Phantom smells - The DIS Discussion Forums

phorsenuf · 01-25-2013, 05:22 PM

Lately I keep smelling cigarette smoke. Nobody here smokes and I smell it inside the house at random times. Does anyone else ever get this? It's so odd.

LongLiveDisney · 01-25-2013, 05:26 PM

It happened to us yesterday. Same here, no one smokes. It was gone this morning. So weird!

njmom47 · 01-25-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phorsenuf

Lately I keep smelling cigarette smoke. Nobody here smokes and I smell it inside the house at random times. Does anyone else ever get this? It's so odd.

This happens to me at work from time to time...we have a non-smoking building (of course) but it sure smells like someone smokes in the ladies room. I really don't think it's possible...I really don't, but I feel like I must be crazy but I really do smell it!

Southernmiss · 01-25-2013, 05:40 PM

Happens to me, too. Sometimes, if the window is open it's the smoke from the lady next door who smokes on her patio. Other times, there's no logical explanation. Maybe its a deceased relative coming around. I don't know...

thedonduck · 01-25-2013, 05:46 PM

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/diseases-s...e-5782098.html

Apparently this a syndrome and possibly a sign of major medical problem! Please don't think on trying to scare you or think you need to seek medical help , I just thought this was interesting!

7165red · 01-25-2013, 05:59 PM

WOW, that is something, thanks for the link.

LSmith · 01-25-2013, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phorsenuf

Lately I keep smelling cigarette smoke. Nobody here smokes and I smell it inside the house at random times. Does anyone else ever get this? It's so odd.

Weird. Lately, I often think that I'm smelling cigarette smoke in my home or car and I'm 100% sure that no one smokes.

thedonduck · 01-25-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7165red

WOW, that is something, thanks for the link.

You bet

! I hope no one takes offense to it! I seriously enjoy reading up on various disorders and man does Dr. Google make that fun at times

momz · 01-25-2013, 06:18 PM

have you changed your furnace filter lately. maybe you've had some dust burn up in your furnace. It can cause a smell like that.

Kathryn Merteuil · 01-25-2013, 06:42 PM

We used to experience an odd phantom smell. (Not cigarette smoke) it was more like a nasty, stagnant smell. It as happening in the kitchen, dining room, and up the hall. I never could quite locate it because it wasn't in just one spot AND it was intermittent.

Finally one day I had ENOUGH, I pulled everything out of the kitchen, crawled around and started sniffing like a hound dog or something with a flashlight. I finally discovered it was the refrigerator's drip pan. When the refrigerator ran, it would blow that gosh awful smell out and circulate it. It was a new refrigerator too, like months old. Eventually they replaced it because they could not stop that from happening (after MANY service calls under warranty). The new one... exact same one *knock on wood* has not done anything like that.

In regards to phantom cigarette smoke, I used to live in an apartment and it smelled like smoke all the time...I am assuming it was because the neighbors on both sides were heavy smokers.

SaraJayne · 01-25-2013, 07:40 PM

Were the previous owners smokers?

Nolcrest · 01-25-2013, 09:01 PM

Sometimes when someone in my family eats pickles or salad dressing for some reason it smells like cigarette smoke to me. Go figure.

indimom · 01-25-2013, 11:09 PM

Phantom odors can have a medical cause (some more severe than others). I had a period where I kept smelling household cleaners and Bandaids. Always those two. And it was really, really strong. Almost overpowering, so I knew it wasn't real from the start. I would have had to hold it directly under my nose to get an odor that strong. And it would fade within minutes, five at most.
My doctor believed it was caused by polyps. I guess they irritate the sensory processes and trigger the brain into "thinking" it smells something. Hard to explain. I started using nasal spray to treat the polyps and haven't had a repeat phantom odor in a couple years.
But, there can be other more serious causes, so if it continues, I would check with a doctor.

phorsenuf · 01-26-2013, 09:07 AM

Thanks for all the replies. Glad to see I'm not alone. The previous occupants weren't smokers and before that this was a vacation rental home, so again, no smoking. I started thinking my husband had been sneaking a couple, but it's not him.

The medical links are interesting. If I think of it (and it's still happening) I'll mention it to my Dr at my next appointment.

kimmar067 · 01-26-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedonduck

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/diseases-s...e-5782098.html

Apparently this a syndrome and possibly a sign of major medical problem!

....

wow, that's scary!

