While most people (but not all) are put off by the smell of someone else’s fart, others don’t mind the stench of their own flatulence. Why is this?

Keep reading! In this article, we answer the question, “Why do I like the smell of farts?” and learn more about different fragrances, what makes farts smell, and why some people are drawn to this unconventional aroma.

Why Do I Like the Smell of Farts?

Although not everyone will admit it, plenty of people don’t mind getting a whiff of their own gas. In fact, some people actually like it or go out of their way to trap passed gas under the blankets (or in a jar) to get a better sniff. Regardless of how foul the fart is, most people are unphased by the smell of their own farts. But why?

Here are a few theories and reasons why you might like the smell of farts.

You’re Used to It

This is the number one reason the smell of your own farts isn’t offensive. You’re used to it! If you’re producing an average of 15 farts per day, that’s 5,475 farts per year! In just 10 years, you could let out nearly 55,000 farts or more. With that much smelly gas flying around, you’re bound to get used to, and maybe even enjoy, the smell of your own bodily functions. It doesn’t take long for the human body and nose to adjust and become accustomed to outside surroundings and triggers – including your own natural aroma.

It’s also worth mentioning the scientific phenomenon known as nose blindness. Similar to exposure therapy, the more you encounter a particular smell, the less effect it has over time. According to some scientists, with repeated or continuous exposure to a particular scent (your toots), the nerve cells in your nose eventually stop sending electrical signals to your brain. That means that, over time, you may not perceive the same scents, or they may become less strong, overpowering, and offensive. Your nose essentially becomes blind to your own stench.

Your Own Odor is Less Offensive

There are a lot of things we can tolerate about ourselves and those we love more so than a stranger or someone we don’t know. You’re probably more patient with your own children than other people’s kids. You may not mind your spouse’s behavior in certain situations but won’t tolerate it from a coworker. This is completely natural and might explain a lot about why your odor isn’t offensive and might even be appealing.

Your farts are your own. They’re a natural part of your body and one that you’ve probably become accustomed to. Plus, passing gas feels good! And in the privacy of your own home or bathroom, it can bring you much-needed relief from painful gas, bloating, and other discomfort. When answering the question, “Why do I like the smell of farts?” the answer lies within – literally!

You may even notice that your farts smell differently based on your diet and other factors. For example, foods like broccoli, onions, and cabbage are rich in sulfur. These can produce an especially strong scent similar to rotten eggs. On the other hand, foods like fennel, ginger, or those high in probiotics are said to produce a more mild and pleasant scent. So, next time you pass gas and take a whiff, take into account what you last ate and if those foods are the source of the smell.

It’s a Sign of Good Health

While there’s no evidence to suggest that holding in a fart is dangerous, you likely know from personal experience that it sure is uncomfortable. Whether you hold in your farts because you’re embarrassed, at work, or in mixed company, we’ve all done it. Although the initial pain and discomfort that come with holding in gas eventually subside, it’s not something you should do long-term.

Holding in your farts traps gas inside your stomach and digestive tract, where it’s eventually absorbed into the bloodstream and expelled out your lungs. Even so, preventing the gas from escaping your body initially can trigger bloating, discomfort, and nausea due to intestinal distention. Passing gas regularly is a sign of good health. It means that your digestive tract and gastrointestinal system are working properly. So, next time you let one rip, just remember that it means you’re healthy!

It Feels Good

Despite the stench, another reason most people have no problem passing gas and smelling their own farts is because it feels good. Trapped gas can be an unpleasant experience. Not only does it cause bloating, but gas bubbles can be quite painful. Farting expels trapped gas, bringing instant relief. It also brings a sense of overall well-being.

Everything from eating, swallowing air, and chewing food can produce gas in your digestive tract. Over time, this gas becomes trapped and needs to be released somewhere. Burps are produced in the upper GI tract and are normally caused by the air we swallow. Farts are produced in the lower GI tract and expelled out the backside. Regardless of where the air escapes, the relief it brings is almost instantaneous. The connection between a smelly fart and relief could be another reason why people like the smell of farts.

