Do you like smelling the gas when you’re filling up your car? A friend of mine told me today that he likes smelling it too. However, he likes smelling gas from certain brand names, like Chevron and 76. Other brand names, he didn’t like them that much.
I never knew smelling gas would be the same as smelling food or drugs and preferring one brand over the other. I guess gas usually smells good since it also costs so much, whether it’s from a big company or from a tar pit located in my backyard. I now have to see if my sense of smelling is strong enough to see if all gas smells the same, or if the big oil names smell better than the smaller gas stations.
How about you? Do you like smelling gas at the gas pump? Do you prefer any brand?
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I hate the smell of gasoline, pretty much uniformly.
The smell of gasoline is very different, and mechanics can tell. I know, because my mechanic, was replacing my fuel pump, and my gas leaked a bit of course. And from under my car, i heard, "So your rich are ya?" I asked him what he was talking about, and he told me i was using the expensive gas, (the premium) Like you know how theres Regular Premium and Super, and he knew what one i had
Heh. :p
I hate the smell of gasoline too
lol, anyone here who doesn't hate the smell? :p
I like the smell of gasoline. I hear it's a sign of sexual perversion, though.
To tell the truth, I can't give you any reference. I was actually looking for a source for it when I stumbled upon your article. As far as I can tell, it's just an urban legend. But it's an interesting one, isn't it?
Thanks for the response back Shirley. It may have to do something with the smell being a source for chemical changes in certain people, probably. Thanks for pointing it out though. If I find something on it or the urban legend, I will post an updated comment.
Yes, even if it is an urban legend, it is an interesting one.
Hi Shirley, thanks for the comment. I didn’t know that. Could you point me in some direction please, like a newspaper reference or something, that explains this a bit more? That would help me find out more about this.
Now I may be thinking of your comment every time I go to a gas station.
I love the smell of gas too. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but everytime we need gas i always get it. I have noticed, that at the Shell gas station I don't like it as much.
To be quite honest not only do I like the smell of gasoline but I love the smell of older model cars that pump out that thick smokey exhaust fumes from the back of their cars or trucks. It smells delicious to me for some reason. It takes me back to when my dad used to play soft ball and he would pull up in his old 1975 cadillac. Fresh gas is ok but not like exhaust gas fumes. Thats the best sometimes I would leave my car running and let the smell secretly creep around to the drivers side and quitely inhale the fumes through my nose. Never getting to close as that can kill you. I just wonder what it is they put in those chemicals that makes it appealing to our noses. I thought I was weird but now I'm starting to realise that there are a lot of people out there just like me. I also like the smell of airplane glue, fingernail polish,fresh burning wood,kerosene heaters and grills. It's just so weird.
OH MY God there is some one just like me i think iam the only freak out there what is wrong with us is it a sickness.
@Brianna,
Yes i love the smell of gas and exhaust fumes out of the back of old cars! i love it! lol sometimes i find myself following them just so i can get a couple sniffs lol
[Sorry for the delay in responses everyone.]
Diane, thanks for the comment. Heh, so you do not prefer Shell. Is the smell bad or does it not smell that much? What do you think of Arco/BP or 76 gas? I guess I have to start noticing the different smells more too.
Brianna, thanks for the comment.
That is very interesting. Are there any particular old car models that you like smelling the fumes of, or is it the same case with any old car?
One of the reasons for this could be because of your high opinion and value of your times that you spent with your dad and around the 1975 Cadillac.
Inhaling the smell inside a car is of course dangerous, though it seems you have a habit of it. I am not sure what they put in those chemicals, though I know there a lot of unnatural chemicals in them in order to make the gas less toxic and to filter the gas to purify it to get approval for different gas ratings [87, 90, 91, I think].
Nail polish smell is interesting too, and so is kerosene for heaters and grills. I have to refresh my smell for fresh burning wood; is it the wood smell itself that you prefer, or the thing/gas/fire that burns the wood?
Thanks again.
I love the smell of Shell gas stations. They always have 94 high test I get for my motorcycle. The smell is soo pure. I love it.
I like older model trucks and cars I like the smell of all of them. I think since my dad is a mechanic that may have a lot to do with it. I can remember when I was kid and I lived on a farm and my dad would crank up the tractors and fumes would come out of the pipes on the side or the top of the tractor. Im definitely doing some type of associating. Although I don't inhale these fumes on a daily bases when the opportunity presents it's self I will take advantage of it. Or if I'm going for a walk in the morning with my dog and the cars fly by on the streets I like the way my early mornings smell. As far as fresh burning wood I love that smell. I get this incense called copal incense that you burn on coals. And it smells just like burning wood. That was the safest thing I can get to enjoy the smell with our harming myself. I think I have a smell fetish of either smells or something.
But on the same token I don't like the new unleaded gas smell that stinks to me. Or only certain fresh gas smells, smell good and only to a point its way less tolerable for me to deal with. It gets me queezy and i don't like that.
Brianna, thank you so much for sharing and explaining more.
That is very, very interesting. Maybe it does have to do something with what you experienced while you were growing up. So you are probably associating with the fumes and the car models and their steel smell, more than the gas itself?
Wow, I did not know that Copal can be used to create burning wood smell. Do you know if Copal is used mostly for that purpose, or for other things too?
I think you may have a very good sense of smell, and your Father being a mechanic may contribute to it also because you may have spent time around cars more, and thus value a lot of smells more. Of course, as you mentioned about the unleaded gas smell, your sense of smell also gives you the choice to not like certain smells.
