Out of place smells are often associated with the paranormal. Sometimes only one person smells it.  Sometimes several do.  CThe kind that makes you wonder, is this an indication of something paranormal?  Is it a spirit? Is it clairscent? Or is it the power of suggestion?  It could even be a medical condition like phantosmia?  So let's break down the different smells we associate with the paranormal and what their origin might be.

First, it is important to address the elephant in the room. On any long paranormal investigation, someone is going to break wind. It’s normal, it’s human, and usually someone laughs and you move on. Add in body odour, cigarette smoke on clothes, or someone’s strong perfume, and it is a party for the nostrils.  The smaller the space or closer you are together, the more your sense of smell will go into overdrive. These aren’t however the smells I want to talk about. I am talking about the out-of-place smells that suddenly appear in a room, with no obvious source.  Sometimes only one person smells it.  Sometimes several do.  The kind that makes you wonder, is this an indication of something paranormal?  Is it a spirit?  Is it clairscent? Or is it the power of suggestion?  It could even be a medical condition like phantosmia?  So let's break down the different smells we associate with the paranormal and what their origin might be.

Sulphur

A common belief among many is that the smell of sulphur indicates a demonic presence.  Sulphur is foul, rotten, and often likened to rotten eggs. Folklore ties it to fire, brimstone, and hell.  Personally, I don’t think a sulphur smell automatically means a demon is in the room. In old buildings, rodents die in walls, drains back up, and chemical residues linger.  Sometimes the “demon” is just the “elephant in the room,” if you know what I mean.  We also need to stop blaming everything on demons.  I am pretty sure they have better things to do than attending your Saturday night paranormal investigation.

Mould

Many of the old buildings we investigate have mould, even if you can’t physically see it.  The smell is musty and distinct.  Prolonged exposure can cause brain fog, disorientation, and even hallucinations.  So if you smell mould and also have a paranormal experience, you need to consider whether the environment is messing with you.

Clairscent

Clairscent is one of the clairsenses, said to be the ability to psychically smell something not physically present.  It might come through as perfume, cigar smoke, cooking aromas.  These are things tied to a person who has passed.  Often on an investigation, someone may suddenly smell a cigar or a distinct perfume.  It is so out of place it has them questioning why they might be smelling this particular scent.  For example, after my grandfather died, I would sometimes smell his Old Spice aftershave out of the blue.  For me, it felt like a sign of his presence, and it brought me comfort.  Whether or not you believe in clairscent, many people have had similar experiences that feel deeply personal.

Power of Suggestion

We know that the power of suggestion is incredibly strong. If I say, “People often smell lavender in this room because it was the lady of the house’s favourite flower,” I’ve planted a seed.  Suddenly, someone else claims they can smell lavender too.  Sometimes one person announces, “I smell petrol,” and suddenly several others smell it as well.  They’re not faking it, they really believe they smell it because it’s just that the mind is powerful.  Smell also triggers memory.  A single whiff can take you back in time to your favourite (or not so favourite)memories.  It can make an experience feel even more significant because it has added an emotional connection.  

Phantosmia

Phantosmia is the medical explanation for phantom smells. It’s called an olfactory hallucination which is when you smell something that isn’t there.

Causes include:

• Nasal infections, sinusitis, or polyps
• Migraines and head injuries
• Neurological conditions and some medications
• Chemical exposure

The smells are often unpleasant: rotting, metallic, chemical, burning, or sulphur-like. I know I’m getting a cold when food starts tasting 'off'.  Even your favourite food for example suddenly doesn't taste like it should.  This same process can cause phantom smells.  So before jumping to spirit, it’s worth considering whether a case of phantosmia could be at play.

Debunking Paranormal Smells

Smells are invisible, hard to trace, and they can linger.  It makes debunking tricky and it is not something you can really measure.  Sensitivity to certain smells mean I may something that you cannot and vice versa.  So if someone can smell something they feel is out of place, here are some things to look for:

• Dead animals or pests: Old buildings often have rodents or birds in wall cavities.
• Lingering scents: Cigarette smoke or strong perfume can hang in the air long after the source is gone.
• Airflow: Smells travel with drafts. You might smell someone cooking from two houses away.  For example, the neighbours at Black Rock House often have a bbq (which smells delicious).  That smell can often travel into the outdoor living quarters in the right conditions.
• Temperature: Some materials only release scent when warmed.  A dead animal or leftover food will become more potent in the heat.
• Closed spaces: Buildings sealed up for long periods develop stale or musty odours.
• Baseline smells: Every location has its own smell.  It might be mould, mildew, old wood, dampness.
• Human factors: Stress, medication, illness, or simply someone else’s body chemistry can create unfamiliar odours.

So What Am I Smelling?

That’s not for me or anyone else to decide for you. Smell is personal as it is linked to memory, emotion, environment, and health.  Smell cannot be measured by equipment in this sense.  Notes are your next best thing and important.  Do a sweep of a location before you begin and write down your observations.  Wind, temperature, windows/vents open are important things to look for and note down.  You can never write down too much.  It may seem trivial at the time, but that bit of information could end up becoming an important piece of the puzzle.  As the night (or day) progresses, write down things in real time.  Noises, knocks, change in weather, wind, cold spots.  How many people are in a room?  Where are they standing?  What are the events leading up to and after someone experiencing what they think might be some sort of paranormal smell.  Can other people smell it?  Is it associated with a memory?  Is it relevant to the location?  What psychological factors could be in play?  Like Detective Poroit, Holmes or even Benoit Blac, you are solving the case of the mysterious smell. 

At the end of the day, smelling something unusual isn’t evidence of the paranormal.  It can however still be a meaningful personal experience. Those personal experiences may just give us insight into a bigger picture.

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