I started experiencing the same thing within the past 2 to 3 months and it drove me crazy. I could put a freshly laundered towel to my face or my hands and smell fabric softener or my lotion and soap. I realized that I didn't smell it when I first got up in the mornings, nor during the weekend. But once I start smelling it, I smell it for the remainder of the day. I don't smoke and nobody smokes at work or in our building so I decided to try to pinpoint when it starts. I felt certain that it had to be starting at work or during my lunch break since it wasn't happening during the weekends. I take a few medications first thing in the morning and an aspirin at night, but I didn't think it was tied to any of those since the timing didn't seem to match. Tuesday morning of last week I began journaling everything I ate, drank, smelled, lotions I used and when, what time I turned my space heater on, etc. Shortly after I drank a canned Diet Dr. Pepper, I began to smell smoke, and continued to smell it for the remainder of the day. I usually have one in the late morning and another late in the afternoon. Since I really believe that was the link I didn't drink another one all week and I haven't smelled smoke since then. I just started drinking Diet Dr Pepper in the past few months because they along with a few other soft drinks are furnished free at work so the timing coincides with the timeframe that I've been experiencing this. I don't know if it might be the Aspartame or what, but I feel certain that this has been resolved for me. I plan to post this to other sites where I've read similar posts.

I have started to smell cigarette smoke over the past three or four day's. I suffer annually from allergies. I have had a heavy sinus cold a few weeks ago. Today I blew my nose and very thick yellow mucous came out. I have had really bad sinus congestions over the past few months. At the time the smell started the sinus congestion stopped. I have theory. When I exhale then hold my breath for 10 second or turn my head and then inhale through my nose... no smell!!! I think this smell is our own breath or exhaled breath to be exact. It seams this smell is being created in my bronchial or lungs. I am over weight and poor physical condition. I think, like a cigarette, this smoke could being created in our body. It is like my body is creating this smell and it is a nicotine like gas or some gases off from the body with a similar smell. In another posting someone suggested Aspertame from diet soda... Like the last post, I'm going to try diet and exercise

Hello:
Like so many others here, I began to smell smoke on occasion - when there was no smoke anywhere nearby. My own research has shown this is almost always caused by a sinus infection of one kind or another, or more accurately as I believe, the gasses produced by such an infection interacting with our own sense of smell. These infections are difficult and sometimes darn near impossible to treat with antibiotics alone. But don�t give up all hope just yet! Read on and see if my own experience with this smokey problem can help you.
In my case, it turns out I had an upper molar with an infected root. Apparently the root had cracked who knows how long ago without my noticing, and over time it became home to a localized infection. Although it remained more or less �contained� to the area of the break, the infection no doubt caused other seemingly unrelated problems as well. Yet the whole thing remained undetected and of no bother to me at all until this molar was crowned. That procedure disturbed things enough to inflame the infected area, eventually requiring a root canal that destroyed an expensive crown. Unfortunately, this only seemed to improve the problem for a short time until an aggravated inflammation site eventually penetrated my sinus cavity to the point where it began draining into it. Normally this kind of drainage flows down the throat, so it was only discovered accidentally, when I bent down to pick something up and a bloody discharge dripped from my nose. This occurred just prior to scheduled oral surgery of the inflamed root to remove it.
That was the primary cause of my original sinus infection, but getting back to the main story. During conversations with my oral surgeon regarding treatment options, he revealed that antibiotics are ineffective in most such cases. While the reasons are simple, they remain unknown to most lay people. It seems that our bones and other deep tissue areas actually receive very little blood flow, which severely limits the delivery of all blood carried antibiotics to these same areas. Now this was a sobering revelation to me, who like most, believed the body always delivered copious amounts of blood everywhere. But since blood delivery is rather limited to these areas, it seemed to me that the conditions harboring whatever bacteria or germs were producing this smokey smell, required changing if I ever expected to eradicate this nuisance.
Here is what I did and mind you, it took nearly a month to see any real success, so don�t stop prematurely.
I began by taking over the counter sudafed to dry out my nasal cavities both in the morning and evening - but no more than the recommended dose. About that time my wife discovered a nasal rinsing device that looks like a small watering can. Ask your pharmacist if you can�t find one on the shelf. There are several brands and designs, which all use a saltwater solution that enters into one side of your nasal cavities and drains out of the other. (the recommended dose-1 packet per side, was too strong for me, so I used a half-packet for each nostril) Yeah I know, the whole thing sounds crazy as heck and believe me, it feels even crazier! But follow the directions since it really does rinse out your sinuses and for me at least, was instrumental in changing the environment within my own cavities to a point where it was no longer infection friendly. I also used a misting nasal spray (use whatever brand you like best) and deep inhaled it at least once a day usually in the morning. But also whenever I felt it necessary to keep things really cleaned and dried out.
After several weeks of this; drying out my sinuses - rinsing them out - applying nasal spray, things began to settle down and I gradually tapered this treatment off to zero.
HAPPY DAYS, no more smokey smell!
But having read here that some have had seriously deep infections and even nerve problems which can apparently also cause the same or similar symptoms, I would also strongly recommend that should this not help, you should seek professional treatment as soon as possible.
Good luck!

