Aluminium Smell

[daleyd]

Synesthesia, perhaps?

Synesthesia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the case of the garlic smell of aluminium, perhaps it might be parosmia - an altered sense of smell, typically seen as a consequence of COVID infection, or head injury. If you can smell it on aluminium, but others can't, it might be worth getting yourself checked out at the docs.

Now that’s interesting - I was quite ill back in august, after I’d been working up in Orkney. A colleague who was with me had virtually the same symptoms, but mine lasted longer (still going on to be honest…) and one of the things I also had was an overwhelming sense that everything now has a whiff of bleach about it.

I didn’t do a Covid test at the time but I wonder if it was??

 

[ATGNI]

Been doing some googling and the science says you cannot smell metal but I wonder how much research has been done. I think that you can smell metal!

 

[minimutly]

I can tell when a soldering iron is up to temp by the smell.

Heathkit supplied solder used to smell of pork ausages I recall...

 

[Farside]

Noticed tonight when cleaning a aluminium plate with a scotch bright pad and also when filling it, it gives off a strong smell. To me it smells like garlic. Can anyone report the same experience and do any metals actually smell or smell different to each other. I’m prepared to believe it’s madness on my part!

Chris……

Yep, I've noticed that with some aluminium, but don't know what type of alloy it was (number, etc).

 

[Farside]

I can tell when a soldering iron is up to temp by the smell.

See smoke, remove thumb.

 

[prepman]

Synesthesia, perhaps?

Synesthesia - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the case of the garlic smell of aluminium, perhaps it might be parosmia - an altered sense of smell, typically seen as a consequence of COVID infection, or head injury. If you can smell it on aluminium, but others can't, it might be worth getting yourself checked out at the docs.

Coffee is like that...you smell the taste or vice versa... But I think if something gets hot for the 1st time, or, hasn't been hot for a while, the dust/paint/coatings give off a heat related odour. Grinding steel is supposed to have different smells for different carbon content.

 

[beeRS]

I can’t smell aluminium when I cut it, but I can definitely smell the difference between polystyrene and acrylic when I cut them.

 

[Blue Boy]

I find that aluminium and rusty steel have a strong smell but only if I handle them. According to New Scientist it's because of organic-acid salts of metals, it's why coins stink. Article

 

[Greeves246]

My late wife could detect perfume at 25 paces and name any of the more expensive ones. No chance of me straying. Same if I had been near anyone smoking.

 

[Erie Fred]

 

[minimutly]

My late wife could detect perfume at 25 paces and name any of the more expensive ones. No chance of me straying. Same if I had been near anyone smoking.

I have to walk through the perfume halls in airports holding my nose or my sinuses hurt...

 

[Gareth J]

Could be all sorts of things happening in the taste/smell zone with the very fine particles that'd be sloughed off with scotchbrite or maybe filing. I'd take it as a sign that "something" is getting into the airways and try wearing a mask. Sometimes particulate masks radically alter smells as bigger chunks get trapped and change the smell "profile".

I always try to be conscious about smells around me. Sometimes, my morning coffee is spoiled by a biro that's been left in the table or an empty unwashed wine glass in the room. And yea, perfume that hangs around! I don't think my particular nose is anything special, just that, if you're conscious about it, the human sense of smell is much better than we often give credit.

 

[mangocrazy]

 

[Onoff]

I can smell body oddor of others pretty bad!

That's just the pits.