The more I think about it, the more I can remember the kinds of smells I like. However, I do not personally remember, I think, the smell of older trucks and cars. Similarly, I know I like the smell of some truck fume or something, but I know it is not the smoke coming out of exhaust pipes, as on the highways trucks with a lot of exhaust smoke coming out can be annoying to smell.
When you say new unleaded gas, do you mean new types of gas at new gas stations or new unleaded gas compared to gas fumes?
Thanks for sharing. This is very, very interesting, heh.
I don't like the new smell of gas compared to gas fumes. It has a different kind of smell to it. Not like the older cars and trucks that I enjoy smelling so much. I like the smell of some fresh gas but not often. I think it may have something to do with certain gas stations. I never really thought about it until you asked. I may be associating but then if that is the case why do I enjoy the smell so much? If there were no harsh chemicals that could kill you that would probably be one of my favorite things to smell. I do not like the feeling of getting high, light headed or dizzy. So I know thats not the reason for me liking the smell. I do love to work on cars thats an honest trait that I get from my dad.
I love how the cars smell I like the smell of fresh tires as well. Like when I go in to a firestone tire store it smells so goooood in there i love it lol. Copal incense is made from tree sap so when you burn it on coals it smells like fresh burning wood with a sweet smell to it. Copal is also used as a varnish on wood furniture mixed with a solution. But I love that sweet burning wood smell that resonates through my home. It gives it such a nice ambience in my home.
My sense of smell is very keen sometimes I smell things that nobody else can pick up. Weird!
Hi again Brianna. Sorry for the late response. Thank you so much for explaining more, heh. This is turning into a very detailed analysis of history of smell preference for us.
Gas smell vs. gas fumes, ok, I see. I am noticing a new trend: many gas stations are starting to smell less and less. Is it new type of protection? Is it new gas? Or is it simply that I may be going to these places in windy times so that I do not smell much. For example, when I leave Shell gas stations, I cannot remember smelling much gas.
So you work on cars a lot, I see! By fresh tires smell, do you mean rubber smell? Heh, I think there is indeed a very interesting smell inside tire stores. Ok, I have to look int Copal then, it sounds very nice. Is Copal smellable on new furniture that has recently been painted? Paint smell is another thing that's very interesting, both for houses and the one that is done on furniture like wooden chairs or sofa.
Yes, you seem to have a very nice sense of smell, which is awesome in my view. I have to start paying attention to rubber burning [tires] to see if I prefer the smell or not.
I smell food now, by the way, so I have to go eat. Thanks again for sharing Brianna, and I really hope to hear from you again!
Hey I'm back. I actually did some research about what's in the paints and gasolines and glues and kersones. There is one common ingredient its called toulene. Are you familiar with this harmful chemical? It can kill you since finding this out I no longer smell gas or fumes for that matter. Not even for a brief second anymore like I used to.
Burning tires smells nasty compared to tire shops. What's happening with certain gas stations they are removing toulene from the gas. Or cutting down on it. That's why you may not smell it as much at the more brand name gas stations verses the non brand or cheap gas. Its much stronger to smell.
Like when you pump gas you can smell it strongly with out you bending down to the pump you can just smell it because it has a loud smell to it. At shell you can hardly smell it. 1 is partly due to emissions inspections on cars as well as the gas that's constantly being pumped in to the atmosphere.
But what people are smelling is the toulene. You can actually buy that in stores. Copal is a natural incense resin that's made from tree sap. And it smells so damn good. It is smellable on new furniture that's been coated. Get the varnish that has copal in it. Or get the resin and burn it on charcoal. Its used for removing negativity from the home and restoring peace.
I LOVE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE with higher percentage of toulene. The gas that contains the lesser tends to smell a bit bandaid-ish to me. Lately the smell of tires in the store, motor oil and exhaust are appealing as well. I have to mention that I actually crave these smells and they are rather intoxicating since I have become pregnant. I, of course do not set out to smell them, but I do ocassionally stick my head out into the garage to get a whiff. Lestoil has made the list too!
Well.. I love Inhaling Napthalene Balls and Kerosene.. Gasoline not avail in my country..
Actually I was told that if you crave the smell of gas that you are most
likly Anemic and have low iron. I thought it was the chemical benzine that makes
gas smell . I also like the smell of old trucks exhaust.
Oh my God. I have become so obsessed with wanting to smell gasoline, the fumes, car or truck exhaust ( but not diesel). I love new tires also. It makes me happy to go to Home Depot too. I also can't stop sucking or chewing on ice. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night just to put a big chunk of ice in my mouth. This is all ruining my life.
When I was pregnant (28 yrs ago) these same cravings happened to me. It went away after my baby was born, but now, after all these years its back, but even stronger!
Somebody please help.
The constant need to chomp on ice is a sign of low iron or anemia.
Hi there Dandy,
Glad to see somebody else out there is/was like me. I had the baby on December 7th and the olfactory cravings seem to be diminishing now. However, I still enjoy them and love a bit of a whif sometimes (lol). Your ice cravings are a serious sign of a deficiency in zinc. You may want to eat foods with or take a zinc supplement — try it out and see what happens. Hopefully the zinc will help eliminate your need for ice and you can get your life back as well as a good nights sleep! Good luck
I always thought I was weird but I love the smell of gas, haha
I found this site searching for a reason why, I too, have a strange attraction to the smell of car exhaust fumes and gasoline. It's not so bad that it disrupts my life or anything but I've always like it ever since I can remember and sometimes wonder if it could get worse.
Tiffo's comment caught my attention because i was told my iron level was too low when I tried to donate blood about 15 years ago. And then about 4 months ago I was told I was anemic so I am definitely interested in learning more about this possible connection.
