

2

u/KinkyKoalaBaby Jan 28 '23

Penis

0

u/john5-2 Jan 28 '23

Women do love that.

2

u/verdantsf Jan 28 '23

Gasoline and new car smell.

2

u/AnnaDom7555 Jan 28 '23

The smell of the water in boat-based rides at theme parks

2

u/dogy-luva Jan 28 '23

Petrol/gasoline, love it so much but idk why

2

u/RescueCPR Jan 28 '23

Cigarette smoke. Its a nostalgic scent for me, my aunts and uncles would all smoke. A part of me misses seeing them, a part of me doesn't (they're all states away).

2

u/tiessa73 Jan 28 '23

The chemicals used to develop pictures in a photography dark room. It's very distinct.

Also fresh paper out of a copier. It smells kind of like warm , freshly baked donuts.

2

u/SPzero65 Jan 28 '23

I don't mind the smell of skunk (in the air, not a straight shot) or gasoline at all.

2

u/SuvenPan Jan 28 '23

New tires in tire store.

2

u/amoss988 Jan 28 '23

The smell right before it rains New tires Gasoline Sharpies

2

u/Philcycles84 Jan 28 '23

Keep the new tyres but otherwise agreed.

Weirdo 🤪🤪🤪

2

u/donnakline Jan 28 '23

Jet fuel. Reminds me of all the time spent flying with my family when I was younger.

2

u/scorpiondoll Jan 30 '23

Armpits 😩

I promise I’m not a weirdo. I mean it more in the context of when you’re lying in bed with someone you’re attracted to lol. Pheromones, baby.

2

u/heyitsdoza Jan 30 '23

Lol yup love the pheromones

2

u/KSIPatriot Jan 28 '23

Fireworks, I always associate them with the 4th of July, new Year's, and dumb shit I used to do

2

u/Pterodactyl_Souffle Jan 28 '23

Eugh. I'm not a holiday grinch. But my town has made me hate fireworks. Around here the 4th of July starts on May 1st and goes all the way to late September. Shit is so far out of hand.

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1

u/KrakenTheColdOne Jan 28 '23

That stank dick. Idk why I keep smelling it.

0

u/pretendforanything Jan 28 '23

I love smelling a sweaty pair of my boyfriends underwear

1

u/AFCBlink Jan 28 '23

Romano cheese. It smells like something beautifully fragrant…died.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

Someone welding something

2

u/Freedom_4Ever Jan 28 '23

Mmmm..... Ozone.

1

u/MercuryMorrison1971 Jan 28 '23

Racing fuel. Alcohol/Methanol.

1

u/FMLitsAJ Jan 28 '23

Dirt

3

u/Pterodactyl_Souffle Jan 28 '23

Wet dirt in a forest

1

u/sikalpi Jan 28 '23

I don't know if it's weird, but wet dirt works for me

1

u/crazymama_97 Jan 28 '23

The cherry car freshener, reminds me of my pre k classroom

1

u/john5-2 Jan 28 '23

Quality paper with things printed on it. Not all paper, but certain things have a great smell. No idea why.

1

u/CivilizedPsycho Jan 28 '23

Does the bread aisle count as "weird"? It's my #1 most satisfying smell and even if I'm not buying bread, I tend to make sure I stroll through the aisle at least once during my grocery shopping.

1

u/Thin-Schedule-9667 Jan 28 '23

The smell of a window AC unit when it first gets turned on for the season( I believe it’s the smell of mold) haha but I’ve always loved that

1

u/Magicsuperdebbi Jan 28 '23

They used to burn the ditches amd fields with controlled burns in my hometown. It is a unique burning smell and takes me back.

1

u/Summerannxx Jan 28 '23

The middle of new born babies heads. Their soft spot smells so comforting

1

u/Salt_and_Peppery Jan 28 '23

Wet pavement after it rains on a broiling hot day

1

u/eQuantix Jan 28 '23

Fuel! I could sit by a fuel station pump all day

1

u/Narrow-Television355 Jan 28 '23

Damp basement with unfinished floors

1

u/sblade77 Jan 28 '23

Motor boat gas mixed with lake smell.

1

u/1098JM Jan 28 '23

Hand sanitizer for sure

1

u/randyfromm Jan 28 '23
  • The smell of a Mold-A-Rama machine in action.
  • https://mold-a-rama.com/
  • It smells like my childhood visit to science museums.

