This recently started happening to me too. It has been going on for about a week. It is really strong in my apartment, my class rooms and sometimes work. Like others I do not smoke and never have and I hate the smell of smoke. I don't usually smell it outside but i've been outside right now for close to an hour and I think I smell it but nothing like I do inside. I have never had allergies that I know of and have never had a sinus infection I know of. Does anyone know if this could be an allergic reaction to dust? This it the only thing I can think of that is in all the places I go. The only other factors I can think of for me is that 3 - 4 years ago I would get a throat infection and the dr would give me antibiotics that clear it up but then it would come back and after doing this a few times I went to an ent. He told me to get my tonsils out, I didn't want to do that.
Also I clench my teeth at night when i'm sleeping. I have a mouth guard but I stopped wearing it a few months ago. So I get headaches but they are usually related to the teeth clenching.
Has anyone tried going to a chiropractor? I did for a while 3 years ago when I was dealing with the throat stuff, and it really seemed to help. Also does anyone know about being allergic to dust, what would the symptoms be?
Thanks.

I've been smelling cigarette smoke for about a week. This is the second time it's happened to me - the first time was a couple of months ago, and I wasn't sick. I had a sinus infection about a month ago and took amoxicillan and a bunch of otc medications. I'm going to my Dr. This week to see what they can do.

This is a miserable feeling.

So, I too get the smell of smoke sometimes too. And I hate the smell of smoke, and I can't stand it for the life of me. I even get my friends and family and ask them if they can smell it too and none of them say they can smell it. What is it? It's beginning to really creep me out.

This has been happening to me too for about 5 days. It began after I attended a party in a house with lots of smoky fireplaces. Since then, I have been smelling smoke off and on throughout the day and at night. I just made an appointment with a rhinologist (ent specializing in diseases of noses and sinuses) at the mass. Eye and ear infirmary; unfortunately it's not until january. It's driving me crazy, so I hope I can make it until then.

Hi
guys and gals

i see you are all smelling thing what are not there and you have all got adviceto give so can you guys/gals give me some advice ive rectley started smelling smells all day not like smoke like things ive smelled months ago like bannas soap salad smoked garlic and o n and on is this a part of my paniclk attacks I have very bad attacks you see so im putting it down to this can any of you help pleaseeeeeee

I, too, smell cigarette smoke a lot - most of the time it occurs around the time of my menstrual cycle, so I had assumed it had something to do with hormonal surges. However, my husband brought to my attention that this did not start until after I had made several trips to the chiropractor's office a couple of years ago. At first, it was just an annoyance. Now, though, it's frightening at times because it feels as though someone is blowing cigarette smoke directly in my face and it's so strong my breath hitches and I can't seem to catch my breath from it. I sing, so this really causes a problem if I'm in the middle of a song...I told my doctor about it, but he gave me a very dismissive reply. After reading some stuff on the internet tonight, however, I think I'm going to see about making an appointment with a neurologist. It's a good feeling now that I know I'm not losing my mind - that others suffer from this also. Oh, and I used to take Phen-fen years ago when it first came out....I wonder if that has any relation?

I went to an ENT. He acted like I need to see a different kind of doctor regarding my smelling of cigarette smoke. Like most everyone else, I am a non-smoker. No one in my family smokes either. The smell of smoke was so strong and sometimes so long that it made me nauseous. I went to a pharmacist that specializes in compound drugs. He made me some sesame oil nasal spray. The smell isn't gone completely but it has given me much needed relief. It seems to be improving day by day.

Like most of the posters here, I am astounded that I've actually found a site where other people describe the symptoms I've started experiencing.

Mine started a couple of weeks ago: smelling smoke / burning when there is nothing wrong, not only in front of the computer, but elsewhere, when I least expect it.

The ONLY change I've made in my life was to replace my two CRT monitors with two LCDs -- I work with computers -- so, like a previous poster, I wonder if one cause might be "electrically" related? I'll carry on looking into this, but I'm not hopeful that anything concrete will turn up.

Best of luck.

I had a bad cold/flu that lasted about a month. I now feel fine but lately I smell smoke all the time. I never smoked before nor does my wife. She told me before my breathe smells like cigarette smoke but I told her shes crazy. At that point I didnt smell it. After a couple of days I now smell it in my nose wherever I am. At first I thought someone nearby was smoking but then it was happening everywhere. My family calls me MONK for the TV show, cause I am a clean freak, so I dont know why this is happening. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, when I go somewhere and people are smoking it really bothers me. It seems like my nose was always very sensitive when it comes to smells. I would be able to smell someone smoking from very far away. But now it smell it all the time and I look for who is smoking but I dont find anyone. Does anyone know what is going on with US????

OK, I'm having this also and it's really freaky! I have to say that I also associate it with computers. Mine is in my bedroom and on all the time often along with a laptop on the bed. No one seems to have any real answers. I found one other websites with some posts illuding to brain tumors which I think are bogis. Alarmist. But there is definitely something going on. I wonder if being around computers a lot is causes us to be able to smell some kind of emission? Please keep posting, I really want to figure this out. Thanks

Wow, glad to see I'm not the only one who smells phantom cigarette smoke. I'm sorry to see that there are no recent posts and no answers. Reading the posts, though, and assuming we're all more-or-less healthy and tumor-free, I noticed a few themes. One, a lot of sinus problems. Two, some use of Sinus Rinse products. Three, Exceptional senses of smell.

Right now I have a very bad cold/possible sinus infection and the smell of cigarette smoke is so strong I can't get away from it. Morning, noon and night, like I'm walking around with a lit cigarette. It's normally a passing thing, not this constant. So I'm guessing it's related to the sinus problems. I am rinsing more, with this cold.

