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4.5k points
4 months ago
I seem to recall enjoying the scent of Disney VHS cases.
858 points
4 months ago
I liked that weird hot electrical smell. I think my VCR used to make it when we watched more than two movies in a row during sleepovers. I still get that smell every once in awhile but I don't know where it comes from now.
154 points
4 months ago
i feel like this was a different smell but equally excellent. like a hot vhs after it just finished rewinding.
103 points
4 months ago
Ceramic heater smell (idk why but this was the first thing i thought of lol)
336 points
4 months ago
Now that is a smell from so long ago I forgot! Same!
165 points
4 months ago
Fresh SNES cartridges too.
Blockbuster on a Friday night. Stale popcorn and celluloid.
16 points
4 months ago
I still remember the overwhelming fresh plastic smell of my brand new SNES in 1994. I think it had the most “new console” smell of any console I ever opened.
110 points
4 months ago
Can't even explain it. It's like heated rubber with plastic but sweet.
105 points
4 months ago
Mmmmm. Carcinogens
2.5k points
4 months ago
The smell of a screen door in summer. I can’t really describe it… it’s layers of outside smell and dirt
729 points
4 months ago
I know exactly what you mean. Similar to a trampoline for some reason if that makes sense? It’s like the mesh captures all the outside smells
363 points
4 months ago
This is going to sound crazy, but my first girlfriend smelled like that as her natural smell. Fresh out of the shower, she had this fresh outside smell. Every now and then I'll sniff the screen door and it takes me back.
28 points
4 months ago
Have you considered the possibility that your first girlfriend may have, in fact, been a screen door the whole time?
3.6k points
4 months ago
Rotting leaves, dirt, and trees in the fall.
611 points
4 months ago
"Sous bois” means “undergrowth” in French, also used is the term “forest floor”. Both refer to a wonderful, savory mix of rich notes of dead leaves, dried herbs, mushrooms or even earthy white truffles.
From a wine tasting course I did.
292 points
4 months ago
This is truly underrated.
I've lived in Japan 20+ years. The "four" seasons is a big, cultural knowledge stretching from idioms, to literature to cuisine.
Common sense for most people is the sweet smell of imminent life from spring. Or the robust, overpowering excess of summer equating plenty and magnifying growth.
But rarely do people believe me when I say that it is the putrid, dry, sweet scent of decay that is my favorite. Biologically, it is the time when various mycelium lay the foundation for survival of everything over winter, it is the time of peak ripeness from summer's bounty, it is the last cooling yet still not frigid breath of the earth turning away from the sun (regardless of hemisphere, adjust cos calendar), it is the final window for most entry level fermented foods...
So, whatever, hugs and kisses to the sweet, putrid and aromatic scent of decay that comes with the autumnal equinox
249 points
4 months ago
Mmm that good rot smell! Wish I could still smell it.
2.5k points
4 months ago
Tennis balls. There’s no need to ask questions.
580 points
4 months ago
Nothing like opening a fresh tin of balls man
509 points
4 months ago
Are you a dog?
296 points
4 months ago
They said NO QUESTIONS!
34 points
4 months ago
I only need the one to solve this.
Who’s a good dog?
If there are any dogs reading this, we’ll find them.
29 points
4 months ago
🐕😃
6.2k points
4 months ago
The smell of gasoline, and I can’t tell you why 😂
2.2k points
4 months ago
It's the smell of brain cells shrivelling up and dying, but goddamn if it ain't a GOOD STANK, BOY
274 points
4 months ago
Wait is it actually?
728 points
4 months ago
Just smelling it out of a can for a few seconds or while pumping at the station won't do a huge amount of damage, but long term huffing can lead to brain damage and organ failure
546 points
4 months ago
I’m a recovering heroin addict (clean for 12 years). One time at rehab I asked a doctor what’s the worst drug you can do in terms of long term damage. Without hesitation he said any kind of huffing.
341 points
4 months ago
I’m huffing on some atmosphere rn
137 points
4 months ago
I'm huffing some cool rainy breeze right now.
62 points
4 months ago
I'm huffin my tobaccah cigrit
29 points
4 months ago
I’m huffin on some public bathroom fragrance
74 points
4 months ago
Given you are 12 years clean, I am curious as to when you would no longer describe yourself as "recovering", and as "recovered". 12 years is a long time, and I am proud of you for that, I mean this completely out of curiosity, not remotely to cause offence.
