• idiomaddict@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    50
    ·
    2 years ago

    I can smell fear. I always thought that was normal, because it’s used idiomatically, but the first time I said something in a group of people, they looked at me like an alien. When someone’s anxious, their sweat smells more metallic to me, like amphetamine/coke sweat (which makes sense).

    • antlion@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      2 years ago

      One time I had to wait in line behind this guy who had a very strong metallic odor, it was making me sick. I’ve smelled it a few times since and recently smelled it on my mother. Not sure if it’s a drug. Probably not fear. Very interesting though.

      • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        2 years ago

        To be clear, I can’t differentiate between fear, anxiety, stress, and stimulants, except for intensity. It might be any of those if it smells a little like a battery. The first time I noticed it on someone else, it was someone with a crush on me who had to spend all day with me, so not exactly fear, but nerves.

        A sudden change in BO can indicate all sorts of things though, from Parkinson’s to diabetic shock to sepsis, so you might want to let her know.