# Great, I smell like fish oil

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 7, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521 "2011-02-07T15:39:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521/1 "2011-02-07T15:39:15Z")

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I had an MRI a week ago. During the procedure, the technician placed a small fish oil capsule on my skin to mark the area.

Well, he forgot to remove it after the test. When I got home after the procedure, I found the capsule still intact and taped to my skin.

Being the inquisitive sort that I am, I began rolling the capsule between my fingers and gave a little squeeze, causing the capsule to pop and spread oil on my fleece vest.

No biggy. I threw the vest in the wash and thought nothing of it.

Here I sit, Monday morning at work wearing my newly laundered fleece vest and wondering what the hell smells like linseed oil!?

Then I remembered the oil capsule. The smell is giving me a headache, but unfortunately it’s too damn cold not to wear it. Oh well. I guess maybe soak it in something to remove the oil when I get home tonight.

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521/2 "2011-02-07T15:46:23Z")

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So is it linseed oil or fish oil?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521/3 "2011-02-07T15:52:58Z")

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I assumed fish oil (googling shows that can be used to mark MRIs). Having never smelled capsulized fish oil, but _have_ smelled plenty of linseed oil, it smells similar to linseed.

Anyway, I’m going to soak it in white vinegar tonight.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521/4 "2011-02-07T16:00:18Z")

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Edit:

Further research suggests that maybe it’s vitamin E oil.

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**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-i-smell-like-fish-oil/570521/5 "2011-02-07T20:07:35Z")

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Look at the bright side, cats will love you!