The Smell of Tear Gas
World War II tip for identifying the smell of tear gas:
"Flypaper simulates the smell of tear gas. More accurate reproduction of the odor is obtained if apple blossoms are added."
[via an eBay auction]
Comments
At first glance, it appears that she is holding a sausage. I agree that a sausage gone bad could make ones eyes tear up. But the description got me to thinking: when was the last time I saw those fly strips offered for sale? As a wee lad I remember them being used in Grandma's barn where she milked the cow but not beyond that.
Posted by KDP on 01/28/14 at 12:04 PM
They sell them at the local grocery store nearest to our summer house in the country. Apparently the farmers still buy them.
Posted by F.U.D. on 01/28/14 at 01:10 PM
Who originally sniffed a fly paper strip and said, "Hey, that smells like tear gas, minus the apple blossom notes."
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/28/14 at 08:35 PM
In my community if you smell fresh mowed hay or smell almonds in the air, you had better kiss your a** goodbye.... IT'S A CHEMICAL LEAK from one of our MANY plants in our state....
Posted by Christopher Chapman on 01/29/14 at 09:17 AM
Attending the University of Wisconsin in the late 60s, I became familiar with the smell of tear gas every spring, when riots against the Vietnam War would break out and the National Guard would be called up. My 1970 college yearbook actually included a scratch 'n sniff tear gas card.
Posted by Fritz on 01/29/14 at 10:20 AM
@Fritz: Scratch 'n Sniff tear gas???? I wouldn't have thought that anyone would need reminding!
@patty: someone in the perfumery trade. They're weird like that. I should know: my wife worked in the biz in Paris after she graduated from perfumery school.
We buy those fly strips at the hardware store for nailing fruit flies, which can be a real problem when you have parrots. And because you have parrots, you can't spray fly killer, because of the risk of it working as bird killer, too. All avians are extremely delicate when it comes to airborne chemicals - hence the canary in the coal mine, except that it's not just canaries, and not just coal mines.
@patty: someone in the perfumery trade. They're weird like that. I should know: my wife worked in the biz in Paris after she graduated from perfumery school.
We buy those fly strips at the hardware store for nailing fruit flies, which can be a real problem when you have parrots. And because you have parrots, you can't spray fly killer, because of the risk of it working as bird killer, too. All avians are extremely delicate when it comes to airborne chemicals - hence the canary in the coal mine, except that it's not just canaries, and not just coal mines.
Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 01/29/14 at 01:30 PM
You have parrots Scot? Very cool, what kind and coloring? How many? My mom had a sun conure, Connie, she was a neat bird. Unfortunately mom gave her away when she kicked the Chihuahua's ass.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 01/29/14 at 08:42 PM
Tear gas smells like nettles feel.
Posted by tadchem on 01/30/14 at 07:24 PM
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Category: 1940s