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Original poster

Why can I always smell burning?

53 replies

YourFinestPantaloons · 21/09/2021 00:31

It's doing my head in.

Like burning firewood for a few days now. I just assumed the neighbours were having a BBQ/bonfire/burning things but they were from what I can see.

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 21/09/2021 00:40

Sinus problems can cause that.

ThesecondLEM · 21/09/2021 00:43

Covid?

Anordinarymum · 21/09/2021 00:43

Sinus

DoylyCarte · 21/09/2021 00:43

Not sure but once my friend’s dad could smell farts and drains all day and it transpired that during an 8am grass cut, he’d mowed over a dog shit and a large particle had settled in his moustache just under his left nostril.

Have you mowed near a bbq recently?

tomorrowalready · 21/09/2021 00:44

Do you have a cold or sinusitis? It sounds like olfactary hallucination or smell illusion. I have had it for different periods when ill (ironically not at all since covid due to isolation). Mine is a very strong burnt metal smell like an overheated grill. I don't have a grill but have sometimes gone in search of it. I found the information below, if you google you will find a lot more interesting stuff on how something so apparently real is not.

From brainandlife.org

Olfactory hallucinations lasting more than a few minutes to several hours are usually due to a disturbance of the smell system in the nose (olfactory organ or olfactory nerves) or in the olfactory bulb, which sits just inside the skull above the upper nose level. The term for this type of olfactory hallucination is dysosmia. Common causes of dysosmia are head and nose injury, viral damage to the smell system after a bad cold, chronic recurrent sinus infections and allergy, and nasal polyps and tumors. The brain is usually not the source. In these instances, sense of smell for other odors is often impaired as well, and the results of smell testing typically are abnormal.

DevilFinger · 21/09/2021 00:52

😂😂😂 @DoylyCarte 💩

Justilou1 · 21/09/2021 01:03

You need to see your GP. There ARE neurological and nasal problems that need to be ruled out.

KenAdams · 21/09/2021 01:04

Me too! Like a real acrid burning that I can feel in my throat.

userlotsanumbers · 21/09/2021 01:05

Covid, or the after effects of it. I smelled burning for months afterwards, as did a few of my colleagues and friends. Alternatively, you're gearing up for a massive migraine.

HemanOrSheRa · 21/09/2021 01:14

How old are you OP? I had this when I was pregnant - the smell of burning. Like burning matches. That was 17 years ago. I've started to get it now, I am definitely NOT pregnant at 49, so I reckon its hormonal.

AnnieSnap · 21/09/2021 01:29

As @Justilou1 says, I don’t want to be alarmist, but there are neurological problems that need to be addressed early that can cause a person to ‘smell’ something like burning rubber/wood etc. Get yourself to a doctor and get it checked out.

Toddlerteaplease · 21/09/2021 02:07

Am I right in thinking it can be a symptom of encephalitis? I've heard of it before.

PaulaTrilloe · 21/09/2021 02:20

Now the weather is turning to autumn is someone burning wood in their stove?

NiceGerbil · 21/09/2021 02:34

Go see doc.

Sure you are fine but these changes can mean other stuff going on.

Orangejuicemarathoner · 21/09/2021 03:48

covid? I smell all sorts of weird things all the time since having covid mildly a year and a half ago.

Angelbaby1985 · 21/09/2021 19:48

Covid I had the same

waterlego · 21/09/2021 19:53

Since I had Covid last December, I can occasionally smell baked beans when there aren’t any around. It tends to last for a few hours or a day and then goes again. So weird!

TheHouseILiveIn · 21/09/2021 19:55

See the GP. There can be sinister reasons for it

waterlego · 21/09/2021 19:56

@DoylyCarte

Not sure but once my friend’s dad could smell farts and drains all day and it transpired that during an 8am grass cut, he’d mowed over a dog shit and a large particle had settled in his moustache just under his left nostril.

Have you mowed near a bbq recently?

This is so funny (and disgusting). Reminds me of the time my OH was convinced something had gone off in the house and paced around for hours trying to work out what it was. The smell mysteriously disappeared after he shampooed his beard that evening so we concluded he had probably dropped some milk in there while eating cereal, and it was that he could smell 😆
Thatswhatmamasaid · 21/09/2021 19:58

I was going to say Covid too. When I had it, there was a strong metal smell which I thought was my imagination at first.....

reallyworriedjobhunter · 21/09/2021 20:04

Smelling burnt toast can be a sign of stroke and other neurological issues. Visit to the dr is needed. I hope you are ok.

FAQs · 21/09/2021 20:05

@DoylyCarte

Not sure but once my friend’s dad could smell farts and drains all day and it transpired that during an 8am grass cut, he’d mowed over a dog shit and a large particle had settled in his moustache just under his left nostril.

Have you mowed near a bbq recently?

🤣🤣
MartyHart · 21/09/2021 20:15

I agree you should see the GP and be checked out.
I did wonder for a second if you were Mary from Ghosts. Grin

Runningupthecurtains · 21/09/2021 20:17

OP do you watch Ghosts? You could have your Mary "they smells the burnings"

NotMyUsualOne · 21/09/2021 20:23

I'm going for Covid too. Had it last November, lost taste and smell totally. They came back, but by December I could smell burning all the time. That's faded but I still have some degree of smell and taste disruption - water smells like blood and dairy smells like flesh. However, my tolerance for spicy food has dramatically improved Grin and DS' football boots smell of warm towels