The topic of odors and the sense of smell is a fascinating one.
Some studies have shown that the body scent of men who have greater body bilateral symmetry are rated as more attractive by the average woman who is not using contraceptives.
That certainly explains why I couldn’t get a date in high school with my highly asymmetric form. Odors have been classified as musky (perfumes), pungent (vinegar), floral (flowers), pepperminty (mints), ethereal (gasoline), camphoraceous (mothballs), and putrid (rotten eggs). There is also a rating scale ranging from 0 (no odor) to 6 with a level 1 being the odor threshold and 6 being intolerable. Homeowners with HVAC systems may be tempted to add some new odor classifications. There is the “ozoney” odor created by an electrical shortage or a unit that is overheating because of blocked airflow from a filter that needs to be replaced. Firing up a furnace that has been idle for some time could result in a “dusty” smell. The most common HVAC odor is, unfortunately, “musty” instead of “musky”. These are the smells that mold and mildew can produce when the condensate from the AC unit is not drained properly. The most dangerous odor is the putrid smell of rotten eggs. A trace amount of mercaptan, a chemical that contains smelly sulfur compounds, is deliberately added to odorless natural gas to alert people of leaks from gas-fueled furnaces. If you smell this, open your windows and doors, turn off the gas valve to the house if you can, and call your HVAC service company as soon as possible. If the HVAC technician that arrives has a symmetrical build, be sure your wife has an errand to run during the service call.