Breath smelt like a bonfire

[cheesecadet]

Mentioned to my boyfriend that in the night his breath smelt strange after he'd got up to 'go for a wee'. He couldn't understand why and was trying to think of causes!

So I heard him get up in the night and go to the bathroom (not unusual for him to do this) although I didn't hear him wee, he said he had a posh one so he didn't wake me up. He didn't know I'd woken up until I told him in the morning. When he got back in bed his breath smelt of a bonfire. A strange smokey smell, but no smell on his skin or in the air.

He doesn't smoke (it didn't smell of cigarettes anyway). Anyone think this is strange?

Is the getting up to wee a regular thing or new? Has he been checked for diabetes? When was his last set of regular blood tests? Any other symptoms?

He's been getting up for all the time I've known him, says he's always done this (he's in his 40's). Don't think he's had any blood tests. No other symptoms but has asthma. Said he'd not had his inhaler in the night. Is that how diabetes can smell?

I put it in relationships rather than general health as I'd not thought it could be related to health reasons!

Health issues can cause breath problems, but if his breath was definitely absolutely 100% without question fine before the bathroom, and smelt like woodsmoke afterwards, that's weird.

That sounds like more like he's inhaling something, or using some weirdly scented mouth product.

What sort of age are you OP? I kept saying our car smelt of cigarette smoke when I got in it, apparently it’s a sign of perimenopause! Was it definitely his breath?

Has he been getting up in the night for a shot of whisky?

Interesting. I was kind of waiting for this response. He does drink whisky 'occasionally' and says he used to have a problem with drink. Can whisky smell like this?

I am peri yes and it was only on his breath. He does have problems sleeping sometimes.

It can, yes.

This is going to sound woo but how is your relationship? And are you pregnant, post natal or peri?

I went through a very weird and high stress time when I gave birth to my son. His father was abusive but I hadn't worked it out yet.

The whole week I was in hospital, my husband (now ex) had terrible smelling breath. He was stinking out my hopstial room. It was like burnt plastic. Really awful. Objectively, it wasn't actual bad breath but made me feel ill.

I think it was hormonal from me but I was reacting to him. He was probably drinking too much Coca-Cola and eating badly though can't explain it other than it was an absolute physical reaction to him....and it was definitely him. He has not health issues.

Ha ..I probably sound crazy. Hope all is well with you.

Definitely wood smokey smell. I can't say for sure that I was awake before he went but when I fell asleep his breath was fine.

Absolutely. Think it’s case closed.

Im no whisky expert but your post reminded me of the one time I tried it a couple of years ago and I said "it tastes like fire!"

No idea if thats what your smelling but if he does like whisky and has had a problem then I would definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for anything else unusual.

thought he was having a sneaky peated whisky from the first comment and i see others agree. weird to get up for a shot in the middle of the night though.

I think diabetes is associated with a sweeter smell - acetone or pear drops. DH started to smell strongly of vinegar a while back - not breath, but coming out through the pores of his skin - and I was fearful he was pre-diabetic, but it seemed to resolve itself after a while.

Agree with @aberturret, it could be you, not him (depending on your age). During peri my sense of smell became very heightened and I was aware not only of phantom smells (including burning/smoke) but that some ‘normal’ smells, particularly certain skin products and body smells, had become utterly repellent to me.

Unfortunately that hasn’t gone away, and I’m still hyper-sensitive to some scents which I find nauseating.

Laphroaig has a very woodsmoky smell/taste. He wouldn’t be getting up and chugging a shot of whisky though, would he? That’s very odd.

It was definitely a bonfire smell only on his breath. So it sounds like he's still got a problem? Thing is when I asked him about it he didn't flap or anything, didn't flush or look nervous or worried and he did genuinely seem keen to find out what it was I was smelling. He's a bit of a mard too.

But I wouldn't just smell something phantom on his breath would I? Even if it was me and being peri. Surely I'd be smelling other strange things too, which I don't.

Surely whisky on someone's breath would also have a fairly strong alcohol smell, as well as smokiness?

Whisky/Scotch like Ardbeg, smells like peat. If you're not familiar with it, find some and try. You'll recognise it instantly if that's what it is.

It's an extremely strong smell and absolutely does smell like certain kinds of wood smoke - and a lot more 'bonfire' than 'campfire', if that makes sense.

That doesn't mean he's a raging alcoholic or anything, but he shouldn't be lying to you.

This is what I was thinking.

I do know that some other substances can leave a burning smell in people's mouths, but he wouldn't be going back to sleep after using them that's for sure and there would be some behavioral changes which the OP hasn't said she's noticed.

Yes, you'd definitely notice the general alcohol smell before the smokiness. If he was glugging a mouthful of whisky in the middle of the night, it would be so obvious you wouldn't be wondering what you were smelling.

If he has trouble sleeping id bet he gets up in the night for a shot of whisky to try and help him sleep. Doesn't want to tell you for whatever reason.

Id be on edge during future wakings to see what i could hear and smell 😅

Like what, drugs??

No alcohol smell at all. All his friends drink whisky daily and he's lost a few friends through alcohol.

Tobacco flavoured vape? Smells like a bonfire especially if the liquid catches slightly.

Whiskey smells like alcohol as well as smoke.