Hi, my name is Wade, and I like the smell of Windex
Hi, my name is Wade, and I like the smell of 
When I smell gasoline my first thought is, “Ahhh, what sweet Potential Energy,” but that’s just the Physics and Chemistry influences talking. What we’re really smelling are a plethora of hydrocarbons (compounds of hydrogen and carbon), both aliphatic (atoms often arranged in a chain) and aromatic (atoms arranged in a ring). Aromatic hydrocarbons were originally named so because of their characteristically sweet odor. The two major aromatic hydrocarbons in gasoline are benzene and toluene (methyl benzene). According to Wikipedia:
In the 19th and early-20th centuries, benzene was used as an after-shave lotion because of its pleasant smell. Prior to the 1920s, benzene was frequently used as an industrial solvent, especially for degreasing metal. As its toxicity became obvious, benzene was supplanted by other solvents, especially toluene (methyl benzene), which has similar physical properties but is not as carcinogenic.
Another use for toluene is in the thinning of paints. It’s added along with xylene (surprise, another aromatic hydrocarbon and benzene derivative) as a powerful solvent. As this HowStuffWorks article explains about the purpose of solvents in paint:
…the solvent (a liquid) is designed to evaporate quickly, leaving only the pigment and its binder (the solids) behind on your walls.
And, would you know it, another common solvent used in paints is 2-butoxyethanol, the very source of the cleaning power and characteristic odor of Windex
So in conclusion, while I may very well be weird, I am at least justified in my attraction to gas, paint, and Windex
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Anonymous says:
February 14, 2010 at 10:56 pm
>So I'm not that only closet gas smellers, eh?
Now I know why, thanks!
Wade Burch says:
February 14, 2010 at 11:36 pm
>You're welcome! Thanks for reading. One more of life's mysteries solved. And you're not alone =P
muchell says:
September 23, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Lol, my friend sent me this I am famous with my friends for loving the smell of weird things, all of which you posted. I appreciated not being alone, though I knew I wasn’t. I have been bugging Windex to make a candle. Maybe you Windex lovers can help me with this!! Let’s all bug them until they get it done.
muchell says:
September 23, 2010 at 5:29 pm
>Lol, my friend sent me this I am famous with my friends for loving the smell of weird things, all of which you posted. I appreciated not being alone, though I knew I wasn't. I have been bugging Windex to make a candle. Maybe you Windex lovers can help me with this!! Let's all bug them until they get it done.
cleaners degreasers says:
April 29, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Yaa many people like the smell of paint and some gasoline. I just found it reason its very interesting too…Like it…!
cleaners degreasers says:
April 29, 2011 at 5:58 pm
>Yaa many people like the smell of paint and some gasoline. I just found it reason its very interesting too…Like it…!