I Smell Cigarettes All the Time And I Don't Smoke.

Many of the descriptions here match my experience. I am 36 years old. Not a smoker, but my father smoked. I have always considered myself sensitive to smells. I hate cigarette smoke. I have a history of migraines, sinus infections (last one over a year ago) and allergies to mold, dust, and some pollens (taking meds for that.) I have post nasal drip much of the time. No one in my home smokes. There is a no smoking law in my state, so I'm rarely around smokers.

After taking prednisone for dental nerve pain last month, I started noticing a smoke smell. It's been about four weeks since I realized that there was no "real" source for the smell. My dental x-rays did not show sinus infection. I did take antibiotics for a bladder infection three months or so before I was plagued with the phantom smoke. I've taken predinose and antibiotics before without developing a noticable phantosmia, so I don't think it is the medication that is the problem per se.

The phantom smell comes and goes throughout the day and night and may be subtle or strong. It may smell sweet, like a cigar (or like antifreeze,) or stale like an ash tray or start sweet, then turn stale. At worst, I "taste" smoke or a metallic taste, like blood, with burning eyes/throat. Sometimes a breeze (eg. from the fan in my bedroom) hits at the same time, and the sensation is very realistic.

The smell can last a split second or what seems like hours, although I have not timed it. Sometimes I wake up smelling smoke, sometimes no smell until evening. I almost always notice it at some point while driving, at the computer, and while reading. The type of computer monitor makes no difference. I can also be outside and/or smelling other smells at the same time.

During an "episode," I can smell it inhaling and sometimes when holding my breath, but not when forcefully exhaling. Sometimes I can relieve it or mask it by covering my nose with my shirt or holding scented was under my nose. I've tried a nose rinse to no avail. I made my daughter check my breath after reading these posts, and she says my breath smells does not smell like smoke.

MRI showed nothing abnormal. I go for an EEG tomorrow. Last Tuesday morning, I had a sneezing fit, used Flonase, and only had one small episode that evening then no smoke on Wednesday. But today (Thursday) it was worse than ever--so bad I can "taste" it and my eyes are burning. I'm trying the Flonase again.

If that doesn't work, and the EEG does not show seizures, I'm going to ask my doctor about the antifungal medication. It makes sense that if you are on an antibiotic, a fungus could take advantage and move in. If that doesn't work, I'll ask for the antibiotics some of you mentioned. Thank you all for posting. I'll let you know if something seems to cure it.

wow, just thought I'd type it in and see if I could find out what's going on with me and there you all are!! so now that I know I'm not alone or going crazy, has anyone found out what it is???? It's so bad sometimes, my breath catches, like if I walked into a room filled with smoke and it chokes you. my husband and daughter smoke, but I smell it when I'm away from home for long periods of time and outside...it just comes out of nowhere. I also have a thyroid disease and has that been connected??? I'm due for a check up but wanted to try to get some info before going...I know how frustrating it is when I have no clue and neither does she (the doc). I need answers!! keep posting!!!

Hi all, Had this smoke type smell for about two weeks.I posted on this forum and was surprised how many of you suffered the same thing.I had a sneezing bout after the two weeks and the smell went. I still get it now and again but it is very faint and doesn't really bother me like it did before.If it comes back like the first time i will try to induce sneezing to see if this is one way of getting rid of it if only temporary.Good luck all.

I have had this problem for about 7 years. At one point, it was driving me crazy, and I couldn't find any answers for some time, even after what I felt was extensive research. I kept being led to smell disorders or scary conditions like tumors. Anyway, I began to notice that the problem only started occuring after taking Ambien (I took this drug for 2 years--an awful long time when it is really a short term drug). I stopped taking it, and the problem went away for a little bit. It happened again after I gave birth to my son while I was in the hospital. Then I remembered they had given me Ambien when I was having trouble sleeping. Well, I thought I had it all figured out. I believed Ambien had caused some damage to my olfactory nerves and I even found evidence online that supported my theory that various medications (not specifically Ambien, which is a newer drug) can cause this kind of damage. I completely stopped taking Ambien or any sedative, convinced they were the primary culprits. Months later, the smoke smell came back!! I was so upset! I had to start from square one, or so I thought. When I gave birth to my daughter, I noticed the smoke smell was very prominent. I also was suffering from a cold that I could not kick in the last trimester of this pregnancy. One doctor told me I was suffering from a URI that exacerbated my asthma. I began to think back to all of the times I could remember smelling smoke. Was I sick during those times? What was the weather like? Was I suffering from allergies? Finally, I went to my new PCP and asked him what was going on and gave him my theories. I asked if he thought medication and/or sinus problems/illness could cause this smoke smell. He actually heard of this problem! He told me in my case, it was probably both. He gave me a neurological exam, just in case, but when I passed, he told me my medication could have caused some damage to my sinuses, and the recurrent sinus problems caused by the weather, allergies, and illness also contributed. He was confident that if I started taking Flonase, my current bout of smoke smelling would resolve within a week or so. He was right! After this appointment, I carefully noted every time I smelled smoke. Now I notice the trends: I will often smell smoke at various times when the winds shift (Kona winds here in Hawaii), when there is a higher concentration of vog (volcanic fog) in the air, when I have certain allergic reactions, and when I have head colds that take a bit longer to go away. I take Flonase when it happens, and the problem is resolved. And you what? I only recently mentioned this to my sister, who is a nurse (I didn't tell many people because I was so weirded out about it), and she has the same problem! She also treats it with Flonase.

