# Cigarettes smell funny **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 7, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729 "2006-09-07T01:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/1 "2006-09-07T01:12:28Z")
I’m not sure if I posted this here or not but my wife and I quit smoking (except the occasional cigar, and even that not in our new house) for good back in January. In case anyone is interested, I used the gum; in fact I still have half a box. Anyway since I work from home I don’t come into contact with smokers much. So I’m standing in a parking lot yesterday and I smell this well smoke. I never realized how odd cigarette smoke smells. I couldn’t even identify it for a moment. How in the world could I have not noticed it before, or did my mind just edit it out? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/2 "2006-09-07T01:46:00Z")
Sure 'nuff. I don’t get the “oh, that smells so disgusting” thing, or the “oh god, I’d kill for one of them right now” thing…it’s just sort of “Hmm…someone had a smoke here in the last 15 minutes”. I’m amazed now at how long it’ll stay in the air, too. In no way was I aware of it when I was a smoker, but man, on a windless evening, that stuff _lingers_. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/3 "2006-09-07T04:28:56Z")
[QUOTE=Stuffy] I never realized how odd cigarette smoke smells. I couldn’t even identify it for a moment. [/quote] We non-smokers call it a _stink_, _pong_, or _reek_. > [@](#): > > How in the world could I have not noticed it before, or did my mind just edit it out? Courtesy of nicotine addiction, that’s precisely it, yes. It requires that you not notice how appalling the whole process of smoking is, from smell to ash to littering. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/4 "2006-09-07T07:35:48Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] I’m amazed now at how long it’ll stay in the air, too. In no way was I aware of it when I was a smoker, but man, on a windless evening, that stuff _lingers_. [/QUOTE] My father was diagnosed with lung cancer in '97, stopped smoking ( :smack: ) and making stupid jokes like “given how much I smoke and for how long I’ve done it, if all that stuff about losing 5 minutes was true I’d be dead”. Died in '00. In '03, the curtains in the living room still smelled of cigarrete smoke; we wash them twice a year. He smelled cigarettes made of cigar tobacco, not Virginia; I always have been able to recognize both kinds by smell, although I’ve never been a smoker. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/5 "2006-09-07T13:23:54Z")
It is very strange how your sense of smell (and taste!) comes back to you… 3 years smoke-free as of Aug 19. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/6 "2006-09-07T14:08:32Z")
11 days smoke free today. After 35 years. AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Cold turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/7 "2006-09-07T14:53:03Z")
Stay with it, Jali! You can do it! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/8 "2006-09-07T16:04:34Z")
Congratulations **Stuffy** and **Stuffywife**! Use all that money you are saving from not smoking and treat yourself to something you’ll enjoy far more! You know what made my mom quit smoking? When I told her that I could tell with my eyes shut which Christmas package came from her and my dad, because when I’d open it, stale cigarette air would come out of it. She was more appalled about sending people stinky packages than she was by the idea she could get cancer from smoking. But hey, whatever works! ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/9 "2006-09-07T16:09:26Z")
Smokers absolutely have a depressed olifactory sense. This is part of the reason they can’t understand why non-smokers are so particular about having a non-smoking motel room etc. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/10 "2006-09-07T16:27:48Z")
Something that I’ve been noticing lately is that I can really smell the chemicals in cigarettes (as opposed to just the tobaccoey goodness), especially on fabric, like say when I wake up in the morning. I don’t know if it’s because the generic ones I smoke have more additives or if all cigs have more in them these days, but I don’t ever recall noticing it in the past. And **romansperson** , I totally get how your mom felt. I’m closer than I’ve ever been since I started (28 years ago)to stopping precisely because I’m tired of my house smelling. Being somewhat of a loner and having the “if you don’t like it, don’t visit me” attitude, I never much cared, but now that it’s starting to annoy _me_, it may be time. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/11 "2006-09-07T16:38:06Z")
[QUOTE=romansperson] Congratulations **Stuffy** and **Stuffywife**! Use all that money you are saving from not smoking and treat yourself to something you’ll enjoy far more! [/QUOTE] Thanks. I think the motivation for us is that we knew we’d be buying a house this summer. We both talked about not smoking in the new house then one Saturday on a whim I picked up the gum. Like I said I never finished the box. WOOKINPANUB: > [@](#): > > Something that I’ve been noticing lately is that I can really smell the chemicals in cigarettes (as opposed to just the tobaccoey goodness), especially on fabric, like say when I wake up in the morning. I don’t know if it’s because the generic ones I smoke have more additives or if all cigs have more in them these days, but I don’t ever recall noticing it in the past I think that may be it, it’s the artificialness (is that a word) I think I was noticing. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/12 "2006-09-07T17:03:45Z")
I quit six years ago and it smells wonderfull when someone lights up. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/13 "2006-09-07T18:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I quit six years ago and it smells wonderfull when someone lights up. [/QUOTE] True, but not so wonderful when they put it out and it lingers on their clothes… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/14 "2006-09-07T19:17:07Z")
I smoke and I can’t stand the smell of smoke. It does stink and it makes you stink. Of course I only notice it when I’m in a smoke-free environment, but I notice it. The other day my friend and I were smoking in bed (that’s really safe, innit?), and I don’t usually smoke in my bedroom. When I went to bed I had to Febreeze the pillows so I could sleep w/o having to smell smoke. Perhaps I just don’t smoke enough. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/15 "2006-09-07T20:45:08Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] True, but not so wonderful when they put it out and it lingers on their clothes… [/QUOTE] But for me, not as gawdawful, gagging, possum choking as most folks here say. 🙂 I didn’t like the ashtray odor when I smoked, but it smells no worse now. ---
**Author:** ![amijane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@amijane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amijane)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/16 "2006-09-07T21:43:45Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I quit six years ago and it smells wonderfull when someone lights up. [/QUOTE] Aww man! I quit in April, and I was really hoping that’d wear off and I’d begin to hate the smell. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/17 "2006-09-07T22:09:10Z")
I dunno, I think it’s pretty possum-choking. I remember a guy I knew a long time ago pulled out a cigarette in my living room. I said “oh, you can’t smoke that in here. Please smoke it outside if you need to.” He said ok, then proceded to light it. I said “Um!?!?” and started to sputter, and he walked to the door and said “what? I’m going outside!” The house smelled for weeks just from that 10 seconds or so that he had his lit cigarette in the room. He couldn’t understand why I was pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/18 "2006-09-07T22:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=amijane] Aww man! I quit in April, and I was really hoping that’d wear off and I’d begin to hate the smell. Dammit. [/QUOTE] Everyone is different. Plenty of people find themselves hating the smell just a few weeks after quitting, while others take much longer. Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with how much exposure you get to smokers on a daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/19 "2006-09-07T22:49:21Z")
[QUOTE=amijane] Aww man! I quit in April, and I was really hoping that’d wear off and I’d begin to hate the smell. Dammit. [/QUOTE] I quit a year ago last May and I am turned off by smoke smells now. I guess I could say I hate it. I hate it in close spaces (like bars, or walking behind someone who is smoking) when people light up - it really does smell disgusting. I can smell smokers’ vehicles when they pass me when I’m walking or biking, even if they don’t have the windows rolled all the way down. That’s what gets me the most - the people who smoke in their cars and drive around with the windows down - what a reek that is coming out of those cars! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729/20 "2006-09-07T23:11:37Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] The house smelled for weeks just from that 10 seconds or so that he had his lit cigarette in the room. [/QUOTE] You could get a job with the cops as a drug-smelling-opalcat. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-smell-funny/371729.md?page=2)