BTW, I also have a scary love of the laundry smell. You know, fabric softener and clothes fresh out of the drier… can't get enough!
Ok i always thought that I was a freak for loving the smell of gas, then i realised that a couple aquaintances from work also love it. So I began to wonder why….and then i found this site. Its so cool to hear that I am not quite as wierd as I thought. Also, I noticed that different gas stations have different smelling gas from each other, I wasnt sure whether it was because of different chemicals, or was it my imagination. One more thing….It seems like its females (mostly) that have this liking of the smell of gas,making me think its a hormonal thing, or is it because that men just dont admit to it…..hmmm
ok … I love the smell of gas … I inhaled its fumes and wondered if it tasted like its smells. I inhaled it deeply several times before I pulled away from the pump. For a brief minute, I kept swallowing at nothing as I drove on my way. I do not have a problem but feel I could have a serious one if I brought a separate container to store a little gas for private use. Sometimes I feel the need to suck on chalk or charcoal in which I refrain. Big magic marker aroma entices me as well. What the heck is going on with me? I take a supplement and also 2 meds for elevated blood pressure.
This is too weird! I thought I was the only one in the world who loves the smell of exhaust fumes from old trucks and cars. I also love the smell of gasoline. I love the smell of certain diesel fumes too. I love the smell of the thick blue diesel smoke and not the black smoke. I crave those smells and I to am anemic. I also crave ice and I love the smell of new tires and certain new shoes. It is so wired because every time I come into contact with those types of smells, I immediately become aroused. I always wanted to know what was in those things that had that effect on me. I also love the smell of jet exhaust.
[I apologize for the late response everyone. Thank you for waiting; I have been catching up to all the correspondence so far].
Brianna. welcome back and thanks for clarifying further. I did not know about Toluene, and it's very interesting to know about its harmful nature. I agree with what you say; the smell of gasoline is slowly changing at many gas stations from being strong to being a bit subtle. Maybe what you mention is the reason for it.
I will look into Toluene and its uses more, thanks so much for telling me about it.
I am surprised that other commentors below seem to be aware of Toluene.
Nicole. thanks for the comment.
The smell is indeed very interesting, and creates an atmosphere: you know you are at a gas station as an unrelated sense, or maybe a related one, the sense of smell, helps you realize where you are or what may be going on. I do see the not-safe-for-pregnancy signs everywhere around gas stations, though I have also seen it at many other places like police stations and many shopping stores [lol].
Congratulations, by the way, on the baby, and I hope everything is ok!
It is very interesting and nice for me to see your previous comment before the baby and the comment after the baby.
Priyanka. thanks for sharing. Wow, I am surprised: I feel like a newcomer to this world compared to all of you. Naphthalene balls and kerosene? What a combination! 0_0 For those who may not realize or know what Naphthalene balls are, they are the small anti-insect and anti-chemical ball-type things you find in new suitcases, clothes and other things inside packets; you simply throw them away once you start using the actual product.
What country are you from, if I may ask?
Tiffo. thanks for sharing. That is new information too. I have yet to actually distinguish extensively between smell of different cars and old and new trucks.
Does this mean that each and every commentor on this page has a dangerously low level of healthy red cells? lol, I hope not! :p
That could be an awesome turn of the direction as we go into the detail of this more and more. Tia has some more information on it below your comment [comment #25].
Anemics-United, no?
Dandy. thanks for the comment too and for sharing, heh. I have found the smell in the wood section to be interesting lately, at Home Depot and Lowe's.
Hmmm, so you love chewing on ice? Does it have to be something shaped like ice, or something cold maybe? How long does it take for you to melt/chew the ice, by the way? I can feel my teeth hurting just by the thought of it. 0_0 You seem used to it, though. Do you feel nervous or anything when you feel the urge to kill an ice cube? Hopefully what Nicole said will help you. Guess what: I found a whole forum dedicated to chewing ice also: Ice Chewing.
Ummm, maybe you are expecting a baby again [I am brilliant, am I not? >< ]? I am not sure, that is really, really interesting. Could it be Pagophagia, where there is an urge to eat ice cube in order to satisfy the actual body's thirst for ice cube or simmilar cold items [mainly ice cube]? Nikki below [comment # 28] has some information on this too.
Please let me know if you have found anything else or any update on the ice since then.
I must say, I think I will start chewing ice from tonight to see what it feels like as a function to deliberately chew ice for the purpose of chewing ice so that ice can be chewed while I am chewing ice. Maybe I will get hooked too. Or maybe I will scream in toothache pain.
Tom, thanks for sharing.
Yes, I know some people who came to this post and told me "OMG! WEIRD" heh. Are you happier now? 
Tia, thanks for the comment.
Tiffo did bring up something interesting too.
Haha @ fabric softener and fresh clothes – same here! I love that smell [specially laundry detergent], and I love it if my clothes can keep smelling like that much later also. That would be so fantastic. It does not need to be a strong smell that the whole neighborhood smells: only me smelling it throughout the day is sufficient.
I am learning so much today! This deserves a whole new wave of posts. I will inquire more into all these topics and post further updates soon.
Aerwin, thanks for the comment too.
And yes, you are not weird. If you are weird, then we are all weird and we are proud of it.
Also, LOL @ females vs. males. Heh, men do not admit to a lot of things because it is not manly to show emotions in our [and many other] societies.
Michelle, thanks for coming and sharing your opinion on this. I think it will taste about a 1000 times or more [guessing] like it smells. Basically, everything in this world, as far as I am aware, is made up of tiny particles. Each smell particle is actually part of the actual object that it is from, and thus when you smell it, you are actually inhaling that actual thing. Thus, smell of rotten food, smell of sour milk, smell of gas, smell of grass and smell of anything else, is actually small parts of that actual thing in the air.