I thought I was going crazy. For the past few days I have been smelling smoke - all day and all night - wakes me up at night and drives me crazy. I have no other unusual symptoms. The only change I made was my diet, which is protein shakes during the day (2) and a small meal at night. I had broncitis throughout January and February and have headaches everyday. I use excedrin to control it - 2 in the am, 2 in the pm. I plan on putting up with it until my yearly checkup in about a month, unless other symptoms appear. I will keep watching other posts for answers.

has anyone found out why they keep smelling smoke? I have had this for 2 weeks and its very strange!

Me, too - I've started smelling smoke, and I've been having almost a constant headache over my left eye for 4 months. I thought the headache might be related to new estrogen therapy or a need for new eyeglasses. I do have a history of migraines/bad sinus headaches/sinus infections. Looks like I should check with an ENT before I start worrying about brain tumors.

I started smelling smoke all the time as well. It would happen abount a week after I began taking over-the-counter allergy pills each day. Very annoying! I quit taking the pills and the smell gradually went away within a week. About 2 months later, I decided to start taking the allergy pills again. After one week, the same symptom showed up - smelly cigarette everywhere that I go. I think smelling cigarette smoke constantly is worse than having a sneeze and runny nose. I guess I'll deal with it.

I've had this problem for a couple of years now, but it happens very, very rarely and in clusters - makes me think it could be link the to cluster headaches I have.
I also had my nasal cauterized when I was younger due to constant nose bleeds - may be another possibility?

Does anyone have any other problem with smelling in general? I swear my sense of smell has gone down hill but my taste is still perfect... I hope I don't have Alzheimer's or something, I'm only 19!

I too am surprised (and relieved) to find this thread. I've had this ciggie smoke smell occurring for about 10 years off and on... almost always with a headache. I have a history (since I was 14--I'm now 48!) of visual auras occasionally followed by a migraine, although rare, but this olfactory aura is terrible!

I've never even held a cigarette between my lips--let alone know what it's like to be a smoker! The smell of cigarettes has never been an odor I could tolerate... let alone live with for days at a time. I find myself holding my nose 'shut' often and breathing through my mouth hoping to try and block the phantom smell.

I have ruled out every 'outside' possibility. We live in the country--houses are rather far apart--so it's not a neighbor. No past smokers lived in our house, no current smokers live here, no visitors have ever smoked inside the house! Not one other person smells the smoke when I do... so it's gotta be 'all in my head!' Just where in my head, and why?

I too am on a mission like so many others who have posted here, to find a cause, a cure or something! If anyone out there has more suggestions... well, I'm sure many of us will be checking back to see where this thread is going!!

BTW...thanks to those who have posted ideas and possible answers... and good luck to all of us who have to deal with this 'hazy-jazz-club' smell! I really mean it when I say--I can FEEL your PAIN!

