Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why does my room smell like hairspray

20 replies

Altontowersq · 14/09/2023 21:05

Posting for traffic as I am getting a bit concerned. This Morning we noticed a really strong smell of hairspray in my home office. I've had the window open and aired the room out and thought it had gone. I've just been in again and it's really, really strong. It smells exactly like hairspray. Does anyone have any idea what it could be? I can't find any answers from googling so I am wondering of this has happened to anyone else.

There's no food in the room and I have cupboards in there but when I open them the smell isn't as strong so it seems to be in the room. I only have my laptop and monitors and a radiator in there.

OP posts:
Un7breakable · 14/09/2023 21:07

Possibly electrical.

Adreno · 14/09/2023 21:07

Have you been using hairspray?

PonyPatter44 · 14/09/2023 21:08

Ghost of Bet Lynch haunting your house?

Original poster
Altontowersq · 14/09/2023 21:11

No I don't use hairspray. Nothing has been sprayed in the room.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 14/09/2023 21:13

Do you have a stupid neighbour who has done something to the wall cavity so smells waft through and into a meter cupboard in your house?
See my neighbour, bacon smells and cleaning products...

SerenChocolateMuncher · 14/09/2023 21:13

Are you on a very strict diet (either fewer than 1,000 calories a day, or very low carbohydrate), or might you be diabetic? Both can cause ketosis which can make your breath smell like hairspray or nail varnish remover. The smell can be very strong and noticeable to you and others.

Original poster
Altontowersq · 14/09/2023 21:18

No I haven't been in the office today and me and my partner smelt it at the same time and went to find where it was coming from this morning. I've been out all day and just gone back I'm and it's stronger than this morning as though half a can of hairspray has just been sprayed.

OP posts:
Candlelight34 · 14/09/2023 21:21

Is your window open.
Is there a jasmine plant anywhere that has a strong scent.

Original poster
Altontowersq · 14/09/2023 21:38

Window was closed it's definitely inside and no other rooms smell of it. I do have a small fig tree in my office that someone bought me about 6 weeks ago but the smell doesnt seem to be coming from that and there's been no smell from it before it's just appeared all of a sudden and not like a faint whiff it is really strong. I've turned off all my electrics in case it's that. I'm going to move the tree to a different room to see what it's like tomorrow but I really don't think it's that.

OP posts:
Todayiscool · 14/09/2023 21:42

The only thing I can thing of, is there a mouldy citrus fruit in the bottom of the bin/your bag/something? A mouldy satsuma can smell surprisingly chemically.

Onemonthtofindandbuy · 14/09/2023 21:45

Todayiscool · 14/09/2023 21:42

The only thing I can thing of, is there a mouldy citrus fruit in the bottom of the bin/your bag/something? A mouldy satsuma can smell surprisingly chemically.

That was my first thought too. We always have lots of lemon and limes in the kitchen, and it hits you as soon as you walk in if one has started to go off. It’s a pretty unique smell, and surprisingly strong.

Ambleen · 14/09/2023 21:51

Degrading plastic smells very chemically. Surprised me to know it can happen too but a copy of an old fashoned sweet container and an Addis storage box have made a room reek on 2 occasions in our house.

Original poster
Altontowersq · 14/09/2023 21:57

Thanks for the ideas I am going to search everywhere tomorrow.

OP posts:
gggbbbnnn · 19/12/2023 22:29

Did you ever work this out? I'm smelling the same and came across this post on google.

Original poster
Altontowersq · 26/12/2023 03:14

gggbbbnnn · 19/12/2023 22:29

Did you ever work this out? I'm smelling the same and came across this post on google.

No but it's back! After around 2-3 weeks last time the smell went away and I hadn't thought about again it until 2 days ago when the smell came back. It's so, so stong and I have no idea what it could be.
Someone asked if it could be a neighbour but the house is detached. @gggbbbnnn if you find out what your smell is can you let me know?

OP posts:
Midnightgrey · 26/12/2023 03:53

We had a terrible smell in a room and it was the light fitting heating up some compoment of the fixture. Seemed to be a black plastic round that was the culprit.

gggbbbnnn · 26/12/2023 08:32

No idea yet, it’s driving me mad!!! Will keep you updated

Original poster
Altontowersq · 26/12/2023 10:07

Thanks I will have that looked at.

OP posts:
Loolabale · 18/03/2024 00:15

I came across this thread with the same problem, however, shortly after, I heard a pop and my fire alarms started going off.
a battery that was charging, exploded, not sure if it’s related at all or not but I hope it’s not the same scenario for you guys!@gggbbbnnn @Altontowersq

Why does my room smell like hairspray
gggbbbnnn · 18/03/2024 08:21

@Loolabale oh dear I’m glad you’re ok! That must have been scary 💔 I’ll unplug everything that I’m not using and see if it makes a difference. I don’t usually leave things plugged in although could be missing something and it’s driving me mad trying to work it out!! It’s been months now

New posts on this thread. Refresh page