"Big magic marker aroma"? Hmmm I have not heard about that one. I will look into it also.
Do you think this is all related to your blood pressure?
Nikki, thanks for the comment too.
I must say yet again, wow, I have to start differentiating heavily between things like "blue diesel smoke" and "the black smoke", which I think is a very good idea. So you are anemic too; I wonder if this is all related to being an anemic. You also crave ice, however, just like Dandy.
Now, about being aroused, that is something interesting and I was actually expecting such a revelation to come in one of these comments at some time. I personally think there is nothing to worry about in that situation [if you were worrying at all in the first place]. I know people who got aroused playing Mario Brothers [on Atari during the late 80's], so I know being aroused is just a body reaction to some sense that is sensing certain things tha satisfy certain hormonal reactions. Of course, this requires further thinking and research too. How about while chewing ice?
Jet exhaust, jet exhaust, jet exhaust [tries to remember]: ok, I think I remember it vaguely. It is good too.
Thank you SO MUCH everyone, I really appreciate it! This is a wonderful combination of comments, and everyone has taught me something. I look forward to more responses from you all and other people too. I will look into this more and come up with some more comments and posts very soon.
Thanks again! Please feel free to <a href="http://thereasoner.com/contact/" title="Contact me via e-mail" rel="nofollow">contact me via e-mail anytime or leave a comment if you have any questions or if you have any other information to share.
Hi, Everyone!
I wanted to know if any of you (that KNOW their anemic/have low iron) are regularly taking iron supplements? Well I'm gonna try a little experiment, I guess. I've got these iron supplements my doctor prescribed me months ago (i was taking them for a while until I got distracted). I'm going to take them regularly starting today(putting a reminder in my blackberry right now!). I'll let you all know if i notice any changes in my noses' behavior.
I gotta do something cause lately i've been going down to the laundry room just to be with the smell. Not to mention standing behind my jeep as it warms up just to smell the exhaust.
That just ain't right.
Take care!
Oh. And I forgot to add that I am also start B12 today. Apparently I am B12 iron defficiency…
I am open to suggestions!
Take care of yourselves
Hi everyone, well i just had a lot of blood work done and if you remember me from before, i love and CRAVE the smell of gasoline fumes. I also crave ice and chew ice constantly all day long so much that i would rather eat ice all day than eat. Well my dr got my results back and I am extrememly anemic. I started taking the iron pills and my craving have dropped a little but as soon as I forget to take my pills for a while the cravings come back. I also wanted to comment that i don't crave the cold i crave the chewing of the ice. I have to keep my house so warm cause i need to chew ice all day and I freeze while doing it… I'm the only person in Florida wearing flannel pants and having the air at 84 degrees all the time. no matter where I go in the car, I always have a cup of ice. and when I go to convient stores i get just a cup of ice…let me say a BIG cup of ice… no drink in the cup. I buy crushed ice. It's easier to chew than cubed. thank goodness for my ice machine that lets me choose crushed or cubed. Anyway my dr told me that the smells of gasoline and the chewing of the ice are the two biggest signs of anemia. So I just wanted to let everyone know
This is really strange!
With my last baby, I craved the smell of gas & I chewed ice constantly. After I had him, it went away.
Now it's back in full force. I eat tons of ice & I keep going to our garage & just inhaling the smell of the gas/garage smell to satisfy me. I'm so glad I found this page, I thought I was going insane! (And no I'm not pregnant again!)
I am so happy to know there may be a reason for my intense craving of gasoline aroma. I found out I have low iron. The doctor called me at home after I had a blood test, and told me to immediately get to the hospital if I began to feel weak, because my blood iron was so low that I may need a blood transfusion, and they told me to take high doses of iron. I need to look into the low iron/gas craving possibility. I also like the smell of Goof Off cleaner and bleach smell. I am not pregnant. Anyone else have these aroma "likings" ?
I don't know why but there are certain periods of time during which I crave smelling Vick's vapor rub or baby powder. It isn't gas so much but I wonder if there are more people out there that also feel obsessed to certain smells. It's weird because I'll be cleaning my room, for instance, and then randomly I'll want to smell vick's vapor rub. All of a sudden I'll go look for the baby powder bottle or the vick's vapor rub just to smell it. I won't even use but I'll just smell it. Do those products give me some kind of high or something?
I actually have this fetish for exhaust fumes. It is really weird and probably unhealthy but on several occasions I have actually put my mouth up to the tailpipe of my car as it was running and deeply inhaled the exhaust then held it in my lungs for long periods of time. I would do this several times, inhaling large amounts of exhaust while fantasizing about being there with a girl until I was satisfied. It is probably so bad for your lungs but for some reason that is part of the attraction for me. With these newer cars, its not going to kill u on the spot unless u really went overboard but this has got to be bad and its like an addiction because I tell myself its the last time but can't seem to stop.
Yeah, I am kind of messed up in many ways.
Hmm, not low on iron, but have had an erotic attraction to the smell of rich unburnt fuel in exhaust my whole life.
I have always loved the smell of an engine running rough and rich and seeing and smelling the smoke turns me on.
This applies mostly to unburned fuel whether gas, diesel or and especially 2 stroke with the oil. By association, I find hard starting rough running cars and motorcycles a real turnon as well. I have found others similar to myself online, but never found exactly why this is linked to sexual desire.
BTW, I have liked chewing ice my entire life too, but don't find it erotic.
