Gas Smell

[Bloater]

I have an event early next year that would benefit from the smell of gas, to simulate a gas leak in a building.

Can anyone offer advice on the best way to do this, preferably something non flammable as I will also have flames at the event.

[timsabre]

Trivia: they add a substance called Mercaptan to gas to give it that characteristic smell and help spot leaks - natural gas is actually odourless and so leaks would go undetected.

I am not sure if that is any use as I doubt you'd be able to obtain it. Garlic or onion sometimes smells like gas, maybe chop up some onions???

 

 

 

 

[Lauracollins93]

We've Previously used these, they ship from the US. https://www.scentevents.com/scent-ideas/

I would advise giving them a call or email to see if they have anything that would fit the bill for you.

 

These are super simple just attach the bag to the back of a fan or hazer and it draws the scent through.

We've had Cola and Cinnamon and they have been great!

[timsabre]

Also I would just add, I would have some reservations about being too realistic when simulating a gas leak, you don't want to cause a panic or have people calliong Transco and if there really was a gas leak you wouldn't be able to tell. Edited September 5, 2019 by timsabre

[paulears]

I thought they'd stopped introducing the fake smell into real gas?

 

I thought they'd stopped introducing the fake smell into real gas?

[timsabre]

I thought they'd stopped introducing the fake smell into real gas?

 

Don't think so? It wouldn't smell at all if they didn't add the stuff so how would you spot a leak?

 

[Bloater]

No worries about Transco being called as it is a simulation event for an emergency service.

 

Just checked Scent events do a smell called Gas Leak :)

[timsabre]

No worries about Transco being called as it is a simulation event for an emergency service.

 

Ah I assumed it was a theatre show...

 

[paulears]

The stuff is methyl mercaptan, but apparently the amount they add has been dropped over the last few years. Still stinks - just not quite so much.

[Dave m]

We did a production of "who's life is it anyway" years ago and the director asked for disinfectant to be poured into the sand buckets to give a "hospital small" to the theatre. It stank and was more like a school coach trip where the fat kid eats his lunch by 10.00 and has thrown up by 10.30

We scrapped the idea

[bigclive]

If it's a small room try a pack of Durian flavoured cream wafers from your local Chinese store. They really do smell like a pungent gas leak.

[kitlane]

Have you tried Aroma Prime. Many of us will know them by their previous name of 'Dale Air'. They are based in Rochdale.

[Simon Lewis]

Town gas (the stuff we used to use before that newfangled North Sea stuff came in) naturally contained (i.e. was contaminated with!) an organosulphur compound, thiophene.

Natural gas is odourless, so as Paul says, methyl mercaptan is added. It's a bit unpleasant as a chemical, including being flammable and toxic. Not sure if I would really be wanting to play around with the proper stuff...

[Jivemaster]

If you have official contact with gas suppliers then perhaps one of them can supply you a small special mix cylinder of nitrogen with Mercaptan (-the correct odour ).

 

However in reality I'd probably be tempted to emulate a gas leak sound with Air, nitrogen or CO2 according to availability. If the equipment will be present then playing an audio cue of a gas leak would satisfy many aspects of the training need without some of the risks of physical effects.

[Bloater]

Aroma prime, look like a good option.

It's the smell rather than the noise we are trying to emulate, for this scenario.