“I have a really acute sense of smell”

[INXS]

I know it’s not something anyone can do anything about. But whenever I hear a statement like the one in the title, it sort of sounds like the person with the nose like a bloodhound is secretly quite proud of their extra special abilities to detect cigarette smoke from one hundred paces, or the smell of someone else’s unwashed bra.

But I don’t like the idea of people who are, unbeknownst to us norms, secretly revolted by everyone around them. That they know that I ate a curry last night, and are resentful that I was so rude as to eat something with spices the day before going out in public (I actually read that on here). That my house stinks to them, or that they have to scrub their house after I’ve been to visit.

AIBU to dislike the idea of someone else having a supernatural sense of smell?! It makes me not want to be around them!

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

I've got this. It's not my fault. What do you want me to do, wear a peg on my nose?

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

I enjoy working out perfume and recipe ingredients and I'm not interested in your old bra

[Ecureuil]

I also have a very strong sense of smell. I can’t help it (and don’t make it obvious!). I wish I didn’t have it. Don’t hate me.

[taratill]

Eh? What's the problem? Unless you don't wash and are worrying about being called out why would this effect you?

MY DD has an amazing sense of smell and often describes the smell of something before the way it looks. I find it fascinating.

[BillyDaveysDaughter]

I have a super acute sense of smell, but I don't mention it to people I don't know. Only my DH and a couple of good friends know -
DH thinks I'm ridiculous, and the friends use me to sniff out the source of odd aromas in their house.

I wouldn't dream of trying to make someone else feel bad though? It's more of a curse than something to be smug about.

[MeadowHay]

Wtf?

I have an insanely sensitive sense of smell, which is not uncommon for someone on the autism spectrum. I can't help it and definitely find it to be a curse, not a gift. I wish I didn't have it but there's nothing I can do about it.

YABVU .

[Beamur]

Now, after a lifetime of hay fever I seem to have quite a poor sense of smell. I do worry occasionally that if I didn't smell great, I might not realise. So, to all the super smellers out there, sorry in advance!

[Armadillostoes]

I have an acute sense of smell and would miss it if I didn't. Zero interest in your bra though!

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

I also have a cute bum

[INXS]

“I also have a very strong sense of smell. I can’t help it (and don’t make it obvious!). I wish I didn’t have it. Don’t hate me.”

I don’t hate you

To clarify - I see now that my last paragraph was written badly - it’s not the sense of smell that’s a problem but when people broadcast it and seem to think it makes them better than the rest of us minging types who only bathe once a day

[Ecureuil]

I don’t go round telling people I can smell them. Or broadcasting my strong sense of smell. I can see that would be annoying!

[INXS]

“Eh? What's the problem? Unless you don't wash and are worrying about being called out why would this effect you?”

Because some of the stuff written on here makes me question everything about the way I smell!

I bathe once a day (not enough for some). I don’t wash my bra every day which is OBVIOUSLY a major faux pas on here. Plus the curry thing I mentioned in the OP, it would never even have occurred to me that this might be offending people! So what else am I missing?!

[RavingRoo]

Having a good sense of smell and telling all and sundry about it are two different things. In my last job a woman used to boast about it and complain loudly that various people smelled even when they did not (it was a power trip)- one of the people she did this to got promoted and reported her for bullying. She was dismissed by HR for gross misconduct and has never been able to work in our industry since.

[INXS]

“I wouldn't dream of trying to make someone else feel bad though? It's more of a curse than something to be smug about.”

Well this is it though! I work with someone who, pretty much always upon opening any door, sniffs and makes some comment about the smell. No one else is bothered.

Another woman I used to work with I overheard complaining about people who wear perfume and how gross it is when you see them putting any on.

An in-law once sniffed the air and furrowed his brow at me because I was eating a salad with balsamic vinegar on it. I mean, come on!

[INXS]

“Having a good sense of smell and telling all and sundry about it are two different things.”

Yes, and to be clear (because I miswrote my OP a little), it’s the latter I have a problem with.

Your colleague sounds like someone I used to work with, it’s horrid. Glad yours got her comeuppance though!

[Ragusa]

I have a very strong sense of smell but lucky old me, I like most smells -apart from halitosis and BO-- so you would never find me commenting on them...

[ComtesseDeSpair]

My line manager has a supernatural sense of smell - he can walk into the office and know as soon as he steps into the foyer who isn't in today without even looking because he says the office smells different :S He usually stands pretty close to people though, so I'm guessing he can't smell things like not-washed-for-a-day hair or yesterday's dinner.

[VladmirsPoutine]

Is this a bit of a TAAT?

I personally think it's a bit batshit, only on MN can someone smell someone else 100km away having a cigarette.

[sonjadog]

I have a very average sense of smell. I cater smell-wise for those who also have an average sense of smell. Those who are super sensitive smellers will have to deal with it, in the way that I have to deal with people who get on my nerves for various reasons. If I were you OP, I wouldn't just ignore these people who are getting your back up talking about smells. They sound tiresome.

[ILoveMillhousesDad]

Someone I know had a cute vagina.

Or was it angina?

Anyhoo I have a strong sense of smell and I really wish I didn't. Can smell when someone has cooked an egg in the house, days later.

I dry heave and have to leave the office when my colleague has that sweet oats so good porridge stuff.

I have said no to dh making homemade picillili cos I could smell it days later.

I get right on his tits, but I can't help it.

[Originalfoogirl]

If someone said this to me, I’d take their subtle hint on board.

[MaidenMotherCrone]

I am cursed with a super sensitive sense of smell. It's fucking horrific! I don't broadcast it because I'm too busy trying not to gag.

I can smell when anyone has their period. It's not normal and I hate it, can't use public transport, taxis, other people's cars.

[CatastropheKate]

I might have one, not really sure, but I do seem to smell things that others can't. Not sure what a 'normal' sense of smell is though.

[expatinscotland]

It's batshit MN wank, OP. I wonder how some of these people had sex to become parents, because they're so revolted by, well, everything.

[Ecureuil]

When I was pregnant and my sense of smell got even stronger, I struggled to be near people for weeks. I could smell onion and garlic seeping out of their pores. Still kept it to myself though, it would be damn rude to infer that someone smelt. It’s my issue, not theirs I may have told DH to sleep in another room because he smelt of onions