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Humans are intricate creatures; we’re all made of roughly the same parts, yet among nearly 8 billion of us, you won’t find a person like yourself. Just think about it: we’re almost ready to jump for joy when we meet someone who shares our interests or has the same tolerance for spicy foods. 

That said, have you ever wondered why we like what we like? Well, societal influences and genes play a vital role in determining our traits, actions, and preferences. For instance, some folks are fond of classical music, whereas others are at their happiest when they listen to the Top 40; some of us are great at math, while others have struggled with comprehending educational material for their entire lives. The list could go on and on – however, what’s interesting is that those preferences are not always mundane and banal, and sometimes we find ourselves liking the strangest things ever. 

What’s a weird smell you’re willing to admit you like?” – this netizen turned to one of Reddit’s most thought-provoking communities and asked its members to reveal what odd smells they secretly like. The thread has managed to receive nearly 34K upvotes, as well as 36.2K comments and intriguing answers.

More info: Reddit

#1

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread old books

I got my hands on a book from 1743 - a gift from an old lady who wanted to throw it away (!!!) and this was really amazing smell.

Ill_Literature2240 , David Flores Report

#2

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Matches after the flame goes out

makeful , Bastian Report

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Sans Serif
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As the occasions where you still encounter matches being lit diminish, my personal feeling is that they reconnect to celebratory memories from the past: birthday candles, fireplaces, holiday candles, fireworks, etc.

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#4

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Sawdust

Conscious_Art_9134 , Andreanna Moya Photography Report

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Scout Finch
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this but when the sawdust is originally being generated by a power tool.

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#6

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The inside binding of a new paperback book. It smells so clean.

MrLanesLament , aehdeschaine Report

#7

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The smoke fireworks leave behind. One of my favorite smells.

iambender0811 , zyxwvuu Report

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#8

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Not sure if it qualifies as weird, but the smell of Timothy Hay is very pleasant to me.

ToTheMax47 , Wendy Harman Report

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zak
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fresh hay does smell really good. Almost as good as freshly cut grass 👍

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#9

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Ah, back in the old days, the smell of papers that the teacher handed out that were fresh off those old hand-cranked mimeograph machines. The solvent. Mmmm.

whazzup_bitches , stacyinbody Report

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Jorie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my school they were called dittos. How we weren't all brain damaged by sniffing those papers is anybody's guess!

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#10

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread That smell when you walk into a hotel with a pool

EducationAlone1663 , Pedro Szekely Report

#11

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread sharpie permanent markers. i’ve always liked the smell of them since i was a little kid and i don’t know why. it’s like the smell activates all of my senses

peppapigscocaine , Mike Mozart Report

#12

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Water coming out of a garden hose. The combination of polyurethane and the metallic ozoneness of the water is heaven.

coffeebuzzbuzzz , Paula Whidden Report

#13

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The smell of cooked white rice

VehicleInitial6249 , randychiu Report

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#14

The smell of my dog, ik it sounds weird but he smells like coffee and I like coffee.

ActuallyJustADude Report

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Nikkie Nothing
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our dog always smells like the cedar bedding you put in a hamster cage. it's just her natural smell and I love it.

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#15

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread I dont know if this counts, where I used to live is very common to hug people all the time, and if I have been in someone's home before, the place would have a particular smell, and almost everytime I would hug them, they would smell like their home. It always felt good to make that association, it was comforting somehow.

Montpierce , Bradford Fults Report

#17

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Fired cap gun.....and that blue copy ink from grade school.

mienshin , Patrick Hoesly Report

#18

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Fresh asphalt...also gasoline

hotmixasphalt , Toshiyuki IMAI Report

#19

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Pvc pool toys when you're unfolding them before you blow them up

NoticeWhenUAreHappy , Secard Pools Report

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#20

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The smell of the water in boat-based rides at theme parks

EarthSmart3573 , simon17964 Report

#21

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread Freshly opened tennis balls, the smell of AC right when it turns on in a car on a hot day, the smell of a Home Depot or Lowes, cat fur right after they clean it.

aztechfilm , superscheeli Report

#22

Chlorine. Reminds me of hotel swimming pools.

You've all pointed out that it's pee I'm smelling, and I'm cool with that. Still like the smell

Thejudojeff Report

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Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont think its so much pee your smelling...We use HTH quite a bit where I work and it smells just like a swimming pool, only stronger...and we sure ain't peeing in it. Edit to add: Apparently HTH is more of a brand name. The chemical is actually calcium hypochlorite, which is swimming pool chlorine. We use it to dissolve grease and biosolids in sewage wells.

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#23

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread I remember liking the smell of Disney VHS cases

AtlUtdGold , Marian Ladiona Report

#24

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread White board markers. And single use lenses wipes. Honestly anything chemical smelling.

Excellent_Donkey8067 , Ivan Radic Report

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Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who (alongside several of my peers) would sniff the markers every time we opened it?

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#25

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The smell of Home Depot

lanuevagringa , Mike Mozart Report

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phoenix_rising
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad took my sister and I here a lot when we were really young, and the smell of it hits the nostalgia just right

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#26

Church candles. You know when you walk into a church and they're burning those long tapered white/off-white candles? And there's that indistinct-but-waxy scent wafting through the air.

That scent.

SilverShadow5 Report

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mphalter avatar
Sans Serif
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but of course - candles in general, I say! You could easily add church smells to the list as well!

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#27

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread WD-40

After_Homework_8654 , Mike Mozart Report

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M O'Connell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fluid Film! It smells like the cleanest sheep you could imagine.

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#28

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread I love the smell of basement- which I don't know if is weird, but I'm the only one I know who likes it.

AmeliaUsesReddit , Kim Siever Report

#29

30 Smells People Willingly Admit They Love, As Shared In This Online Thread The smell of brand new tech gadgets. It smells technology.
Whenever I buy a new mouse or keyboard (it is especially true for logitech products I don't know if it is a general thing) I sniff them as long as I can detect that sweet plastic-y, ultra clean smelling goodness.

bobisz Report

#30

Windex

AlessandroTheGr8 Report

Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.