# ooooo, that smell **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 1999, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872 "1999-08-27T03:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Imthecowgodmoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Imthecowgodmoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imthecowgodmoo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/1 "1999-08-27T03:32:00Z")
I was mixing a bag of concrete the other day at work and noticed something very odd. As I mixed the contents with water a strange odor arose… the cement had the same smell as the ‘not so fresh’ odor. (you know, the naughty bits smell) Is there a connection between the two? Are there some chemicals that are present in the concrete that are present in or around the naughty bits, or is it just one weird coincidence? * * * “I’m not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information.” – Calvin and Hobbes (\_\_) `\/-------\ `| |-----| | …c.c…c.c… ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/2 "1999-08-27T04:11:00Z")
I’m sending you a bill for my dry-cleaning. Thanks to your post, I laughed so hard that I snorted wine out of my nose. I hope you’re happy. ---
**Author:** ![jayron\_32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@jayron\_32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayron_32)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/3 "1999-08-27T04:26:00Z")
The naughty-bits smell is due to numerous compounds, most of which are chemicals known as amines. Similar sorts of amins are found all over nature, and it is entirely possible that similar compounds are present in your cement. * * * Jason R Remy “No amount of legislation can solve America’s problems.” – Jimmy Carter (1980) ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/4 "1999-08-27T07:15:00Z")
Jayron 32: That’s not a very concrete answer. It doesn’t set sufficiently well with me, if you know what amine. Ray (Check out H2S in common.) ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/5 "1999-08-27T14:02:00Z")
Maybe it has something to do with a (I hate myself for this one) _Loverock_? * * * “Owls will deafen us with their incessant hooting!” W. Smithers ---
**Author:** ![jayron\_32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@jayron\_32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayron_32)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/6 "1999-08-27T14:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s not a very concrete answer. It doesn’t set sufficiently well with me, if you > know what amine. Well, let me smell your girlfriend, then! Seriously, there are dozens of possibilities, as tiny amounts of these things make different smells. They may not even be amines, I was just taking a stab because amines are some of the common odored compounds. Most bacteria, as well as humans, produce small-chain amines in excretion (urine), such as ammonia, Urea, etc. etc. This is what gives urine that pungent smell. But each person also has their own mostly unique combination of other chemicals, each present in tiny ammounts, which gives everyone their own smell. Not knowing the ingredients in your cement, which is bound to be easier than to identify than any one of the dozens to hundreds of odor causing chemicals present in the average person, it is tough to tell which chemicals are causing you to feel amorous about the concrete. * * * Jason R Remy “No amount of legislation can solve America’s problems.” – Jimmy Carter (1980) ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/7 "1999-08-27T15:30:00Z")
Did any visually-impaired fellows wander by and say “Good morning, ladies”? (I’m gonna pay for that one). ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 1999, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/8 "1999-08-27T15:52:00Z")
By way of (perhaps) redemption - Diatomaceous earth (used in many liquid filtering applications) consists primarliy of the skeletons of diatoms, teensy sea creatures. This substance has an extremely funky fishy (there, I said it) smell, and it’s possible your cement has a fair amount of this material mixed in. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 1999, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/9 "1999-08-28T00:31:00Z")
## “Well, let me smell your girlfriend, then!” —jayron 32 Loverock lives! Peace, mangeorge * * * Work like you don’t need the money… Love like you’ve never been hurt… Dance like nobody’s watching! …(Paraphrased) ---
**Author:** ![omniscientnot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a5b964/32.png) [@omniscientnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omniscientnot)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 1999, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/10 "1999-08-29T05:10:00Z")
You’re all way off! Cowgod, that’s what _can_ happen when you buy cheap, recycled concrete. The smell’s got nothing to do with ‘naughty bits’. Actually, the odor most probably comes from the ground up remains of some mafia double-crosser. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 1999, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ooooo-that-smell/2872/11 "1999-08-29T05:45:00Z")
Since when did they start grinding up guys who had been sleeping with the fishes?