Why Do We Like The Smell of Gasoline

Some of you might be wondering "Why do I like the smell of Gasoline?". This is especially true when you are trying to fill up the tank in your car. As odd as it sounds there is a good reason behind this and you might not be alone.

There are even people who are addicted to the smell to some extent.

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Why Does One Get Pleasure From Smelling Gasoline?

Gasoline is a liquid that is built up of a complex of more than 150 chemical compounds in which most of which are considered harmful to the human body. However, the compound that gives gasoline a strong pungent smell, fizzy, and makes us enticed to it will be a hydrocarbon known as benzene.

The compound benzene is not added to give the gasoline its unique smell but it improves the burning capability of the gasoline as well as enhances the engine performance. The nice smell that we get is perhaps a coincidence.

Benzene In Perfume

What's interesting is that the nice smell of gasoline also comes from the aromatic scent that are commonly found in perfume since the early 19th century. The use of benzene such as this was stopped when scientists found that benzene is carcinogenic and toxic.

Breathing in hydrocarbons such as benzene can compromise all the organs in our body, especially the lungs. What's worst is that it will cause a serious inflammation known as hydrocarbon pneumonitis.

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How Dangerous Is It To Breath Gasoline?

You might be worried about the presence of benzene in gasoline which can have a detrimental effect on your health. But worry not since all the substances inside gasoline are at the lowest concentration available and will not pose a threat to us.

The benzene content in gasoline only comprises 1% based on the total volume. This is in accordance with the regulation set by the Mobile Source Air Toxics(MSAT). Despite being at a low concentration, our noses can still catch their scent.

This is because of the nature of benzene with a sharp smell even at 1 part per million of benzene in the air. It can also spread quickly in the air as it condenses rapidly. So what actually makes someone addicted to the smell of gasoline?

There are two theories on this matter.

1st Theory: Sweet Memories

Have you ever noticed that for most senses, the sense of smell will always remind us of the good memories of the past? The smell of roast turkey during thanksgiving or even your favorite grandma's cookies.

There are reasons for this of course.

However, the short explanation for this is unlike other senses that we have. The part of the brain that detects smell is located close to a region that plays an important role in emotion and memory. Due to that, your brain will relate the strong smell with something of your precious memory.

So one of the reasons that explain why some people like the smell of gasoline is highly related to the sweet memories that they had in the past. It might be the best holiday that they had or perhaps getting their first driver's license.

2nd Theory: High Effect

The 2nd theory that explains why we like the smell of gasoline will be that the compound benzene has a euphoric effect on the brain. In other words, smelling benzene can cause you to become high similar to what you would get from cocaine.

This is because the benzene will cause the nerve receptor to become numb and increase the pressure on the center nerve giving an anesthetic effect. Research showed that this will activate the mesolimbic pathway that is commonly known as the reward pathway to the brain.

This reward is the dopamine injection, which is a hormone related to happiness that will give a temporary pleasant effect. One has to bear in mind that the activation of the mesolimbic pathway to release dopamine is how most drugs that are being abused function.

The feeling that you would get from the dopamine explosion in the system will be one of the reasons for addiction. Therefore, smelling benzene while feeling up your tank will not cause any harm to you.

But intentionally smelling it too often might cause addiction and health issues.

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Is It Only For Gasoline?

You should know that gasoline is not the only thing that contains benzene. The common items that we use daily might also have benzene in them such as tennis balls, nail polishers, and even paint.