I have the same issue as well and always wondered why. As far as i know there isn't anyone else who feel the same effect. For me it is the same, and usually with the faint smell of smoke but not heavy.
Hi again! I am writing this in regards to post #30 by Tia, didnt take me too long,(April?) Lol. Yes I have been anemic for as long as I can remember! I am gonna have to ask my friends at work who also love the smell of gasoline if they are also low in iron. We also love the smell of kerosine, and paint thinner which have that same undertone gas smell…anyone else?
Also enjoy chewing ice, but it has to be the kind that the fridge auto dispenses, not the kind you make in ice trays…
I love the smells of gasoline, paint thinner, murphys oil soap, acetone, and goof off. My fiance is a contractor and he has all of these and more at our home in the garage. Sometimes it is too tempting and I go out to the garage just to open the can of paint thinner to smell the odor.
My fiance thinks my attractions to those are bizarre and dangerous. I enjoy those odors too much.
Well, since i love everything about cars, i would have to say yes. Especially when it's early in the morning and i'm about to go for a long drive. It's weird though because i never really thought about it before i read this post…lol. I guess if i had to pick a "preference" it would be Shells gasoline.
Hi! I stumbled upon this website because I wanted to know if I was the only person in the world who enjoyed the smell of gasoline…turns out there are some weird people just like me! I LOVE the smell of gasoline & rubbing alcohol, I also love how garages smell and I LOVE the smell at the mechanics and the tire places. I also love the smell of the pool stores and the smell of new pool floats. New car smell is also amazing to me. I'm kinda glad and relieved to know I'm not the only one who has a preference for odd scents!
I had no idea that craving the smell of glue, solvents, and gasoline could be related to my ice eating. I give blood at work about every 3 months, and my iron is usually fine for that – a couple of times it has been a little bit low and they wouldn't let me give. I also love the smell of goof-off and axle grease that is used in our elevator. I was never a glue sniffer to get high.
I commented before about the aromas I love which are Goof-off cleaner, gasoline, paint thinner, etc…and bleach and pool smells, and sadly, many others, but I did want to let everyone know that in researching these cravings, I found out that several of these chemicals that many of us writing in here crave, contain toluene, (which was already mentioned), and another chemical called, xylene. I believe I read that these two chemicals when "sniffed" or inhaled regularly for pleasure, can actually become addicting. The brain reacts to a chemical that triggers a pleasure center, much like the same area of the brain that causes people to become addicted to cocaine. (same brain trigger area)That is a reason why some people end up becoming inhalant abusers, who die with a bag up to their faces sometimes. I am not trying to be morbid about a seemingly harmless little craving, but I just wanted everyone out there to be careful, and find out more on your own. Even with this knowledge, I still love the smell, but I try to avoid it now because of my newfound knowledge of the dangers of possible addiction, brain damage and death. Like I said, I still love the smells, but am more careful. please be careful and do some research on your own.
how to break inhalant addiction?
YESSSSSSSSSSS I LUV THE SMELL OF GAS I REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND WHY BUT SOMETHING THAT SMELLS THAT GOOD I CANT HELP BUT TO LOVE IT SO GOOD I CAN EAT IT
i found this site searching for a reason why I constantly crave the delicious smell of gasoline, paint thinner, exhaust fumes, my garage, etc. what's weird is that I too have an iron deficiency, or did a few months ago. i also find that recently I've been eating a lot of ice.
I too have this craving for goof off and gas and I too have iron defiency anemia. I was wondering if anyone knows what to do to stop, cause I find myself craving it all day, but I don't want the embarrasment of asking my doctor for help.
I too have an intense craving for just about all these substances–nail polish paint thinner , propellants in spray cans, gasoline, shoe polish, paint, stain, all the dangerous stuff. I cannot stop. I cannot tell my doctor. I am on iron. Blood count hemoglobin 10. Did the sniffing cause the anemia or the other way around. What am I going to do? Desperate.
for some reason i absolutley love the smell of unleaded :S i really do i could smell it all day.but i prefer it coming out of the new types of cars like toyota klugers and stuff,dont know why but i just love it so much,i get tempted to just run up and smell tailpipes in the street but i would look weird lol i did it to a parked ford territory once that was nice =]
Oh I like it.. But I have heard that it can lead to addiction.. What is it called? Oh yeah , Substance Abuse. Yeah I have read about it in a few places.
