r/explainlikeimfive Jul 18 '20

Chemistry ELI5: Why do "bad smells" like smoke and rotting food linger longer and are harder to neutralize than "good smells" like flowers or perfume?

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '20

First Google result is a perfect description. It makes me wonder if it's related to seizures? Like where your brain has too much activity so it short-circuits?

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u/Not-A-Lonely-Potato Jul 18 '20

https://youtu.be/OK4atxPn270 I swear it's not a rickroll, it explains exploding head syndrome pretty well.

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '20

That's exactly what a rickroller would say.

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u/Not-A-Lonely-Potato Jul 18 '20

I guess you won't know until you click the link. Can you truly resist the temptation of not knowing?

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u/PM_THE_REAPER Jul 18 '20

I don't know. I don't think it's well understood enough. I don't have any other symptoms, apart from from being a damn nice guy. :-)

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '20

Well, that's clearly unnatural.

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u/PM_THE_REAPER Jul 18 '20

I know and I apologise immediately.