this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025
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I can smell fear. I always thought that was normal, because it’s used idiomatically, but the first time I said something in a group of people, they looked at me like an alien. When someone’s anxious, their sweat smells more metallic to me, like amphetamine/coke sweat (which makes sense).
One time I had to wait in line behind this guy who had a very strong metallic odor, it was making me sick. I’ve smelled it a few times since and recently smelled it on my mother. Not sure if it’s a drug. Probably not fear. Very interesting though.
To be clear, I can’t differentiate between fear, anxiety, stress, and stimulants, except for intensity. It might be any of those if it smells a little like a battery. The first time I noticed it on someone else, it was someone with a crush on me who had to spend all day with me, so not exactly fear, but nerves.
A sudden change in BO can indicate all sorts of things though, from Parkinson’s to diabetic shock to sepsis, so you might want to let her know.
I did tell her. I haven’t noticed it since her hysterectomy, maybe it was the cysts.
What did you do about it if you could notice? Has it ever worked in your favor?
In that case, I wasn’t interested and just felt immense pity at the situation, so I completely ignored it and talked to another coworker about our SOs at the group lunch table with him.
I’ve definitely noticed it on job interviews I’ve held and first dates/relationship milestones. In the former, I just ignore it, and in the latter, I do keep it in mind.
I have to shower after I have something like a job interview though, because it’s not a pleasant smell.
Cool. My sense of smell isn't that good, so it's kind of curious to know some people are that sensitive.
there are a few diseases (mostly in the cold/flu family) that i can smell. it's something in the sweat.