Phantom smells of petrol or fish which nobody else can smell

[NeededANameChangeAnyway]

It's like I get a smell 'up my nose' and then just smell it for ages. This smell is like petrol and it's catching at the back of my throat. Noone else can smell it.

No petrol spills anywhere, private yard where we park the cars, no petrol tank leaks, I've not been to the petrol station today. Aaargh!

Why can I smell things which aren't there???

The other thing I smell off and on is fish. The dog has a bottom problem and occasionally leaves little fishy bloops on the carpet. Often I smell the smell but no bloops and noone can smell it then either.

Am I a super smeller or mad.....?

I think I'm just sensitive! If I've cooked something strong smelling like a curry I can't sleep unless I've washed my hair....

Me too. Maybe that's part of it? But my other senses are pretty shit so I think smell is just trying to make up for my other deficits 😄

Today the smell is sort of metallic petrol. Well, a change is as good as a rest they say.......

The last few days I've noticed a smell of a new or freshly valeted car when out walking. Twice in the same place but others too. My other half thinks I'm imagining it.

I've smelled it all day at work and can still smell it at home so it's clearly me who is insane rather than a smell being everywhere.

Driving me mad!

Wish the cold or whatever is causing it comes and is finished quickly

I had foul odours in my nose when I had a really bad sinus infection. It could be that?

It's not a sinus infection, no evidence of that. It's my brain I think.....

I had a time when I was sensitive to smell and a light fitting was smelling like to me.

Only had one phantom smell post COVID. Did a lot of sniffing of black pepper and the like to recalibrate.

Check out the charity Fifth Sense (now calling itself Smell Taste) for lots of information about phantosmia, and other smell disorders.

Interesting, I guess smelling a strong but present smell 'resets' your nose?

@Jilllybean I'll have a look. Sometimes reading this sort of thing freaks me right out though and I become convinced I have some other catastrophic problem.....stand by for a further thread....😂