But have to admit that the smell is really nice… ;P
Nope…. I was a user and abuser of substances and ended up in rehab. but the sniffing chemicals was separate from that. One gets u high and one fills a weird craving. I can’t explain but they are not the same thing. Sure I used to sniff spray paint and stripper to get high but chewing ice all the time a craving gasoline and white out and nail polish remover didn’t get me high. They r separate issues
I added some of my thoughts on the gasoline issue to the website on my name link thingy. You guys might find it interesting. I have to say, you've got some wild theories. – mattleone@hotmail.com
I use to like Sunoco, and Texaco.Shell smells the worse.For some reason gasoline always smelled different from the plastic container(yuk) then it did in a metal one or a gas tank.I always thought the better a brand of gasoline smelled the better it made engines run.The aromatics such as tolune and benzene found in gasoline are octane boosters.Their not just pleasant aromas they actualy serve a purpose.I used to be very anemic and also vitamin D deficant.After reading this mb I am now convinced that is why I use to like these toxic smells.When I was young I use to go out to my parents shed and sniff gasoline from the lawnmower,not huffing but taking a few whiffs.I would get a little dizzy and stop.I then hated the smell of gasoline untill my mid 20's and then got the craving for it again.I am taking mulit vitamins with iron and vitamin D tablets and it has subdued the cravings.I still like the smell but I'm not going out of my way to smell it even if the shed is right in the backyard.If it's in the air that's one thing but to sniff from the container,you need help..take some iron and vitamin D pills.It takes a while before you see any results so give it time.After a few months if you are still having urges to sniff you should seek counseling.Sniffing and huffing is not only illegal but it can kill you.I have brain damage from sniffing when I was younger.I did'nt know that just sniffing a little a few times a week or once a week would hurt me,but it did.I had a heart attack at age 26,I was sniffing gas the day before and the day of a party at a waterpark.I over worked my body and ignored the signs thinking it was heartburn and sore muscels.The fact that I was sniffing gasoline showed up in tests.I have the mental capacity of a 14 year old.I think of myself as a kid and look at people my age and older as adults.I don't think of myself as an adult but I try my hardest to feel and act like one.I can only hold a tedious part time job but at least I have health bennifets.I am very smart about certain things but I have poor social skills and lack common sense.I am 33 years old and live with my parents.I can't live by myself.I can't think for myself about certain things.I get bad headaches and suffer from severe depression.I spill stuff and have poor cordination and balance.I have my family and one friend,who is my boyfriend.My mental health state compromises our relationship sometimes but they are very understanding.I wish I never sniffed gasoline.It has shortened my life.It took me almost an hour to type this because it's hard for me to concentrate.Judging by some of the comments on here,I would say that some of you go out of your way to smell gas.It can lead to brain damage and death.There are enough toxins in the air as it is,why purpously hurt your body even more?Just beacause you do'nt have your nose in the gas tank and don't sniff every day does'nt mean it won't hurt you.A little becomes alot.Braincells don't grow back.Once they are gone they are dead,like your future.Does blackouts,night terrors,headaches,fits of rage,and sobbing uncontrollably sound like fun?Do you think drooling and soiling ones self is sexy?Thankfully I am not drooling or sporting astronaut diapers as of yet but I hope someone reads this and thinks twice about how good gasoline smells.Keyword being"think".Sorry about the preaching but lets not forget that gasoline is a toxic chemical.
@Melanie, Thank you for your warning about gasoline. I am from Kamloops,B.C. ,Canada,
and i read your post. I hve been chewing on ice for the last 6 months, and had no idea why.. even when i was freezing cold already, and my tongue felt frozen. I even chipped a tooth, and wouldn't stop.
This site has helped me to understand that I might be deficient in some minerals….The most important part, though , is that I started putting some gas on a paper towel when I pumped gas, just so I could smell it when I was driving away. I wanted to just smell right out of the tank…. I didn't know that even doing this a little can cause severe brain damage. I will never do that again. Your comment, and your compassion has affected me, So thank you.
Thank you very much for taking the time to post your experiences and to try to convince others not to let happen to us what happened to you. I for one am going to take your advice. I just took my favorite bottle of cleaner out to my husband’s shop and I am never going to smell anything again! I have a 9 year old son who needs me and I had no idea this could kill you or cause severe brain damage. I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers will be with you often and I hope that despite your troubles you will have a long and happy life and those who love you will always be around for you. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us.
Hi JJ,
Thanks for sharing this. Wow – when I originally wrote this article, I simply posted a preference for the smell itself. I never realized it could (according to some commentors here and your comment) cause issues like that.
H i ,did any of you notice this behavior began as a curiosity when you were very young. and then you accepted it without much thought .kept it as a secret for many years . and now you are reaching out for others who also have found a certain appeal from something very very taboo.let me ask you this . would you say you are crazy for liking the smell of vaporous substances .. I wouldn't .. I really think it is an adaptation to this toxic environment we have been creating for the last 100 years or so ..all of what makes up your body chemistry works together to generate life . and it all came from the same earth . all of these chemicals in gasoline may be man made as far as I know ;but, they all came from mother nature . we will continue to adapt and be products of our environment . no matter what anyone thinks ,don't find fault or shame or guilt in yourself for being different. after all one mans passion is another mans poison..what works for you or me or anyone else is a matter of choice … that is for you to decide … be good to your selves what ever that may be …
@mark, Would love to hear from you. Agree 100% wioth your analysis. Loved the smell of auto exhaust since I was 3 or 4 yrs old. Especially watching the 1960's turndown tail pipe chevys warm up. David http://www.mandalay1990@aol.com
I used to love everything about cars, used to sell 'em for a living, but I can't ever say I've ever missed sniffing the fumes when filling up. Go on, go green and stop smelling fumes and ride a bike to work.
For the past couple of weeks I have been really craving tires, exhaust, and even car interiors where people have smoked. I have never smoked myself, so I shouldn't enjoy it. I do love to chew ice. I found myself drawn to the bikes at Walmart just so I could smell the tires on them. I even feel like I can smell some of these smells in places where they never were before. It is really weird, I can't believe I am craving such bizarre stuff. I have been diagnosed with low iron in the past. Do you think it has gotten so low that I am craving these smells? I can't believe I am not alone out there.
Hi. I just wanted to say that, yu are not alone. Lately I have been craving the smell of gasoline, almost like I want to taste the smell. Also with ashes. This just came on but what is interested is I have hemochromatosis which means I have too much iron in my system. The only therapy is to donate, usually once a week, depending on iron levels. Recently, I was told that I don't need to bleed because my iron levels were within normal limits. I just thought I would throw that out there, a connection perhaps!