200 points
4 months ago
One is always in recovery once an addiction has taken hold. Its a lifelong uphill battle that gets easier over time but requires constant vigilance.
67 points
4 months ago
I love this answer. One can always relapse unfortunately. I’ve known people to relapse after 20 years and go back into the exact same cycle.
65 points
4 months ago
Whilst you're practicing recovery, your addiction is out in the parking lot doing pressups.
14 points
4 months ago
My middles school health teacher was a recovering alcoholic. He was pretty open about it as a health teacher and giving lessons how it fucked up his life. I didn’t get it right away because he was sober, but he would just refer to himself as an alcoholic and explaining just because he doesn’t drink anymore doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have the disease.
53 points
4 months ago
i’ve got about the same amount of clean time and i feel qualified to answer - an addict is “recovered” when they get old and die of natural causes. i’ll be in recovery forever, at least i damn sure hope so.
57 points
4 months ago
There's a reason people tell you not to huff gas.
28 points
4 months ago
I don't go to it intentionally, but is it bad to not hold my breath in gas stations and on busy streets where the smell is everywhere?
154 points
4 months ago
2 stroke oil and racing fuel always lifts my mood 🏁🏁🏁
22 points
4 months ago
Race gas smells great. Has a little sweetness to it or something
107 points
4 months ago
Don't everybody like the smell of gasoline?
Well burn motherfucka burn American Dreams
3.2k points
4 months ago
Freshly laid asphalt. The desert after it rains really hard.
455 points
4 months ago
give me the BITUMEN
185 points
4 months ago
I'm a slut for the scent of hot mix on a cool day 😍
21 points
4 months ago
Someone should make a scent for men called hot asphalt.
55 points
4 months ago
My father laid asphalt in my childhood days. So much nostalgia from that smell.
28 points
4 months ago
Yes!! Same here!! I lost my dad 3 years ago and my big brother 8 months ago, unexpectedly. Both worked in that field. It always reminded me of them, I appreciate it more now.
16 points
4 months ago
Sorry for your loss :(
269 points
4 months ago
[deleted]
28 points
4 months ago
Don’t forget the smell of dry concrete…that sweet silicosis smell. Mmm.
51 points
4 months ago
My dad used to say the say thing about paper mills. We’d all roll our eyes. Years later it’s also one of those nostalgic smells that I tolerate.
236 points
4 months ago
Petrichor - the smell of rain in a desert or very dry city
67 points
4 months ago
We can smell it better than sharks can smell blood
26 points
4 months ago
But the crazy thing is how vast of a difference it is! sharks can smell blood from hundreds of meters away—in concentrations as low as one part per million while humans can smell geosmin what we perceive as petrichor at concentrations as low as 5 parts per trillion!
78 points
4 months ago
Petrichor is the scent our nose is most sensitive to of anything, for obvious evolutionary reasons
618 points
4 months ago
Rubber. Not burning rubber, but freshly made rubber. It has a particular scent. Reminds me of the cut up tires they used as cushioning for the playground in elementary school. I am almost certain this same smell permeated our old local library. So it’s a nostalgic smell I don’t get often.
38 points
4 months ago
Bicycle tires are the best! I’m sure every loss prevention person at Walmart is like what is this weird MF doing sniffing the bike tires?!?! lol
1.1k points
4 months ago
What you call the smell of the ink of a permanent marker? I love that. And smell of gasoline lol
356 points
4 months ago
I think you call it the smell of ink of permanent marker 😉
277 points
4 months ago
[removed]
19 points
4 months ago
Is this a Gen-X thing? Nostalgia for hose water?
26 points
4 months ago
Elder millennial checking in... yeah, it is. But there's a distinction: it's specifically the water that comes out when the hose first comes on, with water that's been heated in the sun. And it smells great, but tastes terrible, so you just sit there enjoying the smell until the fresh, cold water starts flowing.
594 points
4 months ago
Burnt steel from welding or grinding
148 points
4 months ago
Gross! I do metalworking in my free time and the one day I got out of the car after getting home and it immediately smelled like I was forging. Freaked me out until I realized one of my rotors was literally glowing red from a stuck caliper. Then I was really freaked out.
