Unusual smells when they are not present

[tamstir]

I, too, have a persistent problem with smelling cigarette smoke and gasoline smells even when these things are not present. I do not smoke, nor do I spend any time with people who do. In fact, these smells are so noticeable to me because there is no nearby tangible source at the time I smell it. It seems to be at its worst during allergy season when my sinus membranes are dry and irritated. In my car or in my house with windows closed, the smell is strong and very real. Because I suffer from migraine headaches, I feared I might have a brain tumor or something. I had a severe flu that caused me to pass out several times, so my doctor did a brain scan and found no abnormalities. The migraine headaches and cigarette smoke or gas/diesel smells appear to be unrelated because they do not occur at the same time. What is causing the strange olfactory responses?







This discussion is related to Unusual smells.