# Why do my farts smell like the place I work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524 "2005-01-13T07:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roland\_Deschain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@Roland\_Deschain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Deschain)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/1 "2005-01-13T07:29:41Z")
I work in a nursing home as a CNA while in nursing school. I’ve noticed that my gas has the same “decaying institutionalized” smell that I note while at the facility. This is a departure from the ordinary fart smell to which I’ve grown accustomed over the years. Also, note that I do not eat at there cafeteria, but instead go out for my lunch. Has anyone else experienced their farts odors changing with a change in their jobs or living place? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/2 "2005-01-13T07:37:00Z")
Perhaps it’s psychological. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/3 "2005-01-13T07:39:50Z")
My farts owe more to a decaying constitution than a decaying institution. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/4 "2005-01-13T09:51:22Z")
Maybe your workplace just smells like farts, in general. So when displaced from the situation, your own farts remind of your workplace. That said, I made a huge pot of Beef Stroganoff on Monday and after daily leftovers, my farts smell like red wine, garlic, and sour cream. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/5 "2005-01-13T11:34:19Z")
I wonder whether the other staff ask “why does this place smell like **Roland** ’s farts?” Let’s hope they don’t come to the obvious conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/6 "2005-01-13T13:52:06Z")
All the senses decline with age, so for the residents to benefit from your gastral releases, the smell must reach the medicare level. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/7 "2005-01-13T17:42:03Z")
Since your farts have to travel through your clothing to get to your nose (I hope), maybe your _clothes_ smell like your work and your farts are just innocently carryng said workplace smells along with them? ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/8 "2005-01-13T17:54:33Z")
> [@Uncommon Sense](#): > > Since your farts have to travel through your clothing to get to your nose (I hope), maybe your _clothes_ smell like your work and your farts are just innocently carryng said workplace smells along with them? With this insight, I can now propose a solution. A “Roland-a-ter”. A disposable light with an sutomatic ignition. To make it practical, we only need to come up with asbestos underwear. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/9 "2005-01-14T02:37:13Z")
> [@aahala](#): > > With this insight, I can now propose a solution. A “Roland-a-ter”. A disposable light with an sutomatic ignition. To make it practical, we only need to come up with asbestos underwear. Heh… I just googled ‘asbestos underwear.’ It’s out there. I concur with **don’t ask** about the possible source of the crop-dusting. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/10 "2005-01-14T06:32:13Z")
[QUOTE=stockton] Heh… I just googled ‘asbestos underwear.’ It’s out there. [QUOTE] Handy if you’ve got Great Balls Of Fire. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/11 "2005-01-14T06:40:22Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > That said, I made a huge pot of Beef Stroganoff on Monday and after daily leftovers, my farts smell like red wine, garlic, and sour cream. Something tells me if I smelled it, Beef Stroganoff wouldn’t leap into mind. What’s interesting about the OP is he finds his _own_ farts repuslive. This is highly unusual. To quote George Carlin on the subject of his own farts: “That smells…fairly decent!” ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/12 "2005-01-14T10:08:54Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > What’s interesting about the OP is he finds his _own_ farts repuslive. This is highly unusual. No, he says “This is a departure from the ordinary fart smell to which I’ve grown accustomed over the years.” ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/13 "2005-01-14T14:59:46Z")
Hrm. Perhaps I read more into “decaying institutionalized” than I should have. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/14 "2005-01-14T19:31:23Z")
I don’t think the OP ought to be dismissed out of hand. I often wonder if there isn’t a lot more going on with body chemistry than we really undertand. Like for instance, I have noted a vague remainder of a woman’s scent can linger with me for days after an intimate encounter. (Not her perfume, but her natural scent.) (And yes, I bathe regularly.) Maybe there is some subtle, almost sub-olfactory bonding mechanism at work? Like members of a tribal unit developing a similar chemistry as a subconscious marking mechanism? ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/15 "2005-01-14T19:41:59Z")
> [@RM Mentock](#): > > No, he says “This is a departure from the ordinary fart smell to which I’ve grown accustomed over the years.” I’ve got to side with you. I don’t believe he expressed a preference. AFAIK, he might be one of those guys who like to take his work home with him.😃 ---
**Author:** ![doomraisin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d78d45/32.png) [@doomraisin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomraisin)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/16 "2005-01-14T19:54:53Z")
I’m thinking that some of that institutional air gets into his stomach and adds the aforementioned aroma to the emissions. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/17 "2005-01-14T19:58:46Z")
There’s always [Parosmia and Phantosmia](http://personal.ecu.edu/wuenschk/parosmia.htm). I do lovew the internet. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/18 "2005-01-14T20:17:49Z")
Then again, maybe he just works in the proctology ward. You’d kinda think it would smell like fart. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/19 "2005-01-14T20:26:28Z")
I’ve noticed certain places have really bad “smellcoustics”, which seem to intensify the odor to a degree. That’s all I’m going to say on the manner. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524/20 "2005-01-14T23:41:02Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Maybe there is some subtle, almost sub-olfactory bonding mechanism at work? Like members of a tribal unit developing a similar chemistry as a subconscious marking mechanism? I think there’s something to this as I’ve noticed the same thing. Both with farts and chicks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-farts-smell-like-the-place-i-work/284524.md?page=2)