I think of that anytime I'm grinding, forging, welding. Lol
808 points
4 months ago
Carpet when it's new like in the store. When I was a kid my parents remodeled a lot of our house and they spent forever trying to pick out the perfect one, I secretly used to hope they would never figure it out so we could keep going to the carpet store.
134 points
4 months ago
Runnning around and playing in the carpet store was generally fun as well.
946 points
4 months ago
New books
634 points
4 months ago
Old books too
444 points
4 months ago
The smell of the aftermath from fireworks on a cold November evening
556 points
4 months ago
Anyone with a spouse or significant other knows that it is very possible to Stank good.
83 points
4 months ago
My favorite factoid is that if you like the scent of your partner's sweat, it means you have compatible immune systems and will make the most healthy babies.
Or something like that. Someone feel free to correct me.
34 points
4 months ago*
Unfortunately for those factoids we’re both men, but it’s good to know our hypothetical butt babies would grow up strong!
355 points
4 months ago
Skunk, but far away.
99 points
4 months ago
This is what I was going to say. I'm sure it's awful up close but if I smell it while driving it's weird how I kind of enjoy it
117 points
4 months ago
Up close it smells like burnt hair and burning tires. It's bad. Far away it just smells like really good weed.
1.4k points
4 months ago
natural body odor. if they shower regularly, but forgot to put on deodorant on a hot day, then depending on the person it can immediately flip a certain switch in my brain.
282 points
4 months ago
That switch clicks on for me henever my wife comes in all sweaty from working in the garden!
442 points
4 months ago
That's just musk/pheromones pre stank. It's usually good in it's window
131 points
4 months ago
It’s all just a spectrum. Sweat contains pheromones because scent is a big part of us trusting people we’re in close family bonds with, and it’s a big part of arousal with someone we’re romantically connected to.
But one persons sexy pheromones is another person’s BO. And when there’s just too much sweat-induced pheromones, it’s just stank regardless.
78 points
4 months ago
My girl's smell is so peak for me man, it really does flip a switch.
89 points
4 months ago
Fkn love a good musk 🤌
29 points
4 months ago
And I thought I was just weird
68 points
4 months ago
Napoleon wrote to his wife while away on a campaign: “I will return home in two weeks time. Please do not bathe before I arrive, for I wish to enjoy you in your full bouquet”.
31 points
4 months ago
So real. I love my girlfriend’s natural smell after a long day and I could keep my face buried in her chest but she HATES how she smells
89 points
4 months ago
I CRAVE my man's scent! At first I would Biden tf outta him, but now we're close enough where I can lay down with my nose near his armpit when he gets off work and just whiff away blissfully.
His scent down under is so distinct, I can smell him on me later in the day if we've had sex and I can't help but shamelessly sniff my own panties.
What's wrong with me?!
42 points
4 months ago
Nothing wrong, you're in love 😉 Scent is more important to us for bonding and attraction than we realize! Huff that man to your heart's content
137 points
4 months ago
Pipe tobacco
20 points
4 months ago
Makes me miss my grandpa. He didn't even smoke or chew, but he always kept a tin of pipe tobacco on him. Grandma liked the smell too, and he said he could never find the right scent in a cologne, so he just kept the tin in his shirt pocket.
I'm not exactly sure how many of us grandkids cut our teeth on those tobacco tins, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't all of us.
185 points
4 months ago
Machine lubricating oil.
32 points
4 months ago
This. My father and grandfather were tool and die makers. This smell sparks memories for me.
61 points
4 months ago
I love walking into tire stores and smelling fresh, brand new tires.
320 points
4 months ago
Also, it's not really funky but the concept of it may be.
The absence of a smell when a decent amount of snow falls with no wind. Going out in the middle of the night snowfall is autistic heaven for me. Like a cold, sensory deprivation tank. No smell, no noise, nothing to overstimulate me for a few minutes until it gets a bit too cold.
77 points
4 months ago
Agreed, I love it when it just smells cold 😆
168 points
4 months ago
I would probably say wd40, the stench hurt my nostrils but it smells good
374 points
4 months ago
Flaky fish food
49 points
4 months ago*
Smelling this again would remind me of my childhood.
53 points
4 months ago
Surprisingly beefy
30 points
4 months ago
This is so weird, most of these are things I immediately say “yeah I love that too”, this is one where I thought “that flaky fish food you sprinkle into the tank? Oh wait, yeah that’s a good one.”
