Phantom smell - Burning & Smoke

[Stez77]

Hello, For a while i have been smelling a burning smell in my nose, kind of like smoke. It's not constant, somedays it's there and some it's not, i don't know what it is, i searched around and couldn't really find much, any info would be great.

[Crownman]

I have been suffering from this for about 2 years now.  I smell something burning in my home which smells more chemical than anything.  I live alone and am paranoid about it.  I'm always afraid my house is smoldering.  No one else can smell this.  Some times it is a daily thing which can last hours to days, and sometimes I go months without smelling it.  I have no idea what causes this, but would like an explanation or diagnosis.  It is very annoying and stressful.  

[turtletox]

Amazing. Never thought anyone else had this same thing occuring to them.
For me it started a year ago; All of a sudden. The "smoke" was more
chemical than anything. It even burned my throat. I could even taste it.
That went on for 6 weeks straight. Went away out of nowhere. Since then,
it comes back every so often, but not as intense as the first time.
Same horrid smell, with the same taste and burning of the throat.
I didn't read anybody else having a taste in their mouth from the "odor" and
I am a bit worried ...

[a_edwill]

I have the same thing.  I keep smelling burnt plastic.  Almost like the smell of brand new Chinese plastic stuff.  In fact I purchased a new powered speaker that smelled so strong of it that I had to return it.  Everyone smelled that.  Now I smell it daily.  Sometimes stronger than others.  I wonder if it's related to the cheap Chinese speaker that I returned 6 months ago.

[a_edwill]

I have the same thing.  I keep smelling burnt plastic.  Almost like the smell of brand new Chinese plastic stuff.  In fact I purchased a new powered speaker that smelled so strong of it that I had to return it.  Everyone smelled that.  Now I smell it daily.  Sometimes stronger than others.  I wonder if it's related to the cheap Chinese speaker that I returned 6 months ago.

[tam4givin]

I have had this for years. I thought it is part of my mild Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, but now that I have a lot of symptoms that could be a brain tumor they are trying to do a MRI. I have become Claustrophobic so there was no way I could take that plastic tube they put your head in now before going in the tunnel, not even on the open MRI machine. So now they are going to do a sleep study ( have all those symptoms to) to make sure it will be ok to put me to sleep for the MRI. God bless.

[1Robbie]

I understand from my neurologist that phantom smoke smell can preceed a seizure event, even an "absent" seizure, meaning that you check out for a sec.  I do not have seizures.  A tumor is a possiblity but I don't have that either.  I have taken to using a Neti Pot to wash out my sinuses when this starts and it seems to help incredibly.  I have a low functioning immune system with possible porphyria (look this up and see if any of the other symptoms apply to you).  I think that the smoke smell serves as a warning that there is something going on in your body that you need to discover.  We have to be our own detectives and advocates.  Blessings to everyone here who is suffering.  Mine has been a ten year journey.  I pray yours isn't as long.

[stagebunny]

I have been experiencing the same acrid smoke smell with the burned throat sensation off and on over a period of approximately a year. I see here that several people have mention that they have Dr. appointments set but no one has come back to report the results. Anyone have a successful out come?

[peaceofwork]

I have had this same phantom smell of burning cigarettes for several months.  My Neurologist thougth it could be a frontal lobe tumor or depression.  I put off an MRI because I have been under tremedous stress and depression was present.  I started on an anti-depressant, Lexapro and the smell went away.  I let my Drs know this but they still wanted to run the MRI...I had it yesterday.  Funny thing...my phantom smell came back yesterday evening so now I;m not sure it is entirely depression related but perhaps a combination of "stuff".