Hello fellow sufferers,

I'm new here, and relieved to find that there's a chance that I'm not crazy, at least about inhaling unwanted tobacco smoke.

It started when some new folks moved into one of the nearby apartments, and I assumed that it was coming through common walls, etc. The same thing happened before, and I was able to locate exactly where it was coming into my apartment. I removed the woodwork at the source, sprayed in some foam insulation. Problem solved!!!

Same apartment about four years later. But now I cannot find a specific entry spot for this odor. It is different, in that it now hangs in the air, instead of being very strong in a closet or corner, as it did the last time.

I first noticed being overcome by the odor at the library, of all places. Since it was the first time in ages, I cut my visit short, expecting that it was temporary. Nope. I even called to ask if anyone else had mentioned anything. Negative.

I'm in the library now, and guess what? I'm about to gag from the strength of the odor. And I'm not sitting near anyone, and in another different spot. Did I mention that I actually called the local paper and asked about local air quality, and was there some problem that they knew about. Nothing there either.

I mentioned it to other neighbors in the building, and at first one said she had not noticed anything. A couple days later, she was waiting for me to come home and told me that I was not crazy, that she could smell it too, and then the other neighbor got home and said the same thing. And their units are right next to the new people. I can't blame them, because I have not seen them smoking.

And now, reading all the posts (about 12 pages!) of people with similar complaints, I am backing off suspecting the new neighbors! And I will be at Wal-mart soon to select something to experiment with over the long weekend. I have been wearing a mask (the two in a box type) from Wal-mart, and it helps some, except when I want to eat!

I have always been highly sensitive to tobacco smoke (etc.) which made family get togethers not much fun when I was a kid. Even if this is "imaginary" my eyes and nose are feeling exactly like they do when I can see smoke, and I am coughing and getting irritable.

Do any doctors read this forum????? It sure would save time when/if I actually make an appointment. My other choice would be to copy some posts to word and then print them. (I would never put names in, don't worry!) And some posts go back to 2005!

I will begin listing foods and other products proximal to smelling the odor. That's a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion.

Please forgive me for going on so long. But thanks to all of you for exposing a problem that "don't get no respect" from folks who aren't dealing with it! I am also in search of a real friend who will smell me! I can't wait to get the reaction...still hanging on to my sense of humor. Thank you everybody! Enjoy the three-day.

S.

Dear Squinky,

Feel free to use anything I've said in this or my previous post if you decide to discuss this "smoky" issue with a doctor (or herbalist, or shaman or whomever else might be able to help you & all of us I'd love to hear about someone out there who has not only heard of this issue, but might have answers or possibly even some proven treatments!

Although my husband is an M.D., he has never heard about this cigarette smell phenomenon in any of the medical literature he has read (except for the fact that it could be one of many olfactory auras said to precede a migraine).... but, DH is an ER doc--not an ENT, allergy or migraine specialist, so this is not a topic that he routinely studies.

I read your comment above and thought I might toss in a couple other ideas. At 48, I am nearing menopause, and I have found that I tend to get migraines more frequently. And, often just a few days prior to my periods I get a smoky smell, then a booming migraine. But, starting about 10 years ago -- at 38 -- I was also experiencing smoky smells. I was not yet peri-menopausal, but I was undergoing fertility treatments -- i.e. medically influenced hormonal floods -- that threw my normal hormone levels completely out of whack! (But, no regrets! The hormone overload did help me achieve pregnancy and I now have a healthy 8 year old to show for all of those crazy months.)

So, my hypothesis -- the idea that hormones could play a role in our smoky smell -- might explain why an earlier poster -- in her late teens to early 20s -- might be having this occurrence? She could be experiencing normal fluctuating hormones. Or, maybe she began or stopped using "the pill" which is just another kind of hormone therapy? Or, perhaps she increased or decreased the use of soy products in her diet (natural estrogens), etc.

But, this theory leaves me with no legitimate answer for why the men who have posted in this forum are having similar issues. I mean, they too have hormones, and those hormones can ebb and flow, but not usually so wildly as a woman's might. So?

