Queer smell

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SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
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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?
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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?
 
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
 
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:
 
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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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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