Wow, I was just diagnosed with Anemia, I was chewing 4 or more big glasses of ice a day. A craving for non foods such as ice, coal, soil etc is very very common with people who are anemic-its called PICA. My Doctor even confirmed it. When I was little, my Mom said she used to catch me eating the dirt out of our house plants. She said when I saw her coming, I would start shoveling the dirt in my mouth!! I was only 2 years old. Not only that but I LOOOOOVE the smell of gas, especially exhaust fumes. I wish I could put my nose up to the back of an exhaust pipe and just sniff sniff sniff and inhale deeply. I one time tried when I was about ten at my neighbor friends house and the Mom told me I could die, so I never did it, but if a car is started I will stand close and try to smell it the best I can. I like driving behind trucks to smell it!! I have a feeling that anemia is tied in with all kinds of pica and possibly your sense of smell can be pica like as well!!! How funny to find this posting. I googled why do anemics chew ice, and I ended here.. THanks guys!
Leah, this posting sounds just like me. except I have gone to the back of the car and taken some whiffs…and I cannot stop the ice chomping. I also have been even tasting gas on my hands after gasing up at the pump…i am craving that more and more and I'm getting worried about it. lol…i'm just glad I'm not alone.
I love the smell of gasoline too. As a painting contractor, I miss the days when you had to thin paint out with solvents like gasoline.
I'm sorry but how reckless to say sniffing gasoline or other chemicals can just be chalked up to someones preference!! People have died, had heart attacks, permanent central nervous damage. The list goes on. Its not a harmless quirky habit. It is a potential killer. How traumatic for a family to bury a child that has died suddenly from essentially chocking on "canned air" or sudden sniffing death. These are real issues that have permanently affected peoples lives in a permanent and tragic way. And it is usually because these individuals didn't realize they were engaging in such dangerous behavior. I don't say this to demonize or judge those who do it or have done it (I beat myself about it for years before I realized how serious this can be). I'm onlu trying to provide help and the first step is realizing the action is NOT okay. I have been anemic for years and with the help of iron pills and a strong will to live and the hopes of a healthy family life I have been able to stop chewing up styrofoam. Which I started doing as a child because of the chemically smell/taste it has. It was usually kept in the garage at our house when I was a kid. And I did always love the smell of car exhaust. So somehow or another as a kid, I just started chewing up styrofoam. Not eating it, just chewing it and spitting it out. If it was the kind that came with electronics all the better. I had huffers mouth, irritation or discoloration around the mouth, but never realized why. Irregular heart beat, again not linking the two. And years of shame for carrying the secret of it all. I have really been there and have only been able to stop, after nearly 20 yrs of doing it, with iron pills and will power.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I am taking your advice and stopping before I’m unable to.
I am happy to say that after taking iron pills every day I no longer have cravings to sniff gasoline.In fact I can't stand the smell anymore.Iron pills are the cure.I used to be highly addicted to the smell.Even reading sniffng and huffing stories online would make me drool.I was sniffing for about 20 years and I finaly beat it.I no longer crave any chemical smells.I am cured.Take your iron pills!!!
My post was specifically aimed at #53. Not to anyone curious or struggling with an addiction. It's very hard and there is another forum I frequent where people have lost loved ones. Often times their own children. And I also can attest to the healing power of iron supplements since you can see in one post after another where the poster is anemic. I was/am too and iron supplements have helped me stop a 20 year "habit" that was slowly killing me. You guys may want to check out inhalant.org for more info. It is NOT just a silly weird habit. It can kill you, cause a heart attack, brain damage amongst other issues/problems. Please take care.
Dear tds who posted 52 and 54.I have also suffered for over 20 years.I have brain damage.I had to go to a special school.I have been in drug rehabs.I have had a heart attack when I was in my twenties.I can't even remember how old I was because my brain is like swiss cheese.My older brother Paul died from huffing freon.I found him in the bathroom tub and tried to wake him up but he wouldn't.I was 10 then.That might of been another reason why I was addicted because I needed to escape from reality and I was curious about why my brother would sniff stuff like that.After that things changed.It's like my whole family died inside.We were just a shell of ourselves.I lost time.I can't remember things.I will have to be on meds the rest of my life.I am on disibility and maintain a part time job because that is all I can handle.I live with my parents because I can not live by myself.I tried but I fall and get hurt because my brain damage effected the way I walk.Also I have seizures but due to change in my meds I havn't had one since I started taking them.Iron pills and vitamin d have helped alot.I was so happy that's why I posted about it.I don't know if I am misunderstanding the two posts you posted.I don't want you to get the wrong idea but I am against huffing and don't glorify it.I posted other posts before my last post that are more indepth.Sometimes I want to say something but I don't know how to explain it.I still go to meetings even if I don't crave something because if you think you are curred that is a bad thing.Addicts will always be addicts even if they aren't using.I don't take this subject mater lightly.It is very important to me.I am a mentor to other addicts.I know when people see and hear me talk they will think twice about hurting themselves by huffing and sniffing.Huffing and sniffing in my opinion is worse then drugs like cocain,meth and heroine because stuff like gasoline or any other kind of solvent are more easy to obtain and cheaper too.I just want to clear up any misunderstandings.I don't want you to think I am glamourising huffing.It would hurt my feelings if people thought that of me.My older post are on here if you want to read them.I try to explain myself the best I can.I am sorry if people misunderstood me.I realize that I not only hurt myself but I hurt my family even more.At the time I was sniffing I thought that well my life is crap anyway so why not.I din't think I could hurt my parents more.I was wrong about alot of things.Huffing,sniffing,taking an occasional whiff is not good for you.It's not the smell you find appealing it's the chemical reaction it does to your brain.Please don't sniff even if it's only once in a while because then it could turn into a weekly or daily thing and before you know it you are hooked.You would be surpised how many things you have around the house are dangerous if you sniff them.I should never have said I was cured because I am not.I was just exicited due to the bennifets of iron and vitamin D I had to tell everyone.I hope I am making sense and that people understand what I am trying to say.