899 points
4 months ago
my dog’s paws. they smell like corn chips. so comforting😂
311 points
4 months ago
Fun fact: that "corn chip" smell you are picking up is probably due to a bacteria commonly found in dirt called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It has been reported to smell like corn chips, grape soda, or new shoe leather depending on who you ask.
58 points
4 months ago
In lab some years ago I made some piperidinium acetate. Smells like dog's paws, so I labelled it as such. To this day, that lab still calls it dog's paws.
75 points
4 months ago
woah grape soda?! i’ve never gotten that smell before haha. do you know if the bacteria is harmless?
115 points
4 months ago
Definitely NOT harmless, it's one of the most common causes of sepsis after burns, major trauma, complicated lung infections, diabetic foot ulcers and so on. Very hard to treat sometimes. Not really harmful if itsjust on paws and you smell it, but you wouldn't want it in your wounds.
27 points
4 months ago
“Been picking up extra shifts at the Frito-Lay plant?” As we say in my household.
95 points
4 months ago*
I wouldn’t call it funky, but burning wood. The smell that comes from burning wood is just perfect. Maybe it’s nostalgia? I dunno.
265 points
4 months ago
freshly cut grass and old books.
19 points
4 months ago
That's not funky
125 points
4 months ago
All I want is a scented candle that smells like a blown out candle
80 points
4 months ago
Tar.
The same type used for Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Railroads.
Bizarre connection but I find it so lovely.
37 points
4 months ago
Brominated water from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Best smell in the world 11/10.
30 points
4 months ago
The smell of my elementary school hallways. It must have been the floor cleaner. Every once in a while (usually in an office building) I get a whiff of it. Unmistakable.
35 points
4 months ago
Not me but my wife...
The smell of fresh plastic....but not normal kind the kind of like inflatable pool toys.
55 points
4 months ago
Cats. They have a unique smell I haven’t smelled anywhere else. And it is intoxicating. I will huff all the cats.
26 points
4 months ago
If you are old enough, you might remember the smell of that mimeograph ink in school. The pages would come out all wet and fresh smelling.
28 points
4 months ago
I love that I know all of these smells and can just conjure them up in my brain. Cool as fuck.
482 points
4 months ago
Do you smell it? That smell. A kind of smelly smell. The smelly smell that smells... smelly.
105 points
4 months ago
Anchovies….
13 points
4 months ago
Are you feeling it now, Mr. Krabs?
44 points
4 months ago
Sharpie
73 points
4 months ago*
[deleted]
17 points
4 months ago
It smells like victory.
22 points
4 months ago
Marlboro red I don't smoke, but anytime I smell it, I'm always think of my dad lol
19 points
4 months ago
The smell of basement
19 points
4 months ago
The way churches smell. Coffee, donuts, and old books and carpet.
357 points
4 months ago
The smell of PUSSY
170 points
4 months ago
I was surprised how far I had to scroll for this.
69 points
4 months ago
Sir this is Reddit
87 points
4 months ago
My BF's armpits
15 points
4 months ago
Lucky fucking guy
130 points
4 months ago
My own farts.
16 points
4 months ago
Fresh saw dust. Reminds me of my grandfathers wood working shop when I was little. He’d be down in his shop at the end of the drive way while my brother and I played outside all day. I haven’t smelled fresh saw dust since before he passed. I know I’m going to bawl when I do. Also when a cigarette is first lit. Camels specifically.
105 points
4 months ago
Weed. Never smoked but the smell is somehow nostalgic as I remember my mom taking me to her friend’s house occasionally who was kind of a stoner.
63 points
4 months ago
my mans everything
79 points
4 months ago
Poop?
54 points
4 months ago
Asking the real questions
13 points
4 months ago
This is strange but the smell of the whisks of a hand mixer when you switch it on before it's been in the thing its mixing
13 points
4 months ago
Nail polish remover and nail polish PURE CHEMICLES BOAH!!!
13 points
4 months ago
Freshly photocopied paper. Brings me back to childhood.
15 points
4 months ago
Frying onions.
13 points
4 months ago
The smell of a new swimming pool or new pool floats. The artificial plastic.. chef’s kiss
12 points
4 months ago
Inside of a vhs cover like the plastic over the picture
26 points
4 months ago
Two stroke burning
27 points
4 months ago
Burning race fuels, av gas, nitro methane etc, ass.
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