Stuff off the Gestetner machine! That’s nostalgic. That stuff reeked like anything, and would get all over the hands when wet. Yup, that smell will always remind me of school.
Yeah that’s it! I loved the smell of those newsletters!
Oh, goodie, I’m not the only one!
I remember when I was a child and we would go to fuel the car, and I’d be actively drawing in breaths for all the gasoliney goodness that I could handle. Mama had to order me to “Stop that!” several times.
When I drove buses a few years back, I also liked the diesel smell in our depot, just as long as it didn’t become too overwhelming (which it did, on occasion).
I always tried to sit on the side of the car where the fuel filler door was so I could get the maximum amount of gas fumes. We had seven kids in a backseat meant to seat only three people, so getting a window seat was a battle. I rue the day when they mandated vapor recovery devices on the gas pumps so the fumes no longer escaped.
I’m not as wierd as I thought I was. My Dad is a mechanic, so the smells associated with cars invoke good feelings for me. Gasoline, Diesel, Exhaust fumes, Brake Cleaner, WD-40…(who doesn’t love the smell of WD-40?). Another wierd smell that I love is creosote. I love it so much that I will walk up and sniff a telephone pole much to the horror of anyone with me. It’s hard to find a creosote coated telephone pole anymore.
Yep.
I find it generall unappealing unless the smell is mixed with seawater or fresh cut grass. Then I love it.
I was going to say that I dislike it, but the combination of the smell of gas and the smell of lake water has the same effect on me. It reminds me of taking the boat out for the first time every summer. My family used to spend a lot of time at our cottage on a lake in Michigan and I really miss it sometimes.
I hate it. One reason we got an electric lawn mower instead of a gas one is because I hate the smell of gasoline that you get from gas mowers so much.
Same here. Used to like it, but not too fond of how it smells when it’s full of ethanol or MTBE.
**INK! ** Now there’s a smell I dig. More than once, I’ve walked past a print shop, paused at the door, took a deep breath and continued along to wherever I was going. More accurately, it’s the blanket wash and the various other clean-up solvents that all mix into a happy warm aroma, but I love the smell regardless.
How about musty books?
Love Gas…kerosene…but even moreso: racing fuel (high octane race gas and nitromethane…smells like victory!)
I also love hoppes gun oil, but I haven’t had a chance to smell that in YEARS.
I thought jet fuel = kerosene?
Oh, YEAH! I’ll stick my nose deep in any ol’ pulpy paperback and breath deeeeeeep. Always takes me back to my town library when I was growing up. Love that smell.
I love musty books, too. Also, the unique but also musty smell inside some Disney rides, particularly Pirates of the Caribbean.
I file this under: Smells I really like, but shouldn’t
See also: Cat breath
I hate it, and you’re all weird!
Hate it. Its a reminder that my gas tank is still leaking, and that sucks.
You’re correct. The proper shipping name for jet fuel is Aviation Kerosene.
As products distilled from crude oil go, kerosene and diesel are very similar. Kerosene is a little bit lighter and has a lower freeze point than diesel. Winter diesel comes from blending diesel with kerosene.
As part of the quality control process at the airport, we drained and inspected a sample of jet fuel (anywhere from about 1/2 gallon to 5 gallons per truck) from each of our jet fuel trucks every day. The remains from the sample were dumped into the diesel tank of the fuel trucks.
I have found my soulmate.
Love it, but not as much as I love the smell of my aunt’s garage, which is a wonderful combination of petrochemical, musty book, cold old cement, and a hint of woodsmoke. And if freezers make any smell, that too.