I just felt I was the only one that liked the stuff. I went to a Pep Boys auto shop to smell the place just walking in. That new tire smell. Cheveron smells ok but you have to put the nozzle up to your nose. Doesn't permiate the gas station like it used to.
I am a runner and didnt realise that my iron would be depleted through exercise and have recently been diagnosed as iron deficient. I too love the smell of gasoline at petrol stations and wonder if there is anything more to this then just coincedence.
I have been thinking I had some brain malfunction due to these insane olfactory cravings. I am going crazy with the longing to smell new tires and I could totally identify with the person who goes into tire stores just to smell the new tires or heads to the bike section at Walmart. I crave any fresh tire/rubber smell. I do not want to eat it at all just smell it. I also have to walk away and come back so that the smell is strong because if I stay around it for more than a few minutes I become accustomed to it and cannot smell it as strongly. I do not like to sniff a tire too closely because then I detect another odor that is not as attractive as the one that permeates the air. I have an extremely keen sense of smell that affects my emotions. When I smell fresh rubber/tires I feel happy, young and almost euphoric. On the other hand when I smell blood I feel weak, vulnerable and a bit ill, and smelling very greasy frying food makes me irritable (close to angry) and sour. So, when I get the tire smell, I am very happy. Seems odd to me.
This is starting to become a problem to me because even though I don't indulge my desire to drive from tire store to tire store, I wake up craving it and it sort of takes over my thoughts. Obviously…since I have found this blog.
However, I do not particularly care for the smell of toxic chemicals and fresh gas is ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to smell it. I do however love the smell of exhaust from old cars that burn leaded fuel especially in the winter. I was bummed when everything went unleaded and the smell was ruined. Now I rarely get to enjoy that one favorite smell. I love the smell of exhaust from the lawn mower and the pressure washer which are powered by gas and oil (not just gas).
I have been to the dr. and when they do blood tests, they are always amazed at how "wonderful" my levels are so I never have been able to get to the bottom of this. Could there be something else I am missing besides iron? I know that the intensity of these olfactory cravings are not normal and I wonder if anyone knows what substance is in fresh rubber/oil/petroleum products that would satisfy such a deficiency.
OMG, I have the exact obsession with tires as you do. Sam's, Walmart are my favorite places to go to get my craving. Yes, craving, the same as you, I sometimes can't get enough. I never had this obsession until I quit smoking about 5 years ago. I have always had a strong sense of smell, but it has totally increased since I quit smoking, to an obsession level. I still cannot take perfume or strong perfumie smells, they annoy me. Gas used to be my fav as a child growing up, but since they changed everything, that has gone away completely. I don't feel alone anymore. Thanks for letting me know that I am not completely NUTS. I feel so much better. I now have a small tire so I can take care of my cravings when I need to. I think this might help lessen them. Just got it, so time will tell. I know this sounds serious, but it is a serious addiction to me. Thanks for your help. I am not a nut afterall.
Gasoline really smells different. When I was at the grade and did some experiment with gasoline. I was feeling so dizzy. It reminds me of my sinusitis. Unlike kerosene, gasoline for me really smells bad.
Actually some gases has good smell which we need to smell but some others are just like the smell of a rotten egg.
I also crave the smell of gas and old car gas fumes but the reason why people crave these and other chemical smells is because a lack of iron in the body. I also crave the smell of pinesol and I use it daily.
I do not like the smell of gasoline, much less time at the filling station, I get dizzy all day and even worse I could vomit. so when I went to the refueling I always cover my nose or wear a mask to avoid the smell of gasoline.
I don't enjoy the smell of gasoline, but my uncle did as a child. I always thought it was a bit strange.
Ever sinec I was a little kid gasoline at the gas station seemed like an appealing smell. Obviously too much itnake and you get a headache though.
I used to, but the newer oxygenated gasoline just don't smell as good. 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 gasoline goodness that I could handle. My mom had to order me to "Stop that!" several times.
It absolutely was very useful. thank you for sharing this. I will share it with my friends. Many thanks
I do like the smell! I had no idea that some brands of gasoline had different stenches, good to know…
Very interesting site. I have begun thinking that there really is something to the idea that our oil dependence is a serious addiction (as George W. Bush once said) and that inhaling the many products that are derived from oil is what makes us so fond of travel e.g. air travel. Could it be that it is not so much the travel that we like but the need to be immersed in fumes when we drive to the airport, wait in the airports, travel by car in the countries visited etc.. The smell of car interiors, the fumes in parking lots, gas stations, shopping malls. All of the places that our travel takes us are filled with traces of the fumes that we are ‘huffing’ just as much as the kids on some native reserve in Canada putting a bag of gasoline up over their mouths. Will research finally show us that we are all huffing the stuff, albeit in small amounts?
I’ve always loved the smell of gasoline. I wish it tasted like it smells. I always carry crushed ice(only a certain type will do) with a little diet coke for flavor. I used to dry up white out bottles smelling it and I love the smells at the nail salon. The ladies who work there are wearing face masks and I could use the stuff as perfume. My throat swells at the thought now. Love spray paint, and certain glues. Pretty heavy duty paint strippers too. I know it’s not healthy and I don’t do it for a high. I could smell nail polish and remover all day too. I will stand behind a car being warmed up in a garage too. Yummy. Do u think this is just low iron? And I thought I was the only weird one!