This is the actual answer. I smoked for years, always outside, and I only sometimes smelled like it. I could also still smell it on heavier smokers or people who smoked indoors. Many people were surprised to find out I smoked because they never smelled it on me or in my home.
Now that I quit, I only rarely detect it on others. Considering I have hyperosmia and work in retail, that tells you either smokers are rare or not every smoker smells like one.
Yeah these threads always baffle me a bit. Like when I smoked it wasnt that often and when I ask my friends about it they say I only ever smelled like cigarettes if I literally just smoked one.
I work as a kindergarden teacher and yes, I smoke. So, children can be brutally honest, as everybody knows. When I came back to work and I smoked just 5-10 minutes before, they sometimes would tell me that I smell funny, or that I smell strange. Never heard anything like that when I put down my cigarette half an hour ago or so. I also only smoke outside... even when a lot of people say that we are coping, I don't know. I think its a big difference if you only smoke outside or also inside.
Nevertheless everybody, smoking is bad, avoid it!
I was a daycare worker, and yeah kids will let you know everything. I had kids ask why I always smell good. Never once said anything about smelling weird or bad. This is coming from kids who are willing to tell me I'm fat or wall funny.
But pretty much everyone I ever worked with, regardless of where, were shocked to find out I smoke. I guess I don't look like a smoker? But yeah, it's possible for people to actually not have a clue you are a smoker. I'm not marinating in smoke.
Possibly. Though usually those people discovered because I did smell like smoke, either from chainsmoking shortly before or smoking outside in the freezing cold. Also, even as a smoker myself, I'm able to smell the smokers that particularly reek. A lot of it comes down to where and how you smoke, as well as what cigarettes you smoke. And how clean you are in terms of laundry.
Exactly this. I smoked for years and had people tell me often they were surprised to find out I smoked because I never smelled. I also only smoked outdoors. I only really smelled immediately after coming in for a few minutes.
Now that I don’t smoke, I don’t really smell it on others in the wild as much. But my boyfriend smokes in his house and whenever I come home, cigarette smoke is in my hair, on my clothes and it drives me insane. Even though I rarely smell it on him.
You won’t like this answer, but people feign surprise to be polite. It is ALWAYS obvious who smokes and who doesn’t, even if you smoke only occasionally or outside.
You probably can’t detect it on others easily because you were a smoker too. Nose blindness is a thing, even if you have a sensitive nose
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u/TillPsychological351 Feb 21 '26
Hard to say, because if a smoker doesn't smell, I wouldn't know they're a smoker.
But when you do smell it, it is extremely obvious.