DO you nose what hidden signals certain pongs could be telling you?
The Times has told how scientists have discovered women can smell fear.
4
The study by Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf found ladies who picked up whiffs of anxiety were less trusting.
Researchers believe the instinct to make friends with other women is primitive.
You may also be alerted by other odours.
These are the tell-tale smells to look for, from sickly sweet syrup to rotten eggs.
Burnt toast – brain trauma
THIS smell is often touted as a sign of a brain tumour or stroke.
This is sometimes true, but not always for the reasons you think.
Both of these health conditions can cause phantosmia, which causes sufferers hallucinate.
This happens when blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off.
Some people may think they smell toast. Others might also imagine other pongs.
Fish – burning appliances
IF you get a fishy stench in your home but you haven’t been cooking fish for dinner, you might want to check your white goods for burning sockets, light fixtures, or appliances overheating.
If you suspect that a device is the problem, unplug it and call an electrician.
If you smell a burning sensation or suspect that there is a fire, dial 999 immediately.
Rotten eggs – gas leak
WHILE an eggy pong could be blamed on the dog, it might be something more sinister.
Companies add carbon monoxide to their gas detection systems. Because carbon monoxide has a natural odour, they make it smell like rotten eggs.
A gas leak can cause you to feel dizzy, give you headaches, or ignite around an unaltered flame.
You can call National Gas Emergencies on 0800 112 999 to report a leak and get out of your home.
Ammonia – dead mice
IF your home smells of paint stripper, there could be a rotting carcass lurking.
As bacteria breaks down their bodies, dead mice, rats, and birds emit a strong paint stripper-like smell.
The pong is caused by compounds like methanethiol and hydrogen sulfide that are released as they decay.
So it might be an idea to check you haven’t forgotten about any mouse traps.
Sweet syrup – car problems
IF your motor starts smelling sickly sweet, it might be time to check under the bonnet.
Leaking coolant can have a syrupy smell so check under your car to see if it’s been leaking or inside for damp.
If left untreated, this can lead to engine overheating and even cause the car to be totaled.
Take your car to the garage for service if you suspect coolant.
No smell – Covid-19
LOSING your sense of smell altogether is one of the three main symptoms of coronavirus.
Other symptoms include a fever and a persistent, high-frequency cough.
Book a PCR through Gov.uk immediately if you notice your usual whiffs changing or disappearing.
Self-isolation is not necessary for people living in your home. They only need to be isolated if they are experiencing symptoms or have not been vaccinated.
Cat pee – Black mould
SMELL cat pee but don’t own a cat? Mold could be present.
Most moulds are earthy and musty-smelling. However, some types of fungus smell almost like cat pee.
Condensation can cause toxic black mould to emit a urine-like smell.
The mould’s spores can cause an allergic reaction with symptoms including breathing problems and nausea.
You can avoid this by keeping your home well ventilated.
Nail polish remover – diabetes
IF your breath starts to smell sweet and fruity like nail polish remover, you could have both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Your liver uses chemical ketones to breakdown fats to create the acetone-like smell.
Low insulin levels can cause these to build up.
Visit your GP if you think you might be suffering from diabetes.
Almonds – Cyanide
THE poison cyanide can smell like bitter almonds – but only to some people.
One in four people have a recessive gene that allows them to detect the toxin in small amounts in fruit pips and almonds.
Cyanide can be inhaled or consumed in crystal or gas form.
Mild cases may cause dizziness, headaches, rapid heart rate and dizziness.
Wood – Old pipes
IF water from your taps smells a bit woody, it could mean your water is supplied with old pipes.
The smell is caused by alkathenes, which were present in the first plastic pipes connected to water mains.
Although this type of plastic is safe, running the taps should reduce its odor.
If you want to eliminate the smell completely, however, you’ll need to replace your pipes.
4
4
4