Any progress, anybody? Any other similarities out there?

Hello everyone,
I did a search last night to see if my constant smell of smoke was symptomatic of some illness. I really didn't expect to find people suffering from the same thing I was experiencing. I read all the posts I could find regarding the constant smell of smoke. I didn't have anything in common with the others who were smelling smoke. I did however, come across a comment someone made regarding computers as a possible culprit and someone saying something about the only thing different was either an LCD screen and one person stated a laptop. The only thing I had in common was that I have been using a laptop everyday and always before going to bed. While I was reading further comments, I decided to cover my mouth and nose with the cup of my hand and it was a welcome relief! I thought I was just getting a reprieve and simply smelling the fragrance of the liquid Dove hand soap. I continued to cover my mouth and nose because it was actually the first time in over a week I didn't smell smoke.
I closed my laptop and went to bed. I realized I no longer smelled smoke as I was climbing the stairs to go to bed. OMG! when I woke up the next morning, I instantaneously realized the smell was still gone. I have only been up an hour but thought I'd better post right away, just in case it might help someone. I didn't want to be like the news stations and sit on a possible health solving issue until the end of the show. I truly hope this helps someone.

A year ago I had to start taking a beta blocker. Within a few days I noticed a distinct smell of what I would describe more as mold than cigarette. Thought I was going a bit mad in middle age. Then my wife told me that for the first time she noticed that my breath was smelling. Charming!
Anyway I tried an experiment. Stopped taking the beta blocker for a week. Result - smell gone. Started taking the beta blocker. Result - smell returned. The beta blocker concerned in my case is Atenolol.
I have decided to stick with it, and just use a decent breath freshener.

I have been trying to find out why I smell the burning in my sinuses too. I had cold in January (very bad sinus infection, ear infection and loss of hearing and voice). After that episode, the burning smokey smell started. It isn't all the time for me but most of the day. I also have been suffering from migraines and bloody noses. People think I am strange. HELP!!! This is really bothering me. Something must be wrong with all of us.

I was so relieved to see that others have the same strange ailment that I do. Sorry everyone! I smell the smoke almost all the time, different places. No one else here smells it. But...one thing that seems different with me is that I can't smell anything else. haven't been able to for a few months now. I have had sinus infections on and off since October 06. Am on Augmentin right now, which I noticed someone else took. Also took Avelox and Z-pack. I had a CT of sinuses, which showed infection. I am using Flonase too. I have an appointment with an allergist on Monday. Hope to find something out. Has anyone else used the pepper nose spray and does it burn?

i went to a doctor of naturopathy and found out that i have allergies to just about every food i eat every day.. my symptoms were chronic sinus infection, weird burning smell, head aches and as well as stomach swelling. everyone reacts to allergies differently but maybe it could be what you are eating. go to a dr. and see what you are allergic to

Not to scare any of you, but you may need to seek medical help immediately. Phantom smells (Which may be smoke) are a sign of a brain tumor. They may be accompanied with headaches, but even if they aren't, you should check it out. If an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist has not been able to identify your problem, and yet you still have these "phantom" smells, get yourself checked out for a tumor ASAP.

I have been smelling smoke for over a month. My doctor ordered a CT-Scan and it showed nothing. He refered me to an ENT (appointment next week). After finding this forum, I am quite discouraged. Seems nobody is finding any answers.

In may, I took 14 days of Levaquin 750mg for a bad sinus infection (which came on suddenly). I also use an AdVair inhaler twice per day for a pneumonia that will not go away (possible Aspergillus). But otherwise, I am quite healthy and fit.

This did not start until about a month after I finished the Levaquin. Wonder if it is connected.

After typing in 'burnt smell in my nose' into Google I was amazed not only to find this thread but also to find out how many people suffer from this strange ailment. I totally lost all sense of smell and taste since suffering an 11 week bout of a nasty chest infection recently. It took four doses of antibiotic - the last of which was a three week course of the heavy duty Clarithromycin - which finally cleared it up. After over 3 months of not smelling or tasting anything whatsoever, out of the blue two weeks ago l started to have this burning smell in my nose and also in my mouth. Everything I smell is burnt and everything I eat tastes burnt! I went to my GP who suggested that it could be something to do with the Clarithromycin and when I went back to read the small print it did suggest that in some cases people may react to the drug with a TEMPORARY loss of sense of smell and taste. Funnily enough all the time I was taking it there was a horrid sour/bitter taste in my mouth which I was looking forward to getting rid of when I finished the course - no such luck eh? One other complication I have is that I suffer from IBS and also intermittent reflux for which I take Omeprozole once a day although what that would have to do with my sense of smell/taste is anyones guess! A common denominator I have found is that most of the other contributors have had sinus problems and this is the one thing I do not suffer from! I have noticed in these posts that no one else mentions the burnt taste aspect of this strange disorder and would like to hear from anyone who does have this too. In despair I went to my GP once again this morning and he now agrees that it should be investigated further and has suggested I see an ENT specialist but from the sound of things they are not much help either. Will post the outcome - but as they say Im not holding my breath!

Yeah, I am not imagining things.

I too smell smoke sometimes for long periods of time. This makes me nauseous to complicate matters.

I have had chronic sinus problems and use a nose spray daily. I am sure it must have something to do with the nasal passages, I suspect the fungus\bacteria or allergy theory.

I was rinsing for a while, I think I will go back to it and see if it helps. A visit to the ENT is also in order.

I will check back to see if anyone has found an answer or if I am successful. Could be that the cure will be different for each of us.

Thank you for writing in about this bizarre condition.