# Is this "smell" psychosomatic?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 4, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951 "2015-08-04T04:56:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951/1 "2015-08-04T04:56:29Z")

</div>

As I mentioned in another thread, I have a pair of cuticle scissors I use exclusively for nose hairs.

In the past few months, I’ve noticed that after I use them, I sense this “smell” in my nostrils. It’s in quotes because it’s not exactly a smell; it’s more like a sensation or a taste that’s also in the back of my throat, almost congealing. It’s metallic, and kind of gross. This happens even if I don’t poke or nick the inside of my nose with it or anything like that.

Is there any explanation for this? I’m kind of stumped.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951/2 "2015-08-04T04:57:59Z")

</div>

Probably not. Some metallic objects do give off a smell.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951/3 "2015-08-04T07:20:03Z")

</div>

Perhaps, but it never used to before. I’ve been using it for quite a while, and I only noticed this happening relatively recently, which was why I was wondering. What could’ve caused such a thing?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SeniorCitizen007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@SeniorCitizen007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeniorCitizen007)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951/4 "2015-08-04T14:05:16Z")

</div>

You are suffering from Idiopathic dysgeusia.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-smell-psychosomatic/726951/5 "2015-08-04T15:14:25Z")

</div>

Sterilize the scissors with alcohol, let them sit out on the counter overnight to air dry, then use them again. Report back.