What does dragons breath smell like?

Discussion in 'Research' started by Richach, Feb 10, 2020.

Tags:
  1. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,889
    Location:
    Scotland
    Oh dear, forgive me, my bad ...couldn't resist....
     
  2. Nesian

    Nesian Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2017
    Messages:
    93
    Likes Received:
    122
    Skin: I imagine their scales wouldn't smell but the skin underneath would be like a sweaty pig, from all that flying
    Breath: Whale blubber and iron.
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  3. Richach

    Richach Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    May 21, 2019
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    689
    Location:
    Birmingham Uk
    You are forgiven as he turned out to be quite charming. ;)
     
    Cdn Writer and jannert like this.
  4. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,889
    Location:
    Scotland
    I remembered this commercial from way back, when I still watched TV. It was the first thing I thought of, when I saw the title to this thread! :)
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  5. Richach

    Richach Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    May 21, 2019
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    689
    Location:
    Birmingham Uk
    Lol. The days of watchng TV are gone for me too!

    This thread just goes to show what broad depictions of dragons there are. From Clifford to Smaug and the one from Game of Thrones. (Which I have never watched either)
     
    Cdn Writer and jannert like this.
  6. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,889
    Location:
    Scotland
    Since dragons are imaginary creatures, I'd say writers should use their imaginations to invent what their breath would smell like.

    If they breathe fire, chances are their breath would smell of whatever they ate ...but cooked. I don't imagine bacteria have a chance to form in a dragon's mouth, unless they are fire-resistant. So ordinary halitosis (as Clifford suffered from) probably wouldn't be a problem.

    What fuels the fire would also have an effect. If it swallowed a couple of gallons of petrol, prior to exhaling flames, it would probably smell like Grangemouth on a bad day. On the other hand, if they swallow cedar wood, it might smell really nice. And keep the moths away as well.

    Who knows? A dragon's breath might actually smell yummy, depending on what they ate. Cows, pigs? Like a barbeque without the sauce? Unless they eat sauce as well. Humans? Humans wearing iron suits of armor? Maybe not so much.
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  7. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2019
    Messages:
    5,345
    Likes Received:
    6,168
    Location:
    The White Rose county, UK
    More to the point - what does a dragon's fart smell like?
     
  8. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2019
    Messages:
    5,345
    Likes Received:
    6,168
    Location:
    The White Rose county, UK
    Maybe dragons don't like tinned food?
     
  9. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,889
    Location:
    Scotland
    I wonder what they're like with plastic.
     
  10. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    Messages:
    17,674
    Likes Received:
    19,889
    Location:
    Scotland
    I'd vision it as just a black cloud. Maybe one that hangs in the air for a while. And smells inorganically fart-like. To be fanned away, if possible. Perhaps other dragons don't like their companion's farts much. Maybe a fart would scare a dragon? Or make it unlikely the farter would attract a mate?
     
    Cdn Writer and Naomasa298 like this.
  11. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2019
    Messages:
    5,345
    Likes Received:
    6,168
    Location:
    The White Rose county, UK
    Belches and farts both come out of the digestive system, so if a dragon's breath is flammable, one wonders...

    [​IMG]

    Make a great surprise attack on the adventurers who think they're being smart by sneaking up behind the dragon. :D
     
  12. Richach

    Richach Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    May 21, 2019
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    689
    Location:
    Birmingham Uk
    :superlaugh::superlaugh::superlaugh:
     
  13. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    18,851
    Likes Received:
    35,471
    Location:
    Face down in the dirt
    Currently Reading::
    Telemachus Sneezed
    Have you ever seen a hippo poop? Now imagine a dragon starting a forest fire by doing the same thing with a spray of flaming scat.
     
  14. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 2, 2018
    Messages:
    6,738
    Likes Received:
    10,227
    Location:
    The kingdom of scrambled portmanteaus
    Burn wood to hot coals and then pour water on them, that would be it. Burn sand or rock, and flick water droplets on it, that would be it. Any water-based reptile or amphibian has a fish smell. Land-based creatures would have a thin oil over their hide, it would likely varnish over time, and smell of dried oiled hide. Airbourne, hmm. Take a feather and sun-dry it. It has a unique smell, hard to describe, but once you smell it, it will be recognizable for life. Don't burn it! Blehk! :blech: Dust. Dust changes its smell when oiled, burnt, dried, or wet. A dragon sleeps, so smells like its den before it showers and shaves. :D Metallic, definitely. I liked the pennies. :)
     
    jannert, Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  15. Viserion

    Viserion Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2020
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    177
    Well, I always thought that a dragon would smell like sulfur and ozone. Maybe metallic.
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  16. Aldarion

    Aldarion Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2019
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    161
    I get sulfur, but why ozone?

    @Richach You might want to start figuring out what kind of chemical dragon uses to fuel the flame. Naphtha (petroleum)? Greek fire? Sulphur? White Phosphorus? Diesel?
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  17. The Multiverse

    The Multiverse Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    Messages:
    80
    Likes Received:
    28
    Location:
    Georgia
    Depends on what you want to fuel the breath. It could be something akin to lighter fluid with little to no scent. It could be a bit more chemical heavy and smell simular to burning plastic or tires. I'd also suggest googling what specific things smell like when burned. You may find your answer there as well.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2020
  18. Viserion

    Viserion Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2020
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    177
    Not too certain myself. I just like the idea.
     
    Cdn Writer and Richach like this.
  19. Richach

    Richach Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

    Joined:
    May 21, 2019
    Messages:
    641
    Likes Received:
    689
    Location:
    Birmingham Uk
    It is hard to say, isn't it? I could well have just used my imagination but its really about capturing the reader's imagination in a way that they just get it, in the same way that this thread has captured our imaginations. Whatever our final notion it needs to be straight off the bat so that the reader is delighted but moves on with the story. A kind of invisible thrill. Some great little suggestions and theories going on here.
     
    Viserion and Cdn Writer like this.
  20. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2016
    Messages:
    22,566
    Likes Received:
    25,882
    Location:
    East devon/somerset border
    may be because lightning often smells of ozone
     
    Cdn Writer likes this.
  21. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    Messages:
    18,851
    Likes Received:
    35,471
    Location:
    Face down in the dirt
    Currently Reading::
    Telemachus Sneezed
    Electric spark-gap across the front teeth, otherwise you simply get bathed in a volatile mist?
     
    Some Guy and Cdn Writer like this.
  22. Aldarion

    Aldarion Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2019
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    161
    I do not think it would be powerful enough to create significant amount of ozone. At any rate, there are several ways dragon may use to ignite the chemicals, none of which require spark - chemicals may self-ignite in contact with oxygen (or something else - water, for example), or there could be two streams of chemicals which combine and ignite upon contact, or may ignite on impact.
     
    Cdn Writer and Viserion like this.
  23. Viserion

    Viserion Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2020
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    177
    My favorite mechanism (not science at all) is that dragons are just incredibly hot. Hot enough to have boiling blood. The fire is fueled by the ambient “power” (or mana, or whatever).
     
    Some Guy, Cdn Writer and Aldarion like this.
  24. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 2, 2018
    Messages:
    6,738
    Likes Received:
    10,227
    Location:
    The kingdom of scrambled portmanteaus
    Watch Reign Of Fire
     
    Cdn Writer, EFMingo and Viserion like this.
  25. Viserion

    Viserion Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2020
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    177
    One of the best dragon movies ever. Amazing cgi as well.
     
    Cdn Writer likes this.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice