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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

“I have a really acute sense of smell”

164 replies

INXS · 13/12/2017 19:12

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!

OP posts:
Wateroffaduck · 13/12/2017 20:36

I have a really poor sense of smell, dp has a really good sense of smell, guess who has to pick the dog shit up - clue - it’s not him

He couldn’t possibly do it because of the smell, whereas I can barely smell it

eloisesparkle · 13/12/2017 20:37

I have an acute sense of smell and I think it's a curse!
I wish I had an achte sense of sight or hearing.

Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:38

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

What? I’m not repulsed by the smell of my DH. Just because you can smell things strongly, doesn’t mean you’re repulsed by that smell.

crunchymint · 13/12/2017 20:38

I can smell when DP is ill. Does that mean I am super smeller?

MargaretCavendish · 13/12/2017 20:39

I'm 100% with you OP - I find this both fascinating and a bit disturbing, but I definitely find people who bang on about their sense of smell annoying. It's like the 'stuffy haters' (or indeed maybe these are the same people?) - no one likes a stuffy room, but some people are obsessed with it in a really annoying way, and insist on opening windows with snow on the ground outside!

Bratsandtwats · 13/12/2017 20:40

I have an excellent sense of smell. It is more of a curse than a gift though Sad

MargaretCavendish · 13/12/2017 20:40

“I can smell when members of my family are coming down with a cold/bug, even before their symptoms emerge. But that’s normal, right?”

It's not exactly that I don't believe you... But I would like to see this demonstrated under controlled conditions...

theymademejoin · 13/12/2017 20:41

@ColonelJackONeil - I'm going to start wearing one of those Xmas tree car fresheners round my neck at work. It will look very Christmassy.

You do realise that just means you'll smell the same as usual except with the bleuch addition of fake pine that will never go away?

rubybleu · 13/12/2017 20:41

crunchy I’m the same. He also smells different when he’s eaten too many carbs.

I have a really good sense of smell and have my whole life. I vividly remember friends at school smelling “bad” - I just didn’t like their natural scent. Even now on the tube sometimes I will stand beside someone and really dislike their natural smell.

user1468353179 · 13/12/2017 20:41

I had a stroke last year and lost my sense of smell. You could sit next to me after not being washed for a fortnight and I wouldn't know.

Original poster
INXS · 13/12/2017 20:42

Thank you Margaret you get where I am coming from!

Yes. I think I dislike the implication that the one who can smell others, would absolutely never ever smell bad themselves. As if they are above that, their role is only to endure other people’s foul stench, but that they themselves are above reproach.

OP posts:
Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:42

It's not exactly that I don't believe you... But I would like to see this demonstrated under controlled conditions...

I’d be happy to volunteer myself for said experiment.
I don’t really get why people don’t believe it. My eyesight isn’t great. I believe that people can read a road sign that just looks like a blur to me.

mirialis · 13/12/2017 20:42

AIBU to be a little in awe of all these people with a scented superpower, but dislike the small minority of them who use this power to embarrass/shame others?”

YANBU at all - it's very rude to mention it to anyone and even my closet friends and family (other than DH) don't know. I mentioned the period thing once when I was about 12/13 to a friend and saw how shit I made her feel and learned NEVER to do that again. I can really smell DH but the only actual off-putting smells I think are the same as any 'normal' person (AIBU to want my DH to sleep in the spare room after a night out on the booze and a chilli/garlic kebab when I've had an evening of a lovely bath and some fragrant herbal tea? No, not all).

Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:43

As if they are above that, their role is only to endure other people’s foul stench, but that they themselves are above reproach

No, I can smell myself when I haven’t washed too Grin

Originalfoogirl · 13/12/2017 20:47

So, can someone describe what “ill” smells like?

MargaretCavendish · 13/12/2017 20:49

I completely believe that you smell the smells everyone can smell more intensely. I am, if I'm honest, a bit doubtful that you can smell some special illness smell. I actually do have great eyesight - I can see a road sign from ages away. What I can't see, however, is a secret message telling me how heavy the traffic is going to be...

Original poster
INXS · 13/12/2017 20:50

Haha ecureuil good to know!

Ok, I’ve just remembered another one. Different colleague, actually a really nice person, but she was talking about how she dislikes long-haul flights because people eat the food then fall asleep and “they just STINK”.

Ok, after reading this thread I can understand that she genuinely suffers, but I was a bit Hmm and thought to myself “in pretty sure you’re not smelling like a daisy yourself”

On perfume though - I am somewhat sensitive to them myself, there are very few that I would buy for myself as after a while they start to get headachey. So I can definitely understand people having a problem with those “non-essential” smells.

It’s when people have a problem with others simply for existing that I think it’s going a bit far!

OP posts:
muffyduffster · 13/12/2017 20:50

A sweet-ish, unpleasant smell for me, for ill people.

Whatthefunk · 13/12/2017 20:50

Slightly different, but I have really strange sense of smell. I can smell something one day, and still smell it days later. Anyone else have this?

mrsharrison · 13/12/2017 20:52

I posted on the other thread about smokers about my strong sense of smell. I would rather not have it and certainly don't brag about it.
Neither do i judge people on their scent. Some people smell lovely to me, especially newly shampooed hair.

I can't smell myself so for all i know i stink like a battered haddock.
A question for you super smellers - do you ever get the "oestrogen" scent from some women?

Luxanna · 13/12/2017 20:52

I have the acute sense of smell thing but I would never tell anyone I could smell anything on them or in their home. I'd find it rude and potentially nasty to do so. That being said, I can't do anything to stop myself from smelling the odours I come across. Public transport is a challenge sometimes, especially on hots days.

I have a big problem with anything that involves blood and/or protein, like a plate that's had raw or cooked meat/egg on it. I can even smell it after the crockery has been washed up if neat washing up liquid wasn't used. Smells so strong and disgusting, it me makes me gag. If these foods come in contact with stainless steel, especially a kitchen sink, it amplifies the stink. Bleugh.

Did save my arse when alone in the house though.
Was cleaning bathroom one day, load of washing on in the kitchen, could smell something funny (turned out was plastic coating of wire melting), went to the washing machine which was making spitting sparking sounds, turned off the plug just as a bit of wiring in the motor started to flame. Tipped full washing machine over and threw jugs of water on it. A tiny bit of smoke inhalation and mopping up water was better than the house burning down with me in it and I have my strong sense of smell to thank.

Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:52

a bit doubtful that you can smell some special illness smell

I doubt I could detect if you were getting ill by your smell. In fact I’m pretty sure I couldn’t. However I know what my DC smell like when they’re ill (and each has a particular smell). That smell appears on them before they show actual symptoms of being ill, and therefore I can smell that they’re getting ill. Is that so insane??

Original poster
INXS · 13/12/2017 20:52

On illness - well, cold-type illness - I can smell it once symptoms are present, the breath smells like mucous. So I’m guessing it’s something like that?

And dogs can smell cancer innit, so I guess the chemicals in the blood/cancer site smell different, no reason why they wouldn’t have a smell I guess. Just because humans can’t smell them doesn’t mean the smells don’t exist

OP posts:
Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:53

DD1 smells vinegary when she’s ill. DD2 smells almost sickly sweet.

oliveinacampervan · 13/12/2017 20:55

Seems like a stupid thing to get annoyed about.

Maybe you should get out more OP?