So, if I ever wanted to become a bank robber, or just wander about doing whatever I please, all I need is some thioacetone apparently. That coupled with my lack of a sense of smell, and I'd be a force to be reckoned with, lol. Seriously though, able to smell it or not, I imagine it would have the same effects either way, those being watery, burning eyes, nausea, likely some dizziness, etc.

It just struck me as funny, since I've always felt I'd make the perfect hermit. Couple pet skunks, I'd be right at home, while nobody else would dare to come near. Some rock solid home security, unless the invader also lacks a sense of smell lol

I've been very close to skunk thiols before, and almost spontaneously had to vomit, felt terribly nauseated...all thanks to my dog who couldn't resist chasing a skunk which in turn sprayed him directly in the face. And yes #1, I'm sure you could still get nausea and vomiting from it even if you do not smell it..

#2 I admit, I'm very curious to find out, one day.

Haven't been able to smell since 2 yrs old, when I had to get my stomache pumped for drinking gasoline. Yet, despite no sense of smell, one day I was at Walmart buying some propane canisters to go camping with some friends, I got an overwhelming headache and felt kinda woozy. Told my friends I thought one of the 3 canisters I was holding had a leak. I was even able to guess which one it was by simply holding each closer to my head than the others till I found the leaking one. It would make my headache intensify simply because of proximity.

Nobody seemed to smell it, or suffer any of the effects I was feeling, but as the canisters went around, being sniffed closely by 3 different people, they all confirmed that there was in fact a leak, and it was the one I had suspected. It amazed me, being the only one who can't smell, yet also the only one to detect it. I always felt I was at a higher risk of dying in a fire due to a gas leak, till that day.

Point is, if the propane affected me that way, I'm pretty positive the skunk scent would as well. Though I'm curious to find out for sure, I'm also not in a rush to do so, lol


As to your experience, I feel really badly for your dog. As bad as it affected you, that poor critter must of been traumatized.

I'm actually glad I don't have a sense of smell. 9 out of 10 times people are bitching about oders, and among the times they like the smell, there's scenarios where they smell a delicious cookout, whilst walking by, that they aren't invited to.. Sounds like torture to me, either way, lol

Sorry, I know nobody was asking, but just felt like sharing, hehe

Interesting story #3!
A lack of a sense of smell can have different causes. Perhaps in your case the limbic system still reacts to olfactory sensations, but the signals do not cause the normal response in your brain that allows you to process them consciously?
A friend of mine lost his sense of smell after he fell off a skateboard and fractured his skull. He was always afraid to have body odor, which caused him to use a lot of products like deodorants and perfumes, of which he had no clue about how they smelled. So, the only guy in our clique that could not smell it ended up running around smelling like a prostitute

4:48 absolutely nothing lol

That makes sense #4, and you're probably spot on. I've always just assumed the gas completely burned out the olfactory glands all together, but a disconnect does seem more probable, since apparently fumes do still affect me. Whatever the case, I consider myself lucky twice over. One for not being able to smell, and two, for still being alive after the ordeal, heh.

And yea, like your friend, I am very self conscious about how I smell. I try very hard not to overdo it though, as I know that can be just as bad as reeking.

Its funny, people go outta their way to keep quiet if you do stink, trying to be polite, but if you ask me, I'd say its more polite to pull me aside and just tell me straight up, "hey man, you smell foul". I don't find that the least bit offensive, as it saves me from embarrassing myself the rest of the day.

One correction : the picture of Freiburg is not accurate. That is actually "Fribourg", located in Switzerland !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fribourg
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_de_la_Poya (bridge appearing on the picture)

#3 Oh Pyranthos, I feel for you and your parents and the fear and worry they must have felt when their curious little two year old boy drank gasoline, having had three boys myself, which were always full of adventure, mischief and curiosity..and it only takes a second of a parent's watchful eye to be distracted for something to happen...glad that you made it through alive and safely...I'm sure everyone else around you feels the same and gladly puts up with perfumy fragrances. Thanks for sharing your story

Thx Thundersnow, and my pleasure

Yea, its probably part of the reason I've yet to have children of my own. Just thinking about my own childhood emergencies is enough to make me contemplate having a vasectomy, lol.. Seriously though, drinking gasoline, coming within 1 minute of death at 2 (according to the dr's 'guesstimation'), burning my entire knee to a crisp at 3, having major eye surgery at 4, etc etc... And that's just me, not counting my brothers close calls.. Its amazing my parents aren't long dead from a heart attack. They're clearly... battle hardened, hehe

The gas thing happened within a 20 second window.. It really doesn't take but a single instant, and lives can be changed forever. Scary stuff

Ok, I'm startin to feel guilty of topic jacking the comment thread, I'll hush now

On a parting note though, a big shout out to all parents out there. Even if your kids don't recognize your heroism now, they eventually will. Till then.. On their behalf, I thank you all

#9 Besides quality information and entertainment, this is another reason I love snotr, for stories like yours and to get to know other snotr users a little more personally. After all we do spend a lot of time "together" here. So no need to worry about you hogging the thread...I'm sure everyone else appreciates it as much as I have.

P.S. And although parents here will appreciate your recognition a lot (I do), there is not that much heroism involved, overwhelming and intense feelings of love for those little human beings aka your babies/kids, makes everything seem easy and even effortless sometimes...

And what the fecks wrong with drinking gasoline?.............. hick

What a coincidence. I watched it 2 days ago. Strange. (strange, because it's an old video)

#11 JJ, you made a commitment a while ago to live forever!