A Phantom Scent

Loki · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:06 pm Post subject: A Phantom Scent

On a recent outing I experienced that phenomenon known as the Phantom Scent for the first time. It was a rather interesting experience, albeit one I can't present as recorded evidence. I can, however, share the experience here for my fellow Hounds review and comment.

The other night I was part of a multi-location investigation. The first cemetery was an old favorite, but alas, seemed to be sleeping that night. The next one was new to me and, it seems, had at least one wakeful resident. The cemetery was attached to a primitive Baptist church and had some interesting and lengthy history associated with it. Along the back of this cemetery is a path that loops around from one corner to another. I'm not sure of its purpose, but another investigator had experienced some interesting events there during the last visit, so we decided to check it out.

There's a rough, narrow stairway cut into the slope that leads down and as we navigated this, I noticed a strong smell. It was an odd odor, a mix of flowers and perfume I guess is the best way to describe it, but not entirely like either. Sort of musky, almost spicy, if that makes sense. I turned to the other Hound with me and asked her if she smelled it too, the answer to which was a resounding 'Yes'. With my olfactory senses validated, we set out to find the source of the smell, which strongly persisted. Scouring the area we found only a Jasmine bush about 20 yards away, which smelled nothing like what we experienced on the stairs. No night blooming vegetation bordered the woods and the only flowers in evidence on the graves were fake or long dead (I smelled those too just in case, they smelled like decomposing flowers... surprise).

Unable to find the source we returned to the stairs to find the smell fading. Over the course of the next minute or two it continued to fade until we couldn't make it out at all anymore. A little flummoxed we cast about a bit more fruitlessly, and then continued our investigations elsewhere. Later on, however, we had moved to the other corner of the cemetery, about where the path began on that side. Well, our friendly scent bearer had apparently adjourned there as well, as we picked up that musky-floral-perfumy-spicy scent again. It was faint at first so, in an effort to tie it to a personality, I decided to give some encouragement. I spoke to whomever might be there, asking who they were, if that was them making the smell, etc. I even went so far as to pontificate on how beautiful such a person must be who would be producing that scent. Those words seemed to work wonders; not a moment after they left my mouth the level of the scent at least tripled. Both I and my partner let out a little gasp as we held our DVRs a little higher. We continued for a bit, talking to whomever had ears for it, but didn't manage to obtain an EVP or to replicate that level of the smell again.

Still that was, to me, a very poignant and convincing moment - especially since there was a very strong personal response. What do you think Hounds? Have any theories, comments, or similar experiences?
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Babs · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject:

The only thing I want to add to Loki's description is the strenth of this smell. This was so sudden and strong it would seem that we stepped directly into whatever caused the odor. Also there was no breeze to speak of at all and we looked everywhere for a possible source. It was an awesome experience.

Babs
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Loki · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject:

Guest · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject:

I think that the place where you were is extremely active. I does not suprise me to hear this. I too have had a couple things happen to me there as well but nothing like that. I have of course heard about the "flower smells" but have yet to experience anything like that. I have smelled rot....do you think it's the same kind of thing or just due to the fact that THERE ARE BODIES IN THERE!!! I was just curious.

bebop · Mist Joined: Oct 31, 2004 Posts: 147

I have had an experience with a smell like that but I was driving in my big truck. I was riding down the road in the daytime and started smelling men's cologne. My husband had died a couple of months before that. I couldn't figure it out for awhile where I knew that smell from. Then it hit me hard. From then on when I was alone in my truck and under a great deal of stress I would smell it again. I knew then he was there with me to let me know maybe that I was not alone.

Guest · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:54 pm Post subject:

That is so beautiful!!! You are very lucky to have that to comfort you. I hope it does.

gspceo253 · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:58 pm Post subject:

My husband, Senor Skeptic, and I both had a Phantom Scent encounter. It was a few months after my husband's grandfather passed away. They were very close and one afternoon I woke up from a nap and smelled peanut butter. I asked my husband what he was eating and he said "Nothing, I thought you were eating something." I asked him what he smelled and said he smelled peanut butter. I smelled it too and let me tell you that the smell was overwhelming! My husband then said that the smell reminded him of his grandfather. Apparently, the grandfather loved to eat fresh peanut butter by the spoonfull out of the jar. The surprise was that we didn't have any peanut butter in the house. I think someone stopped by for a visit because the smell lasted about 15-20 minutes and it was gone. We never smelled it again.
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bebop · Mist Joined: Oct 31, 2004 Posts: 147

thanks guest and yes it was very comforting.

Loki · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 1:25 pm Post subject:

I'm now forced to pay more attention to smells - now that I've had this experience I wonder about another instance or two I've had. In my last house we got this strange but very pleasant candy-like smell twice in the same place. It was so strong I actually hunted around for an hour afterwards trying to figure out where it had come from. Very odd for it to happen once, utterly bizarre when it happened again.

I need a confused Boo-emoticon. It seems like that's my most common state of being. Laughing

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wingedguy · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:24 pm Post subject:

when we go out a hunting we try hard to find the faintest sound or capture the most minute movement on video -we hardly ever set out to capture smell. yet sometimes that is the best way to experience the paranormal.

is it any wonder that a possible ghost would choose to make its presence known through smell -it is the sharpest sense we have (or for most of us it is!)

to me -to smell Old Spice or Lavendar Sachet in the unexpected place only underscores the probability that someone long ago past has returned to contact the present.

think about it -who wears those scents today? granddaddy and grandma. Jovan Musk oil is only worn by the groovy uncle that never grew up. lol

smell -it's a powerful thing!
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Babs · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:

Old Spice! yes that would trigger some memories of loved ones passed as well. I can not even think now of what it smelled like but if I smelled it again I doubt I would need more than a few seconds to recognize it. That and Jean Nate'.
About a month or so ago I smelled a super strong oder of spagehetti sauce. Not just any sauce though. Long passed Grandmas sauce. Ive never been able to think of her without thinking of the sauce.

Babs
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doctorx · Orb Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Canton GA

I found this post and wonder if some of you could help.Back in 1996 I subcontracted from a plumbing co. that had their office around foot Kennessaw Mt. At time the office was in a old farm house but since then they have torn it down and built a new office and shop to go with it.My first day there I started to smell something that to this day I still can not find the words to describe.It was more acombination of things like musty rotten old cloth,dirt,sweat and more that to this day I can't put my nose in to it.I have been a plumber for close to twenty years and work in alot different type of jobs in alot of different places and to this day have never came close to that smell.

bimmy · Orb Joined: Jun 05, 2007 Posts: 85 Location: kennesaw, ga.

Bimmy here with my 3 cents worth again... as a very scent oriented person, I pay attention to any smells I encounter.. I get a few a month in my house, some have awakened me from a deep sleep, and there is one that comes in the day time and annoys the living eww out of me... there is a spirit that visits and it smokes in my house, it does it on purpose so I am sure it knows how much i hate the smell of ciggies.. i can trace it to all the rooms run outside and check for any workers, but.... it comes and goes as it pleases, no pain or hurt associated with it, but i am positive it does it and laughs at me! it is n ot evil, because i have tried to make it go.
if i am feeling sick or in pain, it leaves fast, and stays away while i recover... intelligent hmm? thoughtful too. Bimmy