Why Do People Like the Smell of Other People’s Farts?

Enjoying the smell of your own toots is one thing. But what about people who like smelling other people’s farts? While the majority of people are turned off when someone else passes gas, other people have the opposite reaction and may actually be turned on by it. Whether it’s the smell, the sound, or the combination of the two, there are people out there who get off on smelling other people’s farts.

Here are a few reasons why you, your partner, or a random buyer online might like the smell of farts and even be aroused by it.

It’s Humiliating

Being forced to smell someone else’s stinky farts (AKA fart slavery) is humiliating, embarrassing, and even a little disturbing. While most people avoid these feelings at all costs, someone with a fart fetish actually seeks them out. Humiliation is a popular form of roleplaying in the BDSM community where one person acts as the dominant (in this case, the one farting), and the other is the submissive (the one being forced to smell the farts).

This power play breeds feelings of control, humiliation, and subserviency, just to name a few. For people that get off on this sort of thing, the smell of a person’s fart is connected to a pleasurable experience and sexual arousal.

It’s Associated with Backdoor Play

Butt play is universally appealing across various genders and sexualities. From homosexual men to heterosexual couples and everyone in between, all types of people enjoy different levels of anal play. While some prefer mild tickling minus penetration, others are open to anal sex, butt plugs, and more!

Take things one step further, and there are people more fascinated by what comes out of the anus rather than what goes in. Farts are associated with their source – the booty. People with an anal fixation or obsession may also get off on the smell of farts. That’s because they associate the smell – and even the sound – of passing gas with the backside. Plus, if you’re into asses, you need to be prepared to accept and enjoy them fully and completely – including the air they expel.

It’s Forbidden and Taboo

Rewind to your childhood. If an adult told you not to do something, didn’t it only increase your desire to do it? The same principle holds true when discussing farts and why people like the smell of farts. It’s taboo, forbidden, and seems wrong in so many ways. But, for fart fetishists, smelling other people’s farts is so wrong that it’s right! In fact, for some kinksters, the nastier, the better. And it doesn’t get much nastier than smelly farts.

It’s Intimate

Not all farts are disgusting. Some people actually consider farting in front of a partner or loved one as a sign of true intimacy and vulnerability. Similar to how we don’t find our own farts offensive, some people may not find their loved ones’ farts off-putting either. The fact that your significant other is comfortable enough to let one loose in front of you may actually be considered a compliment. The more you warm up to the idea of passing gas in the presence of your partner, the more intimate and comfortable it will become. Before long, you may even find yourself developing a liking for the scent of your significant other’s gas.

Positive Associations

Most people remember their first sexual encounter like it was yesterday. The person, the place, how long (or short) it lasted, and how old they were. These details are embedded in your memory and your subconscious. The same can be said for certain scents. The olfactory sense is one of the strongest. It’s also similar to taste and based on preference.

One Brown University study reported that the scents we like are often linked to specific experiences. When a certain odor is linked with an emotional or impactful event, your perception of that order adjusts to fit that particular association. So, if your first sexual encounter or a memorable moment was associated with a particular smell – and that smell is a stinky or strong fart – you may find yourself inexplicably drawn to the aroma of passing gas.

Some fart fetishists are only interested in sniffing specific people’s farts. For example, a spouse, partner, loved one, or a sexy online seller that catches their eye. It may not be the fart or fragrance itself that you’re drawn to but, instead, the source of the gas. Thousands of people buy farts in jars online based solely on the seller’s appearance or persona. You may find yourself enjoying the scent of a sexy seller’s fart simply because it came from his or her body. This is the same concept behind buying used underwear, sex toys, and other naughty items worn or used by someone you’re sexually attracted to.

Embrace Your Olfactory Senses

If you like the smell of farts, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Whether you’re partial to your own gas or you prefer the scent of a stranger’s toots, there’s science behind why these fragrances are so appealing.

Click here to learn more about fart fetishes and the business of buying and selling farts in a jar.