Sniffing underwear, the odor of “foul bombs”, and enjoying the smell of matches are some of our unexplainable quirks.
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The world around us is filled with a myriad of strange scents. Many of these smells are intertwined with our daily lives, often without us even noticing.
For instance, when filling up your motorcycle with gas, who hasn’t occasionally inhaled the pleasant aroma that wafts through the air? Or when you go a few days without showering due to the cold, who hasn’t tucked themselves into a corner to sniff their own clothes, reassuring themselves that they still smell good?
Let’s explore these peculiar preferences in the article below:
1. Sniffing underwear after not showering for a few days and feeling fine about it
It’s an undeniable reality that we often feel uncomfortable standing close to people who haven’t bathed for days. However, curiously, when we skip showering ourselves, we somehow feel it’s acceptable.
The evidence lies in the fact that every time we change clothes, many people “innocently” sniff their own underwear.
This preference has been studied by German biologist Malfred Milinski and his colleagues. The research team discovered that the primary reason for this behavior is the correlation of the brain with specific peptide connections. These stimulate the nerve cells related to the sense of smell.
When you sniff your underwear, the peptide connections send information to the brain, helping you recognize a familiar scent without feeling unpleasant, even finding it captivating. This mechanism works similarly to when you catch a whiff of your favorite food, triggering reactions in your stomach and causing it to “protest”.
2. Sniffing your own flatulence
Have you ever wondered why the smell of someone else’s “foul bomb” is always intolerable, yet you enjoy your own? Don’t be embarrassed or blame your nose, as it’s simply a common phenomenon.
The primary reason for this phenomenon is the unique bacteria that reside within our bodies. These are individual bacteria that have been with us since infancy. Therefore, our noses can recognize these familiar bacteria, making our own “foul bomb” smell quite pleasant.
Moreover, the anterior cingulate cortex helps us know when to “release a bomb” and predict the smell, preparing us mentally to sniff. In contrast, when someone else “drops a bomb”, our brain can’t react quickly enough, making the smell more unpleasant.
3. Sniffing the smell of gasoline from motorcycles and cars
Many people have certainly experienced the feeling of filling up with gas and inhaling the aroma of motorcycle fuel. But why is that? What makes the smell of gasoline so appealing?
Unlike the smell of underwear or one’s own “foul bombs”, gasoline actually has a pleasant scent. The primary component of gasoline contains a small amount of benzene, a cyclic hydrocarbon that has a light aroma, making it very stimulating and enticing to human olfactory senses.
However, despite its pleasant scent, benzene is a highly dangerous and toxic substance. Therefore, inhaling large amounts of gasoline can lead to poisoning and damage to the nervous system. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to benzene can result in various health issues, increasing the risk of cancer.
4. Sniffing the smell of fire from freshly lit matches
When you strike a match, you likely notice the strange and enticing aroma that emanates from the flame. Much like the smell of gasoline, the scent of burning matches has a unique allure for humans.
When the match ignites, the sulfur at the tip reacts with oxygen in the air to create sulfur dioxide (SO2). The scent we detect is that of this compound. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless inorganic gas that is denser than air.
Sulfur dioxide strongly stimulates our sense of smell. However, inhaling too much and for too long can desensitize your nose. More dangerously, if sulfur dioxide enters the body, it can cause respiratory and eye conditions.
