Queer smell

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SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,584
452
54
Perthshire
I was walking up Cademuir hill south of Peebles this morning and in two different places, about a mile apart, I smelt what I can only equate to toasted sesame oil. I couldn’t see any unusual plant, tree or droppings. Any thoughts on what it could have been?
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
The source may not be an unusual plant. In extreme weather, many kinds of plants will "sweat off" hydrocarbons from their leaves. Some of it is a byproduct of the formation of protective waxes on the leaf surfaces.

I live in the forested valley of the Fraser River. Under calm conditions and temperatures well above 35C (in the sun, not shade air temp), you can smell the forest, trapped in the valley. Apparently, hydrocarbons such as turpines are evaporated at great rates. Whether these things assist in heat tolerance or not, I do not know.
 

knowledge=gain

Sent off- not allowed to play
Jun 25, 2022
544
75
england
The source may not be an unusual plant. In extreme weather, many kinds of plants will "sweat off" hydrocarbons from their leaves. Some of it is a byproduct of the formation of protective waxes on the leaf surfaces.

I live in the forested valley of the Fraser River. Under calm conditions and temperatures well above 35C (in the sun, not shade air temp), you can smell the forest, trapped in the valley. Apparently, hydrocarbons such as turpines are evaporated at great rates. Whether these things assist in heat tolerance or not, I do not know.
wow very interesting

thank you
 

SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,584
452
54
Perthshire
The source may not be an unusual plant. In extreme weather, many kinds of plants will "sweat off" hydrocarbons from their leaves. Some of it is a byproduct of the formation of protective waxes on the leaf surfaces.

I live in the forested valley of the Fraser River. Under calm conditions and temperatures well above 35C (in the sun, not shade air temp), you can smell the forest, trapped in the valley. Apparently, hydrocarbons such as turpines are evaporated at great rates. Whether these things assist in heat tolerance or not, I do not know.
It could have been that. It was distinct but a very narrow scent, two steps and I was out of it. One area about a third of the way up the hill and the next about a third of the way from the top.
 

Woody girl

Full Member
Mar 31, 2018
4,550
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65
Exmoor
This evening I could distinctly smell what seemed to be a hairdressing salon chemical like smell. Coming from different areas of a mixed hedge. No plant seemed to be present in both areas. I did look carefully. I walk past most days, never smelled it there before. It was a couple of hours after the thunder storm this afternoon.
Wonder if it was something to do with that?
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,979
4,625
S. Lanarkshire
Some of the rockets smell like that in the sunshine.

Wall rocket is an annual, iirc, and it does have the kind of smell that clings to the hands.

M
 

Mesquite

It is what it is.
Mar 5, 2008
27,872
2,930
62
~Hemel Hempstead~
For some strange reason there was an extremely strong smell around where I live late afternoon that lasted for a couple hours.

Best I could describe it as is a strong granular fertiliser similar to the stuff I used when I was a groundsman :dunno:
 

punkrockcaveman

Full Member
Jan 28, 2017
1,457
1,514
yorks
A couple of things that spring to mind

1. Not the smell you describe but there are a few stinkhorn fungi around at the moment and they have a particularly strong smell

2. Possibly some cheeky cannabis plants
 
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SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,584
452
54
Perthshire
A couple of things that spring to mind

1. Not the smell you describe but there are a few stinkhorn fungi around at the moment and they have a particularly strong smell

2. Possibly some cheeky cannabis plants
I thought of fungi initially but couldn't see any. Definitely wasn't stinkhorn, what I smelt was pleasant.
 

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