What’s That Smell!?

And it’s time for everyone’s favorite science-themed game…. What’s That Smell!??!?!?!!!!!

I’ll be your host for today’s adventure in figuring out what malodorous stench has decided to crawl into your nostrils and die today.

Let’s get started with some basic characterization – would you say that the stink is most like:

(1) stale farts and/or rotten eggs

(2) something rotting (that isn’t an egg)

(3) something vaguely sweet

(4) bad B.O.

(5) burning nostril hair

(6) other

(1) Stale Farts (with or without a hint of brimstone and hellfire) and Rotten Eggs

Congrats! You’ve found the easiest thing to classify! You have got some sort of sulfur-containing compound in your hands! Now, there are a whole variety of sulfurous things out there. The two that I’ve worked with the most are DTT (dithiothreitol) and BME (beta-mercaptoethanol; aka 2-mercaptoethanol). DTT is just vaguely fart-ish, like someone bottled just a little bit of a fart, while BME is quite, quite foul. BME also lingers in the air like you would not believe, so if you’re trying to ID a sulfur scent and can’t find a source – someone may have had some BME out several hours earlier.

(2) Something Rotting

Would you say that it smells like rotting apples or apple juice? If so – you’re got fruit flies. Well, more accurately, I’d say that you’ve got the stuff that fruit flies like to eat. Good luck with that.

Not rotting apple juice? Okay, let’s think. More like rancid milk? Yes? Someone’s left the 5% milk solution out at room temp entirely too long. If you use a 5% BSA solution or work in the cold room, Western blots won’t be so entirely unpleasant 🙂

Not apple juice or milk? Hmmm. Are you in a yeast or bacteria lab? Some of the bacterial cultures can be quite, quite foul. Be sure to use some bleach when you’re done!

Alternatively, for a non-science explanation – – is there any chance that it’s around lunch or supper time? There are certain foods that when microwaved, will smell like something DIED. Be nice, and don’t comment on it!

Finally – you’ve confirmed that it’s not bacteria, yeast, media, milk, or that weird postdoc’s lunch… might I ask if you’ve recently pissed off one of your labmates and/or friends? One of the worst pranks I’ve ever encountered involved an opened can of sardines hidden under a desk in a heat wave. Trout also apparently are quite popular for this sort of prank/retribution. I suggest checking everywhere for the source and then apologizing to whomever is mad at you. That, or returning the favor 😉

(3) Something Vaguely Sweet

Do you feel kinda nauseated or sleepy? If so, you’ve got chloroform. This might be the lab stink that bothers me the most – I’m so sensitive to chloroform and phenol/chloroform that I have thrown up before. It’s FOUL.

(4) Bad B.O.

Now, this is a confusing category – is it a lab smell or is the smell of someone in your lab? This might be a good time to give out little gift bags of soap, deoderant, perfume/cologne, and laundry detergent. There are some scientists out there that either are allergic to cleanliness or just don’t have the time to bathe. You know who they are – try your best to not sit next to them during seminar or on the bus. Good luck avoiding them! (Note: make sure that it’s not you smelling like that! No one likes a smelly benchmate!)

I’d also check to make sure none of your chemicals have gone bad.

Alternatively, you might just be working with some particularly foul strain of bacteria again. It’s hard to say.

(5) Burning Nostril Hair

Now, when I smell something that makes me think my sinus passages are on fire, I know it’s because someone in my lab is playing around with glacial acetic acid or hydrochloric acid, but that isn’t always the case. Is someone using entirely too much undiluted bleach? Is the PCR machine on fire (true story – the wiring started smoking and sparking – smelled just like burning hair)? Have you over-heated some sensitive piece of equipment? Have you set a pipette tip on fire? Is your hair on fire? Is the lab?

(6) Other

Now – I should put in a disclaimer. I’m not claiming to have encountered all the foul science-y smells in the world. I’m working from the knowledge of the stink that I’ve encountered in the labs that I’ve been in, so feel to leave a comment if you classified your stink as (6) other and introduce me to something new (or remind me of something I’ve finally managed to drink out of my memory)!