1

u/LMac8806 Jan 28 '23

Freshly plowed dirt. Grew up on a farm and it’s a super familiar and comforting smell.

1

u/Mecha-Sailcat Jan 28 '23

A struck match and lighter fluid.

1

u/Public-Emu1059 Jan 28 '23

purell foam hand sanitizer that comes out of the automatic dispensers. reminds me of elementary school

1

u/Th3_Anarch1st Jan 28 '23

The vent on the top of my steam deck.

1

u/No_Shop7567 Jan 28 '23

shoe polish 🫣

1

u/Zanthora Jan 28 '23

Moth Balls, had an old blanket when I was a kid that was soft as hell but it was bought secondhand and just smelled like that for as long as I had it

1

u/stephers85 Jan 28 '23

Coffee and tobacco combined. It reminds me of my boyfriend.

1

u/yum-thighs Jan 28 '23

Smell of gloves, especially dentist gloves. idk why

1

u/Bo-ohw_O_Wo-er Jan 28 '23

New shoes, both the insides and the soles. I almost want to taste them

1

u/windsock1 Jan 28 '23

My old logging Carhartts. The mixture of fresh sawdust and chainsaw exhaust.

1

u/AlarmedMirror3911 Jan 28 '23

The stuff under my nails

1

u/Im_Borat Jan 28 '23

Napalm in the morning.

1

u/QiBoo Jan 28 '23

Freshly ground Cinnamon, it’s warming effect in food and drink, fond childhood memories of cinnamon on cookies.

1

u/PretzelWorrier Jan 28 '23

New books. That shit is intoxicating!

1

u/TundraOG Jan 28 '23

Freshly manured fields. It's stinky, but good stinky.

1

u/avidinha Jan 28 '23

Medium density fiberboard. It reminds me of custom stereo installations.

1

u/Lordofdogmonsters Jan 28 '23

Second hand cigarette smoke. I know it's disgusting but I honestly just love it.

1

u/Black_Fyre_8000 Jan 28 '23

The smell of Petrol, Polish or Fresh china

1

u/Jetter37 Jan 28 '23

Burnt fleas

1

u/youfailedthiscity Jan 28 '23

Diesel fuel.

I love the smell of fuel that trucks give off.

It smells like the drive up to O'hare Airport because of all the jet fuel. As a kid, almost any time went to O'hare, it was because we were going on vacation. ORD smells fuel which smells like summer vacations and so now the smell of trucks next to me in traffic make me happy as a kid on his way to Disney World.

1

u/ncopland Jan 28 '23

The smell of the fuel from the model airplanes the kids used to fly in the 60's. Don't know the name of it.

1

u/Gnarcan705 Jan 28 '23

My own asshole

1

u/Uniquorn2077 Jan 28 '23

The smell of the old school pencil erasers.

1

u/guyinthechair1210 Jan 28 '23

the smell of my local mall. it's like being in a place that's just finishing up baking fresh pastries. it also helps that i've been going to that mall for nearly 30 years and i have plenty of good memories of it.

1

u/carb18 Jan 28 '23

Paper burning, has its drawbacks when you accidentally commit arson

1

u/WArainWA Jan 28 '23

Fresh, hot tar.

1

u/explodingladybugs Jan 28 '23

Freshly mowed lawn, knowing I've done a good job while admiring it

1

u/jgoct93 Jan 28 '23

Nail polish remover

1

u/cheeseandbiscuits21 Jan 28 '23

Laundry room clean smell

1

u/Xc0liber Jan 28 '23

Wet market with all them raw meats. They give off a certain smell.

I know is not a good smell but I don't know why it smell good to me. Weird I know

1

u/kewlguy1 Jan 28 '23

Gasoline

1

u/katcomesback Jan 28 '23

plane fuel, my boyfriend is an in tank mechanic and I love when he works in tank vs on the wing because he’ll smell like it 🤤

1

u/DerekRRRose Jan 28 '23

The inside of hats. Hair, when clean, smells nice and all but there’s just something about taking a big whiff of a hat.

1

u/NormalCorners Jan 28 '23

Clean white socks because they smell amazing!!!!

1

u/RavenMRD Jan 28 '23

Isopropyl alcohol

1

u/NuclearHyrule Jan 28 '23

Rubber when it's super strong and fresh out of a box, slightly sweettinged, that is so comforting and stimulating. And the sorta fertilizer smells on plants in the summer, there's a hedge I walk past to town and it's like heaven

1

u/TykkiDuw Jan 28 '23

Wet sponge

1

u/Paoscka Jan 28 '23

the smell of new electronics... if i get a new tv i find myself sniffing the remote

1

u/Forward_Ice5110 Jan 28 '23

smell emanated from a freshly printed book

1

u/Nimindir Jan 28 '23

Epoxy resin.

