Okay, hear me out.
There's something about the lumber department at Home Depot that just relaxes me. Sure, the smell can't compare to what it's like to be out in a pine forest, for example, but it is soothing nonetheless. I don't go there much–frankly, I do find myself getting annoyed the second I have to enter a hardware store of any kind–but it's a simple pleasure.
People shared their thoughts with us after Redditor Butter_scoo asked the online community,
"What weird smell do you love?"
"Probably..."
"Probably the smell of the hardware store. Something about the unique but strong odor just puts me in a good mindset."
NoelleRobles
It's a very specific smell but sometimes it can just feel dusty more than anything else.
"The beginning..."
"The beginning of rain on a very hot street."
farahriane
You just described soothing summer rains. They're the best.
"A freshly opened..."
"A freshly opened pack of trading cards."
[deleted]
This is very specific but spot on. The ink smells quite good!
"I used to work..."
"Brand new tires. I used to work at a car dealership and this smell is the best."
weinerdoggos
The inside of any tire store, auto section at walmart, or bicycle shop is a good one. Guess it's just the smell of new rubber.
"The smell that comes..."
"Hot electronics. The smell that comes when you run computer hardware at 100% power for days on end. If you've ever been inside a data center, you'll know what I mean."
Vedorias
It sounds like you would probably enjoy industrial motor control centers.
"When I used to go camping..."
"Wet pine trees. When I used to go camping, the best smell ever was at dawn waking up in the woods. It felt so fresh."
subtle_existence
I'm not much of a camper myself but there's no denying how lovely that smell is.
"When you cut or mill it..."
"Walnut. When you cut or mill it, there's an astringent smell that's kind of like mustard, but woodier. Nothing else smells like it."
esp735
This one is a particularly strong smell. The smell of hardwood is quite nice, I think.
"The smell of smoke..."
"The smell of smoke that candles create when they have just been blown out."
[deleted]
Have you been Pavlov’d into wanting cake every time you smell that?
"I hate the smell..."
"I hate the smell of cigarettes smoke. But i love the tobacco smell from the unopened pack of cigars."
OrangeDemiSoda
The fresh cigar smell is also quite smoothing. I'd balk at smoking the things though!
"Gunpowder after..."
"Gunpowder after it's been ignited. Someone needs to make an airfreshener for that. Whenever I smell it I get good memories of going plinking with my uncles as a kid."
Its_RJBtch
The real question however is black or smokeless?
There are so many great smells out there just waiting for you to discover them! And while some people might not agree on what makes some smells so great, that's perfectly okay. It just means more for you!
Have some suggestions of your own? Tell us more in the comments below!
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.
@lpeterp/Bluesky
@FPWellman/X
@bobsbeatgmail.com5/Threads