In summary, this problem appears to happen to people who have had some damage caused to their sinuses over the years, whether it was caused by medications, chronic illnesses like sinusitis or allergies. Weather changes, colds, allergies, etc., can cause it to rear its ugly head, but once this factors are elimated, the smell usually goes away. To make it go away sooner, talk to your doctor about Flonase. If it lasts for a really long time, you probably have some type of chronic allergy or sinus problem. If you treat the core problem, the smoke smell, which is just a symptom, should resolve. Hope this helps!!

Hi again ..I still haven't seen an ENT but my family Doctor prescribed an inhaler (salbutamol) and a pulmicort turbohaler with a steroid (Budesonide) I was on it for two weeks and it really seemed to help ....I quit taking it a few days ago as I don't like to stay on steroids for too long and the smoke smell is getting strong again. Have an appointment with ENT next month....... will post any news.

I like all you have been experiencing the same symptoms. I had surgery about 1 year ago on my nose. i thought that was the problem. Anyways i kept goggling everything I can think of "Smoke in the nose" Nose has burning smell" Nose smell like cigarettes' etc. I don't smoke so knew that couldn't be the problem. I hate medicine and try to use everything natural. This helped and almost eliminates every symptom (Headache, Eyes burning and Smell)

Here you go:

First go to Rite-Aid (I live in California) What every drug store you have.
Go pick up this thing called NeilMed - "*Sinus Rinse*" Do a search on google to make sure you get the right one. It cost about $10.00 Buy the extra packets you might need them. Use this for Exactly One week. 2 times a day. in the morning when you wake and after dinner.

Last step. Go to Walmart and pick up some (Equate) Saline Nasal Spray - $2.39 or whatever brand you prefer. i chose the cheapest. Use it to moisturize your nose lining. I use it like 6 to 7 times daily. It works wonders.


That's it. enjoy and God bless

Happy Smelling Again!

I also smell smoke. My girlfriend thinks i'm weird cause she cant smell it. I have a cold that has lasted about 7 weeks now. I have been diagnosed with a sinus infection as well. In the beginning, my doctor said I have a common cold, and gave me cough syrup with codeine. Two weeks later another doctor said I have a sinus infection and gave me antibiotics for ten days....it did not work! Another week after that , my doctor said " let's stick with the nose " and prescribed me a generic version of flo nase, or flo max - a steroidal nose spray....I don't think it works! Anyway, I googled stuffy nose and smelling smoke, and I found this interesting forum. I guess my next step will be to request to see a ENT specialist, and also was recommended to ask for a CT SCAN.

At random, I have been smelling cigarette smoke as well as other odors; burning plastic, musty, and an odor that I have been unable to identify but it is acrid..very sharp and chemical. Also, there is at times a very horrible 'aftertaste' which persists for days.
This has been going on for a little over 3 years now. My doc blames it on 'diabetic neuropathy', which makes these odors and tastes hallucinatory.

IMO, IF THESE THINGS WERE HALLUCINATIONS, THEY WOULD NOT GO AWAY WHEN THERE IS A BREEZE BLOWING!
But my doc does not take that into account.

My phantom odors disappear when I open the car windows or go outside.
An indication, I think, that these things are real.

Man oh man I thought I was going insane. The smoke smell has me ready to shove vicks in both nostrils. I am going to try some of the remedies i've seen here and let you know if they work. I have had this smelling of cigarette smoke problem on again off again for years but never looked it up before but I am so glad I did. Good luck to all the smoke smellers out there.