Hi Derek

I do not and never have suffered from your particular problem but I do recall a
long time back on this forum's earlier incarnation, one member saying that he
had the persistence-of-smell variant of dysosmia that you describe. He said it
was like his olfactory receptors had stuck in the 'on' position. I'm not sure
whether anybody has access to the archive but I know he had no resolution to the
problem so it might not be enlightening even if his messages could be located.

Mick

> ----------
> From: dysosmia@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Derek Rumble
> Reply To: dysosmia@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 11:01 AM
> To: dysosmia@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [dysosmia] New to group - persisence of smell?
>
> Hi all - I have been suffering from phantosmia now for around 5 years.
> I first recall the problem when I walked to a pub in the next village
> at around the time of my birthday in February. It was a cold,
> winter's day and the pub had a real log fire - but a lot of wood smoke
> was escaping into the room. It actually smelled good and welcoming on
> such a cold day. And then the smell of that wood smoke stayed with me
> for weeks and weeks. It would not go away.
>
> But then it occurred to me that I had suffered mild phantosmia for a
> while anyway without being concerned about it. For example, in my
> home office I had been smelling a faint trace of overheating
> electronics - I thought I may have a problem with some of the computer
> equipment, but my wife smelled nothing. I just put it down to me
> being more sensitive.
>
> So therefore I have what I regard as two types of phantosmia.
> Firstly, the classic one smelling something that doesn't exist -
> usually a variation on burning substances like cigarette smoke
> (usually stale cigarette smoke) or exhaust fumes, woodsmoke and
> occasionally burned food / cooking type of thing. And when a smell
> developes it keeps me company for two to three weeks typically. And
> it's never anything pleasant like roses, strawberries or spaghetti sauce.
>
> Secondly - I have this phenomenon where, firstly, there is a real and
> pronounced smell stimulus - and then that particular smell is
> perceived for maybe weeks afterwards. A good example comes to mind
> when recently I was looking for a second-hand car. I sat inside to
> check out the interior condition and it was immediately obvious that
> the previous owner was a heavy smoker. The car dealer had cleaned the
> car and had attempted to mask the stale smoke smell with some kind of
> perfumed spray. The combined smell of the old smoke coupled with the
> pretty nasty masking spray was not at all pleasant. And this mixture
> of smells stayed with me for about a month. It went away, only to be
> re-stimulated during a visit to a hotel alittle while ago. We checked
> in to find that the room (although a non-smoking room) had been
> occupied by a smoker; you could smell that sweet, stale smoke easily.
> We moved to a different room - only for me to smell the same thing
> there too - with my wife assuring me that the new room was free of the
> cigarette smell.
>
> On finding this group, I had a look back through a large number of
> postings but haven't yet read of anyone else with this 'persistence of
> smell' problem.
>
> Anyone?
>
> Regards,
>
> Derek
>
>
>
>
>

r===================== DISCLAIMER ======================
This message is intended only for the use of the person(s)
("Intended Recipient") to whom it is addressed. It may contain
information, which is privileged and confidential. Accordingly
any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this
message or any of its content by any person other than the Intended
Recipient may constitute a breach of civil or criminal law and is
strictly prohibited. If you are not the Intended Recipient, please
contact the sender as soon as possible.

Reed Business Information Limited.
Registered Office: Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS, UK.
Registered in England under Company No. 151537

=======================================================