No idea why. Can't explain it. I just really love the smell. If they made an incense/oil/wax melt/etc in that scent I would buy the shit out of it.

Also gasoline.

But both those things are super harsh chemicals that is not a good idea to have in your lungs, so... :'(

1

u/BeefWellingtonSpeedo Jan 28 '23

The Bicycle Room.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

My farts

1

u/m4x1neu Jan 28 '23

Nail polish remover.

1

u/DomMango Jan 28 '23

Gasoline. No idea why, just always liked the smell.

1

u/TaisDoubt Jan 28 '23

the smell of wet old books

1

u/SleepZex Jan 28 '23

The kitchen sink rag used

1

u/TFX713 Jan 28 '23

Gasoline, I have no idea why.

1

u/Penna_23 Jan 28 '23

the smell of a baby, it's like milk but soft to the touch

I have a tendency to sniff my baby cousins until their parents look at me with concern

1

u/BZMISTER Jan 28 '23

petrol/gasoline Smell so nice even though i'll like die if i intake too much of it

1

u/CI9422 Jan 28 '23

Only some outdoors men will know but the smell of a freshwater fish bed during their bedding season.

1

u/Popular_Tradition443 Jan 28 '23

I would say poop.

1

u/HobbitInSpace7 Jan 28 '23

Books. Old and new. I love them.

1

u/Specialist-Solid-362 Jan 28 '23

My balls. Why do you think 😅

1

u/Agile-Fee-6057 Jan 28 '23

Women's armpits

1

u/iatecurryatlunch Jan 28 '23

My dog. He doesn't stink out anything but I like the smell of him

1

u/gemini61998 Jan 28 '23

the smell of glasses cleaner wipes, the alcohol smell is strong

1

u/LynSmitt Jan 28 '23

Gasoline... Idk why it smells nice

1

u/ChallengeFamiliar783 Jan 28 '23

Oddly enough, if you have ever been to Indonesia. Particularly Jakarta or Denpasar. There is a particular smell from the airport there.

1

u/Ouija429 Jan 28 '23

Sagebrush it reminds me of home...unfortunately I'm allergic haha.

1

u/Excellent-Pear8770 Jan 28 '23

Petrol or for Americans gas

1

u/Meteu0431 Jan 28 '23

ass. like while eating it

1

u/arisussan Jan 28 '23

the smell of underground garages. also blown out candles

1

u/Frogchamp_lll Jan 28 '23

the smell of a books insides. why is it so good?

1

u/fuckyourcanoes Jan 28 '23

Tar. It reminds me of the boardwalk at the beach we visited when I was a kid.

1

u/LordEdges Jan 28 '23

for some reason cow manure gets me nostalgic

1

u/CreativeRip806 Jan 28 '23

Potato flowers.

1

u/Quirckyjuice06 Jan 28 '23

My own warm farts.

1

u/PrincessHootHoot Jan 28 '23

A slot car immediately after use. Idk why itakes that smell but it's so nostalgic for me lol.

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1

u/ImaginaryBubblePop Jan 28 '23

Pages of a book, kinda addicting

1

u/Grinstaiam Jan 28 '23

Coacaine. It smells great and give me confidence.

1

u/TotallyTilly Jan 28 '23

Cornfields; Hoppes #9

1

u/Various-Parfait Jan 28 '23

Diesel exhaust

1

u/Senishte1992 Jan 28 '23

My sense of smell is severely underdeveloped, but I love the smell of pickled cabbage.

1

u/NickQuickly Jan 28 '23

My hand after playing video games for a hour or two……

1

u/No-Comfortable4270 Jan 28 '23

A fresh loaf of white bread. Some certain types of feet smells. Not wet and sour but the vinegary, dry cotton socks smell is just amazing and I sniff mine and my wife's all the time 👢👡👠👟🩴🩴🩴👣🦶🤌

1

u/Icy_Conclusion_7665 Jan 28 '23

Gasoline... Don't judge me

1

u/Worried_Soft_7041 Jan 28 '23

Burnt popcorn. It reminds me of someone I adored when I was little. He nearly always happened to make popcorn when I visited, and he preferred it slightly burnt.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '23

Henna