Another thought.... does anyone have this smoky smell... and also smoke cigarettes? I mean, some smokers or former smokers like the smell of cigarettes.... so they may not find this "ghost odor" offensive? Maybe the smell of shell fish or perfume bothers a smoker -- so that is the offensive smell they perceive when we're smelling "smoke?"

Could our brains simply be "choosing" a smell that -- for some odd reason -- we find offensive? Has anyone searched for other offensive "phantom" odors? Hmm. Maybe other folks are complaining of phantom citrus or ghostly mothballs smells? Maybe what we're experiencing is just a "muscle twinge?" We've all had muscle spasms or charley horses for what seems to be no apparent reason.... maybe this is just an odd olfactory flinch?

In our house, we also face mold issues, pet dander and countless outside allergens... so while my DH & DS sneeze and take antihistamines, perhaps I react to these allergies by smelling smoke? I don't know. Just wondering. I'd love for someone to bring these issues up to curious medical professionals. I truly believe there's something going on here that traditional medicine has not picked up on yet. Hey, it was only a handful of years ago that most medical professionals did not believe that fibromyalgia was a REAL condition... yet today, everywhere you look there are clinics, medicines, herbs, etc. offered in the treatment of fibromyalgia, so, maybe we are all just ahead of the curve?

Anyway... Keep posting everyone!! I do indeed feel less of a pariah just knowing that I can vent with y'all!
Cheers, IndyLemon

I am 55 yo, bipolar and have family neurology issues. I smell smoke for long periods of time, but it is more like a cold fireplace and is not offensive. I take seroquel and paxil. No history of seizure.Significant AOD use in college. Sober for almost 15 yrs. rdc

I;m so glad I'm not alone with this. I've had the smoke smell for about two years, I've had migraines for about thirty years. It seems like the smoke smell could be an aura because they seem to happen simutaneously with a migraine. But... last month I started smelling a very sour smell all the time and when I would try to blow my nose the right nostril would seem to have something stuck in my sinus cavity. When I finally was able to blow the object out it was like a huge piece of chewing gum with about the same consistencey and it was dark green. This happened several times and the smell continued I finally went to my family doc and she prescribed Avelox for fourteen days after about sixteen days the smoke smell and sour smell cleared up. Now it's two weeks since I went off the antibiotic and the smoke smell is back. Sorry about the graphic description of my symptoms. Thanks for any input. P.

I have just found this forum because I have been smelling cigarette smoke every day for a long while. At first I thought it really was drifting smoke, but the people around me couldn't smell it. It does come and go, but I smell it daily. As I am typing I can smell it. I don't have migraines, but I do have headaches regularly, and recently, especially in the left brow. I am not congested and don't have any sinus pain. For the past 8 years I have been suffering from polymyositis, a progressive muscle disease, and I have strange sensations that seem to be nerve-related all the time in my limbs or in my face in particular: itching, tingling, twitching, and sharp pains. I have not idea how all of these things relate to one another if at all. Like everyone who has posted here, the smell of smoke makes me crazy. It even causes me to cough sometimes. I've been helped by all these postings because I know it is not real and therefore I can breathe freely even when I smell the smoke. I wish I had answers though. That's what's lacking so far.

I too have been smelling smoke for about 2 months. I've been to the ENT and a neurologist. I've had 2 mri's, they took 12 tubes of blood and the only thing that showed by a vitamin B-12 deficiency. I took tablets for 1 month which didn't help, then had a B-12 shot 2 weeks ago. So far, that didn't help. When I smell the smoke I also have a pressure on the back of my neck. Sometimes laying flat helps a little. I'm desperate for any help anyone can offer.

"stepms" posted great information. I've been smelling smoke for the last three months and had to finally look on line to find out if anyone else was going through the same thing. I have a neti pot and haven't used it since last winter. I dug it out and tried it this morning and it works!!! Just wanted to let anyone that is suffering to read this and try it.