01-25-2013, 05:22 PM	#1
phorsenuf Not so New Rule author on the DISSome discuss it calmly and some ... Grandma Oboe Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Davenport FL, via Concord NH Posts: 17,696	Phantom smells Lately I keep smelling cigarette smoke. Nobody here smokes and I smell it inside the house at random times. Does anyone else ever get this? It's so odd. __________________

01-25-2013, 05:26 PM	#2
LongLiveDisney DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,080	It happened to us yesterday. Same here, no one smokes. It was gone this morning. So weird! __________________ Me DM DF DSis DB

01-25-2013, 05:46 PM	#5
thedonduck DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: From the home of the Pack to the house of the mouse! Posts: 914	http://m.voices.yahoo.com/diseases-s...e-5782098.html Apparently this a syndrome and possibly a sign of major medical problem! Please don't think on trying to scare you or think you need to seek medical help , I just thought this was interesting! __________________ Mom Dad DS (32 months) DD (15 months) Disney Magic - Oct. 2009 (Honeymoon) 7 Night Western Caribbean Disney Wonder - Oct 2010 4 Night Bahamas Disney Dream - July 2011 5 Night Double Dip Disney Fantasy - September 2013 7 Night Eastern Caribbean Disney Magic - September 2014 14 Night Western Bound Transatlantic WDW- Too many times to count Resorts: POP, All Star Sports, Saratoga Springs, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Kidani Village A cheesehead who moved to Mouse World... hope we don't melt

01-25-2013, 09:01 PM	#12
Nolcrest DIS Veteran Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: New York Posts: 1,610	Sometimes when someone in my family eats pickles or salad dressing for some reason it smells like cigarette smoke to me. Go figure. __________________ Lauri

01-25-2013, 11:09 PM	#13
indimom Are We There Yet? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,006	Phantom odors can have a medical cause (some more severe than others). I had a period where I kept smelling household cleaners and Bandaids. Always those two. And it was really, really strong. Almost overpowering, so I knew it wasn't real from the start. I would have had to hold it directly under my nose to get an odor that strong. And it would fade within minutes, five at most. My doctor believed it was caused by polyps. I guess they irritate the sensory processes and trigger the brain into "thinking" it smells something. Hard to explain. I started using nasal spray to treat the polyps and haven't had a repeat phantom odor in a couple years. But, there can be other more serious causes, so if it continues, I would check with a doctor. __________________ PTR: July 2013: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3051923 Susan 40 Matt 40 Emily 15 Garren 13

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01-25-2013, 05:40 PM	#4
Southernmiss I am hazed everyday Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,391	Happens to me, too. Sometimes, if the window is open it's the smoke from the lady next door who smokes on her patio. Other times, there's no logical explanation. Maybe its a deceased relative coming around. I don't know...

01-25-2013, 05:59 PM	#6
7165red DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,489	WOW, that is something, thanks for the link.

01-25-2013, 06:18 PM	#9
momz DIS Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 642	have you changed your furnace filter lately. maybe you've had some dust burn up in your furnace. It can cause a smell like that.

01-25-2013, 06:42 PM	#10
Kathryn Merteuil Barden Bella Join Date: May 2012 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 5,216	We used to experience an odd phantom smell. (Not cigarette smoke) it was more like a nasty, stagnant smell. It as happening in the kitchen, dining room, and up the hall. I never could quite locate it because it wasn't in just one spot AND it was intermittent. Finally one day I had ENOUGH, I pulled everything out of the kitchen, crawled around and started sniffing like a hound dog or something with a flashlight. I finally discovered it was the refrigerator's drip pan. When the refrigerator ran, it would blow that gosh awful smell out and circulate it. It was a new refrigerator too, like months old. Eventually they replaced it because they could not stop that from happening (after MANY service calls under warranty). The new one... exact same one knock on wood has not done anything like that. In regards to phantom cigarette smoke, I used to live in an apartment and it smelled like smoke all the time...I am assuming it was because the neighbors on both sides were heavy smokers.

01-25-2013, 07:40 PM	#11
SaraJayne Stop moving those smilies! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 12,075	Were the previous owners smokers?

01-26-2013, 09:07 AM	#14
phorsenuf Not so New Rule author on the DISSome discuss it calmly and some ... Grandma Oboe Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Davenport FL, via Concord NH Posts: 17,696	Thanks for all the replies. Glad to see I'm not alone. The previous occupants weren't smokers and before that this was a vacation rental home, so again, no smoking. I started thinking my husband had been sneaking a couple, but it's not him. The medical links are interesting. If I think of it (and it's still happening) I'll mention it to my Dr at my next appointment. __________________

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