What does sulfur smell like?

Not everyone has the ability to smell elemental sulfur. For those that can, how do you describe a smell? It's not very strong but quite distinctive, and very persistent, especially if you draw any powdered sulfur into your nose. read more

Sulfur plays a part in very many of the more obnoxious smells, some of which our noses can detect at parts per billion - like mercaptan, the odor added to gas to warn us of gas leaks. It's the trace of sulfur in organisms that's mainly responsible for the evil smelling decay products of death that we've evolved to sense and avoid. read more

Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Bacteria in Well Water Well Management Program. Hydrogen sulfide gas (H 2 S) can occur in wells anywhere in Minnesota, and gives the water a characteristic "rotten egg" taste or odor. read more

No matter where it's coming from, the rotten-egg smell usually associated with sulfur is an unpleasant one, and it usually means something is wrong. The smell may actually be caused by a sulfur compound, such as hydrogen sulfide -- which originates in fetid swamps and sewer pipes -- or sulfur dioxide -- a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion. read more