Constant smoke smell in nasal passages.

[PN904]

I am a non-smoker. We are a non-smoking family. I am not around smokers at all. Why do I have the constant smell of smoke in my nose. It used to be just an occasional thing, but lately it seems to be all the time. I am concerned that this is a symptom of something I don't know about. The smell is strong. I used to notice it about a half hour after taking my Allegra-D 12 hr. tablets, but now I smell it much more often. Am I going crazy or is there something to this I'm not aware of. Has anyone else experienced this? Please help?

[hennis2884]

I had my first occurrence of the phantom smoke smell over 9 years ago, but it has only happened maybe 5 times, total.  I used to think it was dust burning in the ventilation slots of my computer monitor at work but I have realized over time the smell is with me everywhere I go... home, work, gym, stores.  It tends to last for a few weeks and then fades away.  I currently have it again now.  Sometimes it gets so bad I become sick to my stomach.  It is NOT caused by an HVAC unit, acid reflux, fabric softener, contact lens solution, or living in a "toxic environment".  It is something medical, I am sure of, whether it's sinus or brain-related is yet to be determined.  I see my Dr next week and will start the investigation then.

[redrose490]

I started having a persistent yet intermittent smell of cigarette smoke in my apartment a few months ago.  I live in a senior property, and it is a no smoking property.  Sometimes it is so bad I can barely stand it.  Then I realized that I could smell it in some of the stores I frequent and then I started smelling it in my car sometimes.  Finally I came to realize that it is a problem with me, since no one who comes to visit me smells it when I do.  It seems to come and go, I can have it for several days and then not have it happen for a few weeks.  I have been using a cpap machine (breathing machine) for about a year, and I am wondering if it could possibly be related to that.  I am going to pursue this with my doctor.  I am miserable, it gets so bad I feel like I am choking and gasping for air.  I have always hated cigarette smoke and have been extra sensitive to it.  I cannot stand to even be in the same area with someone who is smoking and if I am I have to come home, strip off my clothes and wash my hair before I can go to sleep.  I do not have A/C, but do have forced air electric, although it is summer and I am not using my heat.  I do use my laptop for several hours daily, but find that I can smell it in the evenings while watching television when my laptop is shut down for the night.  I am really frustrated over this matter, and in the meantime I will try all suggestions listed above.  I am just glad to hear that I am not the only one suffering.

[leslie12]

My burnt smell problem began last autumn and seems to only occur when I am indoors near vented air (e.g. air conditioning or heating vents). It never happens outdoors. On most days it occurs intermittently when I am near vents (it is never constant). It does, however, lead to slight inflammation of my nasal pasages. My ENT (like most of your ENTs ) didn't have a clue to the problem. He sent me for a Brain MRI and I was fine. Now he thinks I might benefit from going to a center for smell and taste disorders at the University of Pennsylvania. I may do this if my problem ever worsens. My own suspicion is that I have an indoor allergy caused by mold, dust, or something similar. It manifests itself as occasional burnt smell. (I also have polyps in my nose.) If anyone suffers from something similar, and has advice for me, I would much appreciate it. However, please keep in mind my precise symptoms, which may be very different from yours. I wish you all good luck and I hope someday the medical community will catch up with what we have, and stop scaring everyone into thinking they have brain tumors, especially when these smells are intermittent, and caused by specific environmental conditions.

[Laboots]

Because of your posts and comments, I finally went to my GP.  I have had the smoke smell for almost 2 months.  First it started as just the annoying smell, and then the eyes started burning and the nausea.  I seemed like someone was just blowing smoke in my face until I wanted to gag.  It was in different locations, different times of the day and all in smoke free environments.  I even went so far as to check my son’s rooms thinking they were sneaking and smoking in the middle of the night.

My family physician was awesome.  Listened to my concerns and discussed some possible causes.  He suggested we start with some blood work, and then if the symptoms persisted an MRI.  Well, my thyroid count was very low almost non-existent.  I started taking 100 mg of Levothyroxine and 2 weeks later, no smoke smell.  I will continue to get my blood levels checked.

[JohnRoy409]

The smoke smell is likely caused by products in the marketplace that doctors are forbidden to criticize.

[Mikki13]

Since this started this morning, I think you have answered your own question.  Older A/C's tend to leak (new ones can also) and also have mold and other nasty stuff.  If you are not going to be exposed to this old A/C unit constantly, then I think your 'smoke smell' will go away soon.  If you ARE going to be exposed to this unit in the future, I would suggest opening it and cleaning it thoroughly.  Then spray some soapy water along the lines to see if little white bubbles indicate a freon leak.  Freon smells like car exhaust to me, but it could be described by others as a smoky type smell.  

I feel your pain.

[Markavian]

I've just started suffering from this problem this morning - I can smell a constant "burning" wherever I am. I've just had the "sniffles" for a week, which might have been a cold/virus - but I also spent last night in a room with a fairly old AC/Heater unit.

The last time my nose felt anything like this was when I accidentally boiled butter in a pan while making a cake - my sense of smell was destroyed for over a month.

This is a bit different though, I can still smell and taste other things, but there's this constant background smell that I can't ditch. Its very distracting.