do autistic people have a smell?

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i do. i smell like the inside of a dirty school bus and a playground slide

if i sleep with the tv or lights on(but only at night, so the only room in my room is artificial), i sweat a lot and it smells like battery acid. when i sweat normally, it smells like normal perspiration.

eau de Snickerdoodle

I don't have a specific smell.

Tim

Okay...all kidding aside: There are, with verification, scents associated with CERTAIN medical conditions. For instance, I understand cancer has a distinctive scent. Now, there are trained dogs that can detect this. But the scent is detectable by 'better' more quantifiable methods as well. I know other diseases/conditions have a scent too. Acidosis, a serious life-threatening state, is readily detectable by doctors since the patient has a strong fruity smell. Appartently diabetes has a sweet, fruity smell too. I am not in the medical profession but in chemistry I use my sense of smell quite often. Toluene smells like mothballs - this method works.

So, the question posed is based on reality. Firstly, I am a really clean person and quite immaculate; I shower and wash my hair everyday. Some have said, when I'm NOT wearing perfume (or used scented lotions, soaps) that I smell like vanilla. Really. I have a strong genetic predisposition to autism. Others in my family afflicted also have been known to smell of vanilla. I once asked, in an innocuous way, of another (a nurse actually) if I smelled of vanilla to her. She contemplated....then said, 'yes, that's it!'

My male friend also said I smell like vanilla/spice - like sugar cookies, sort of. Strange. I guess I've had this scent since always. Plus, so do others of my kind (autistic), so I am told. No, I have no idea why!

Does anyone else know of this? This is not 'just my imagination;' others have commented - but it's certainly not empirical evidence. I guess vanilla is a chemical ester reflecting my biochemistry. Unknown.

I have forgetten....but there is another disorder that has the scent of roses/flowers! No, I don't know what that one is....hmm.

Do any of you HFA/Aspies, without perfume, soaps, etc. smell of vanilla? Just curious!

"My male friend also said I smell like vanilla/spice - like sugar cookies, sort of. Strange. I guess I've had this scent since always. Plus, so do others of my kind (autistic), so I am told. No, I have no idea why! "

omg, I was accidently right??! Snickerdoodle, like I said!

KimJ, I find this interesting (as a chemist)....I realize 2 autistic individuals are not significant statistically, of course, but I do wonder if this is a trend. Really interesting...hmm. A form of esterification? Why?

Seriously, does anyone else know? I doubt one can asses oneself - maybe ask a friend/loved one. And, parents with autistic children on WP (you know who you are) - what is your perception? Curious.

My friend has told me on three seperate ocassions that I smell different than everyone else he knows. Even after I had showered a few hours earlier, it's still detectable to him.

What that smell is, I don't know.

I'll definately be sure to the enxt chance I get.

My AS bf smells so good. Like garage grease mixed with fine wine...

OMG, I HAVE TO DISTURB HIM RIGHT NOW AND GIVE HIM ICKY KISSES!! !

my sweat has abit of a sour smell. I'm not sure if its good or not, but my gf seems to think it smells good . She always comes toward my underarms to take a whiff.

i don't really like or dislike it

I have noticed that smell on schizophrenics, as well. As for the autistic smell, not sure. My younger sister had a distinctive smell that was not pleasant, especially after she had a convulsion. Sort of metallic. But not vanilla.

I hope I don't smell