# Why do my farts smell good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 24, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293 "2002-04-24T05:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/1 "2002-04-24T05:01:08Z")
Well, I am sure that my farts don’t smell so good to you, but I have noticed that people in general don’t seem to mind the smell of their own farts. Why is this? Is there a pychological reason for it?😕 ---
**Author:** ![cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/2 "2002-04-24T05:16:27Z")
Maybe it’s [Narcissistic Personality Disorder](http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Personality_Disorders/Site/Transcripts/narcissism.htm). It’s not NPD in my case, though. My farts really _do_ have a wonderful aroma. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/3 "2002-04-24T09:20:16Z")
probably for the same reason that (i) picking your own nose (ii) wiping your bum (iii) squeezing yourown pimples are nicer to do to yourself than to other people (if not then please seek a competent therapist). It is probably a hangover from evolutionary past, preventing the spread of germs ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90db22/32.png) [@JDM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/4 "2002-04-24T12:09:01Z")
The famous theologian, [Reverend Moon](http://www.unification.net/1996/960801.html), has this to say on the subject: > [@](#): > > You may think it rude if I share this with you, but I would like to give you an example. You use the bathroom each morning. When you defecate, do you wear a gas mask? This is not a laughing matter but a serious one. If you are near someone else defecating, you will quickly move a good distance away. But when you smell your own feces, you do not even notice it. This is because that fecal matter is one with your body. Therefore, you do not feel that it is dirty. in the course of a very curious sermon. JDM ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/5 "2002-04-24T14:41:08Z")
I guess this means I’m one with my poo. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/6 "2002-04-24T15:31:10Z")
“Why do my farts smell good?” So your deaf girlfriend, if you ever get one, can enjoy them too. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/7 "2002-04-24T17:14:47Z")
must . . . not . . . open . . . thread . . . [sub] damn [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/8 "2002-04-24T19:01:49Z")
You only _think_ your farts smell good… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/9 "2002-04-25T06:13:32Z")
Actually, I am curious to know. I remember this question coming up when I was a kid and it was never answered (or taken seriously for that matter). A related question: can you distinguish your own waste from someone else’s by smell alone? Of course, you just have to figure out which smells sweetest… ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/10 "2002-04-25T09:29:11Z")
I remember seeing Arsenio Hall doing a bit about this on his old late night show. Something about how you know when you’re in love with someone: you need something from the bathroom when they’re using it, and _IT DON’T STINK!_ ---
**Author:** ![Darkfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@Darkfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkfox)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/11 "2002-04-26T14:17:17Z")
I’ve often noticed that “my own fluids are ok” sentiment, but the surprising thing is that this blind spot seems to cover things that ooze out of your children as well. The thought of wiping up feces and vomit from a stranger is Marmite-level-gross, but I have done that routinely for my daughter and not even cared. I’ve also barehanded the occasional booger, been peed on, and had a saliva-covered pacifier stuffed in my mouth. While I’ve sorta grossed myself out recalling all of this, it didn’t even bother me at the time. Parenthood, eh? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/12 "2002-04-26T18:39:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Darkfox \* > The thought of wiping up feces and vomit from a stranger is Marmite-level-gross, but I have done that routinely for my daughter and not even cared. My wife calls this the “who _else_ is going to clean your kid?” syndrone. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/13 "2002-04-26T19:51:59Z")
But my farts smell like swiss chocolate… ---
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/14 "2002-04-29T19:41:16Z")
Is it just me, or has this thread gotten more then it’s share of views? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/15 "2002-04-30T14:40:05Z")
They were all anticipating the first scratch 'n sniff thread. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/16 "2002-04-30T15:28:32Z")
To paraphrase Selma…Marge Simpson’s sister; “Farts smell the best when they’re commin’ outta you.” ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/17 "2002-04-30T17:18:52Z")
**Chekmate** Lemme guess: When you fart in bed, you pull the covers over your **own** head because your farts smell so good, right? Didn’t think so. Case closed. 😉 Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/18 "2002-04-30T18:33:29Z")
Maybe not with the pulling of the covers, but I certainly make sure to breathe through my nose for a bit, to make sure I get to smell it… MMM… poop… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/19 "2002-12-30T05:08:40Z")
Mmmmm scrambled eggs! (my recent fart) ---
**Author:** ![mattex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@mattex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattex)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293/20 "2002-12-30T05:20:55Z")
I just saw an Attenborough “Nature”. It occurs to me that farts are an assertion of personal territory. “This is my space. You really should leave.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-good/105293.md?page=2)