4 ms·
I feel like i have a normal palette and preferences for smells, but for some reason diesel exhaust (like from a school bus) has always been in my top 5. Makes m
by yummypaint 6y ago
I feel like i have a normal palette and preferences for smells, but for some reason diesel exhaust (like from a school bus) has always been in my top 5. Makes me wonder how common this kind of thing is and how much random variation there is among people.
- slfnflctd 6y agoFascinating. Of all the 'sharp' smells in my environments over the years, diesel exhaust has always been one of the absolute harshest to me. Feels like it's actively damaging my lungs perceptibly in real time. It's the primary reason I keep my car's climate control on internal circulation almost constantly. I flinch whenever I detect the slightest trace. Maybe I got exposed to a little too much of it as a kid.
- sfink 6y agoI have that reaction to the exhaust that airplanes introduce to the cabin when reversing out of the gate before takeoff. It boggles my mind why all outside air isn't shut off when reversing. I get an instant headache and have difficulty breathing, and I'm generally not sensitive to much of anything.
- arsome 6y agoYuck, I hate diesel exhaust but that slight unburnt fuel smell from a 2 stroke small engine is what I'm all about.
- ticmasta 6y ago2-stroke exhaust and new tires... Maybe it's the association with memorable activities like visiting a motorcycle dealership with my dad as a kid, or a mowed lawn and warm summer rain? Meanwhile diesel exhaust makes me think of those cold, cold winter days, waiting for the car to warm up on an ice-cold vinyl seat...
- MayeulC 6y agoI hate diesel exhaust. New car smell makes me want to puke (and did, on numerous occasions, as a kid) so bad that I have to take breaks and open windows. The absolute worst is burnt heavy fuel like mazut, and other two-stroke engines that burn oil. It smells like cigarettes to me, but worse. On the other hand, gasoline is kind of nice to smell. Go figure, chemicals react weirdly with our sense of smell, I don't think it's wise to rely on it for synthetic compounds (cue bitter almond smell). Edit: And it is commonly accepted that odors are wired to memories, so living on a boat when I was young and having family members that smoke are probably linked to these sensations.
- stuaxo 6y agoI thought it was the smoother ride on newer cars (or when I was really little associated it with green cars), but probably was the smell all along.
- nitrogen 6y agoI've heard that certain mineral deficiencies in an extended family member of mine caused them to love the smell of gasoline, and to crave and eat dirt.
- brundolf 6y agoSchool bus diesel is associative for me; it makes me think of field trips and band stuff. I can see how "new car smell" would be associative for getting a new car, regardless of the appeal of the smell itself
- iamatworknow 6y ago+1 for diesel exhaust. It gives me weird flashbacks of being on like a Greyhound bus or Amtrak train when I was little and with my family which are somehow comforting.
- dehrmann 6y agoI bet a lot of people worked on cars with family and have a similar association.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- SpikedCola 6y agoSame! From the other comments it appears "not very common". Or maybe just selection bias! I find it interesting noticing the different kinds of "diesel smells" - new cars vs. older, tractors, semis, etc. For the record I also enjoy the kerosene-type fuel smell of jet engines.
- jagger27 6y agoI absolutely loved the smell of my RX-8’s rotary engine dumping fuel into the catalytic converter on a cold day to warm it up faster. It also burned a bit of oil while running.
- kevincox 6y agoI don't like the exhaust but I like the smell of unburnt gasoline. Certainly not good for you and I have been lucky enough not to smell it frequently for years now.