To think this is perfectly normal? (warning - a bit gross)

It is mostly a woman thing. Women in general have a far keener sense of smell for biological things in particular.

Why would it be a ‘woman’ thing? 😬

It’s a weird thing though. Farts are just the smell of impending shits, so I’m not sure how personalised they are.

Not the OP but yes I am.

What OP has described all sounds pretty normal to me although I can’t smell when DH or DD are starting to get sick. I used to be able to when she was younger but DH could smell it too. Her breath would change.

I drive DH a bit crazy with how much I can smell things that he has no idea about. Sex requires a pretty high level of cleanliness. No sex after a long sweaty day without a shower first. Gross.

Sorting the washing can make me feel sick from the various bodily smells on the dirty clothes, especially in warm weather. It was so bad when I was pregnant that DH had to do it. Once he’d sorted them into their loads for me I’d be able to grab them and shove them in the machine.

When I had Covid and lost my sense of smell I initially found it to be a relief. I did start to miss my sense of smell after about a week. It probably took about three months or so for it to recover almost fully.

I’m definitely a super taster. I don’t like spicy food, heavily seasoned food, alcohol, dark coffee flavours, and so many things. Meat and three veg is great. Unlikely to overwhelm my tastebuds unlike more complex dishes.

Wow, I'm known amongst my family for having an unholy sense of smell that can detect a child that's eaten chocolate before dinner but next to you lot I'm an absolute amateur!

You people have the distinction (maybe not the right word) of sharing a sixth sense, like cats and dogs. All hail the next chapter in human evolution!

Seriously though, dogs have a very acute sense of smell and some can detect illness generally, pregnancy, oncoming hypos, seizures etc.

Just before the start of her period, same now too. That said I’m more likely to notice her general demeanour now she’s a bit older but can still smell her body odour changes.

I can do this.

Another interesting thing about smell and taste is how much it heightens during pregnancy. Before I realised I was pregnant- so only 1-2 weeks, my dh came back from a trip away wearing a new aftershave and I found it really distressing because I didn't recognise his smell. I also found - and please don't judge as it really was only one occasional sip! - that if I had a sip of his wine I could accurately describe the flavours - blackcurrant, cherry, vanilla etc - that would be on the label. Which I can't usually do. Unfortunately pregnancy is not the time to make the most of that super skill! I knew I was pregnant with my daughter because the pepperoni on my pizza tasted unusual.

I wonder if it is a natural defence mechanism as the need to avoid rancid food/ men who aren't your partner is highest when pregnant. And the need to detect illness is highest as a parent

Out of my family it can always tell if my husband has used the bathroom, he has a weird smell.

@SmileEachDay

Try going to a primary school. The kids can all tell who a discarded jumper belongs to by smell 🥰

Yes! My daughter does this. I can definitely tell who’s been in the bathroom but with 2 girls ages 7 & 5 I can’t ever be sure who’s smell is who’s on their clothes!

I have a very keen sense of smell and it isn't great. We have a smelly dog, and I get on my husband's nerves throwing windows open, because I just can't breathe sometimes. I wash the dogs bed and towels regularly, but sometimes wish we had never got him (which makes me sad, because he is a lovely little thing). 😢
I can tell when my DH is going to be unwell by smell. I can tell when I am going to be unwell by how some things taste, tea and some fruit for instance. It has got worse since covid. I can't tell who has last used the loo, though (glad about that tbh).

Yes, I can do this. I joke with my OH that if he ever had an affair, I'd know it immediately from the smell of another woman being on him 😂I can tell when my 4yo has been getting cuddles from his nursery teacher, as can smell her perfume on him.

That's interesting. Just for a short amount of time or permanently?

I don't have that experience although my husband's neck does smell of fresh bread to me, warm and comforting, and I can smell a couple days before he gets a cold.

Growing up of my friends used to say that about people's houses but this was sometimes due to products, she said my one friend's house smelt of Lenore. When my family moved she said it didn't smell like our house yet, and then a few months later she said it smelt like it was our place again (not in a bad way). I think you have a very good sense of smell.

I’m a super sniffer and my DS seems to have inherited it.

We both get put off buildings and even people by their smell. I’m not talking about the usual unpleasant body odours, these are scents that just seen to be ‘negative’ I’ve viewed properties that I’ve had to leave because of an aroma that no one else detected and as a youngster turned down dates for the same reason.

My husband has a friend who has a particular smell I can’t bear, but he’s never done me any harm and is always perfectly pleasant. If DH meets him for a drink, I can pick up this particular smell when he gets home and if he’s ever in our house, I need to air the place afterwards.

Even when DS was very small, he used to sniff anything new before he even visually examined it. As an adult, he is still very tuned in olfactorily and when we compare notes, we’re both getting exactly the same whiff!

Mine too! So must be hormones.

I remember mentioning mums bathroom smell to a friend once, she thought I was really weird 😅

Absolutely. Which is useful as my kids have a habit of stealing my clothes. I can always know which one did it!

Yes, I've always been able to distinguish family member smells. Not so much farts (not sure my my mum ever farted in my presence!) but a general body smell. I can also smell illness on other people.

I used to work with a guy who would tell me when I was unwell, the day before I was actually unwell. He used to say I smelt 'ill'.

I can smell the poos and farts things

the unwell thing im going to look out for

😂

I don't know, OP.
Obviously I could sniff out my husband.

I don't know about the farts.
😐

Also I used to get a little bit exasperated with DH who has extremely sensitive sense of smell/is probably a supertaster, when he would say how annoying and horrible it was. But my sense of smell has got much more sensitive in peri-menopause and oh my GOD it's not nice being able to smell/taste all sorts of layers in things much more keenly.

Are you a super taster as well by chance?

My teenage son used to complain about old peoples smell when he went in bathroom after me.🥺. I think I've noticed my pee smells sweet or something after I've been.
It must be hormonal.