Phantom garlic smells when pregnant - what's that all about?!

[threeleftfeet]

I'm some weeks pregnant (it's early days, no dating scan as yet!)

The other day I smelt a really strong garlic smell in DS's room. Then later I smelt it elsewhere. Then I smelt it a third time somewhere totally different again and realised I must be imagining it! I did wonder if it was me, but it didn't seem to be!

Now today one of the other posters on my antenatal thread said she's been smelling random garlic smells too.

So I googled it and there are load of pregnant women on forums complaining of smelling random garlic smells!

Some of them think they smell of it themselves, some think their partner smells of it, some think specific objects smell of it (one said her purse and jacket smelt of it) and some (like me) just smell it randomly - it's not connected to any actual garlic / person / thing.

I can't find any explanation for it (and I've been googling for at least 5 minutes!!)

Does anyone know what causes it?

Have you had it?

Here's one on baby centre for example

"For the last couple of days, everything smells like garlic to me! My husband, my toothbrush, my fridge, my entire office, my milk, my cereal?.and I haven?t had garlic at all this week. It?s the most bizarre thing! "

but nobody could offer an explanation.

here's another on babytalkzone (Beware! Tickers!)

"My purse smells like garlic, my coffee mug when I go to take a sip smells like garlic, my jacket smells like it too!

What a weirdo! Anyone else surrounded by a world that smells like garlic?"

Again no explanation

And there are loads more.

What causes it? It's a mystery!!

I FEEL YOUR PAIN! Yes I got this too, until about... 5 weeks ago (I'm 35 weeks). As well as phantom garlic smells, I was also extreeeeeeeeemly sensitive to garlic on anyone's breath. Like... gagging sensitive Poor DH was banished to the sofa many a night after even "looking" at garlicky food!

Hi, sorry don't know reason or anything, but just to say I've had this with both my pregnancies. I thought I could smell garlic everywhere. I couldn't stand the smell of food with garlic in it and it was banned from our house. Everything went back to normal around 16 weeks or so when my sickness subsided, so the two definitely went hand in hand for me.

Hi! I know this is an old thread but I’m having this- did you have boys or girls?

Legit 7 pregnancies and everytime my hands smell like garlic I love garlic but smelling it on my hands makes me gag

Hi. This is a super old post but wanted to add to it in case others are reading. The weekend I started me”period” I smelled garlic really strong and couldn’t figure it out. I had a 24 hr heavy period, headaches, and a 3 days later, some nausea and extreme hip ache for two nights. Nothing since then. Am waiting to test. Will update (if I can remember)

Did you get any news about what caused your symptoms? I’m having similar symptoms.

I am 14 weeks pregnant and have started smelling a strong garlic smell on my husband. The smell is making me feel quite sick and I have to sleep with the windows open and sleep facing away from him. I don’t want to offend him
or upset him but I don’t know what to do?
does he actually smell of garlic or is it just my super sensitive nose ?