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Baffled. What does your insulin smell like?

Antje77

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,953
Location
Friesland (the Netherlands)
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Not to derail another thread, I decided to simply stert a new one.
Really, I'm baffled by what people mention their insulin smells like. Hospital, sweet, wd40, phenol (what's that?), pretty nice, not Ritz crackers (no idea how they smell), medicinal, sickly sweet.

To me it smells a bit earthly, reminds me of clay. I like it. I really don't understand the smells other people have mentioned. I'm on Fiasp and Tresiba, penfills and pre-filled pens.

So what does your insulin smell like, and is it vials or penfills? Is there a difference in smell?
 
Smells lovely. Clean, cooling, a little sweet, clinical, intriguing, pleasant, somewhat addictive.
Lantus SoloStar pen and NovoRapid pens+cartridges. Both the same.
 
I thought the smell was the preservatives and smelt I bit like antiseptic cleaning liquid.
 
With only these two answers I'm intrigued enough to waste a couple of units next time I'm at a party. I'll let everybody smell and tell me what it smells like.
I'll keep you informed
 
Struma said:
Smells lovely. Clean, cooling, a little sweet, clinical, intriguing, pleasant, somewhat addictive.
Lantus SoloStar pen and NovoRapid pens+cartridges. Both the same.
Click to expand...
Haha, you could sell insulin as perfume for more than you have to pay for it in the US.
Who wouldn't want to apply something this lovely to themselves multiple times a day
 
Struma said:
Smells lovely. Clean, cooling, a little sweet, clinical, intriguing, pleasant, somewhat addictive.
Lantus SoloStar pen and NovoRapid pens+cartridges. Both the same.
Click to expand...

Your right. Lantus or Novorapid. To me there is a little hint of diluted Dettol in warm water?

@Antje77 , I mentioned "WD40." In the other thread. It's a penitrating lubricant (oil.) with mechanical applications..
 
I just started a new pen of Tresiba so I got some more insulin to shoot away and used the back of my hand instead of wherever it lands so I could do some serious smelling.
The smell reminds me of those pots of white childs glue as well. That stuff you have to use with a sticky little paint brush.
I offered the hand to the dogs too, they weren't interested at all.
 
Last edited:
Antje77 said:
I'm very familiar with the smell of WD40 (it's one of my best friends, together with duct tape and tieraps. Comes with being a sailor), but I really don't sniff even a hint of it in my insulin
Click to expand...

Now I've done a 2u airshot on my wrist... I'm starting to get an age old smell like a cave..?
There is a weird "musk" to it..

"Splash it on all over." (Really old Brittish advert.)
 
Struma said:
Smells lovely. Clean, cooling, a little sweet, clinical, intriguing, pleasant, somewhat addictive.
Lantus SoloStar pen and NovoRapid pens+cartridges. Both the same.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a wine judge describing a vintage wine. LOL.
 
Happy to sell my airshots to those that like it. I'm the phenol person - reminds me of my lab time.
 
Just got some odd looks at work when I sniffed my pen

I'm with @Diakat reminds me of when I used to work in the research labs, odd mix of many things.

Not sure I would wear it all Brut style and splash it all over
 
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