That unique "new Mac" smell

You all know what I'm talking about: the moment you tear open your new Mac and are greeted by that complex combination of a "little bit of plastic bag with a hint of lindenberry followed by a rush of Styrofoam." We all love it. Just like every other Apple product I've purchased new, my MacBook features that same unique scent.

I'd forgotten how much I missed it. I purchased my last Mac (a 15" Titanium PowerBook) second hand, from a smoker. Then I spilt a glass of wine on the keyboard which made it pong of cheap rosé. Needless to say, my MacBook smells significantly better than my old Mac. Its scent is amongst my most favorite smells and in my opinion it is second only to the smell of napalm in the morning.

Knowing this, you'll understand my disappointment after I Googled "that new Mac smell" and found that research suggests that the smell emanating from new gadgets is very unhealthy. Wikipedia's entry on a similar feature found in cars, "that new car smell", links to research that likens the odor to sniffing glue. There's also an article from 2004 on Geek.com that recounts evidence that toxic fire retardant chemicals found in computers can be transferred to dust. Although the article says that "two of the chemicals in question (penta and octa-brominated diphenyl) have already been banned and will no longer be used in production by the end of this year," I'm forced to reconsider my love of the smell of new Macs.

Does anyone have any information that would restore my confidence in my new Mac's smell?

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Humor Cult of Mac PowerBook MacBook

You all know what I'm talking about: the moment you tear open your new Mac and are greeted by that complex combination of a "little bit of...

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Russ

The new Apple store in Freehold Raceway Mall (NJ) reeks of that smell as does my family room now that it has a new iMac (purchased opening day at FRM). I think the smell "burns" off pretty fast as I don't recally the Menlo Park store smelling like that - everything in FRM has just been unboxed. It is kinda cool smelling that in the family room but I won't be upset when it goes away. On the otherhand, our Lexus '03 RX300 still has that Lexus smell which I love. Must be what they treat the leather with.

May 30 2006 at 2:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

moo ooo

Just opened my new macbook, :D

May 27 2006 at 9:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

John Henry

I once opened four or five new egg shaped iMacs in a hot upstairs room that wasn't ventilated well. It was intoxicating, but not in a good way. By the end I felt like my brains were dribbling out my ears. Try it and I promise you that you will not be a fan of new computer smell anymore. And the question, "Is the smell harmful?" will not be a subject that you need to debate in a forum.

May 26 2006 at 11:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

When I opened my powerbook the first thing that I could smell was what I imagined the seaside air at a port in Shanghai might smell like. Seriously.

May 26 2006 at 9:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Sean Durham

I love the smell of Apple Stores. Now I'm wondering if new apple products and the stores have the same smell...

May 26 2006 at 5:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Deerhoof

I work in an Apple Centre and I try to fit RAM to as many Macs as I can so I can sample that smell.

May 26 2006 at 5:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JClark

"Looks like someone's a fan of Comic Life."
Posted at 2:36PM on May 26th 2006 by Alex

I was thinking the same thing, two posts in a row with the Comic Life images.

CL is a fantastic program, it totally deserves to be on ever Mac, and now it is. Major props to the guys at Plasq.

May 26 2006 at 4:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

chris

iPod dock connector. such a potent smell. hehe

same with the wireless keyboard, they have the same distinct smell.
if you can try sniffing celery, they actually smell quite similar.

May 26 2006 at 4:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Adrian vG

The smell won't stay for too long, and during that period it can't be that hazardous. I just told two friends today when I opened my MacBook package how much I love that smell!

It's the small things in life, keep it real, so smell away!

May 26 2006 at 4:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

KSB

or.... a brand new car with leather interior .... MMMmmm I love that smell
My dad used to sell cars some years ago and nothing was like going into a brand new Rover 75 and just experience the new feeling of a car.... !!

May 26 2006 at 3:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply