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Why Do Some CDRs Smell Like Almonds?

Posted by Cliff on from the seeking-the-chemical-details dept.

bertok asks: "I have several spindles of CD-Rs of various brands that I use at home and work, and some of them have a very strong almond odour when opened. Does anyone know what causes that? I know that Hydrogen Cyanide has a distinctive almond odour, but so does a range of other organic chemicals. Can any Slashdot readers with a chemistry background enlighten us as to the possible source of the smell?"

3 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Austin Powers 2! by kruetz · · Score: 4, Funny
    Does anyone else have flashbacks to Austin Powers 2, when the assassin Achmed (or some similar Arabian name) falls over the edge of the cliff...


    Aaah! My leg is broken! The bone is sticking through the skin, and the wound is smelling of almonds, which is not good!

    I'll try to stand on my other leg ... aah! now my other legs is broken!


    To summarise, don't touch CDRs that smell of almonds. They are "not good". In fact, they will probably break your legs and cause you tremendous pain.

    Thank God we can learn everything we need to know from the movies.
    --

    This sig intentionally left bla... dammit!
    Who's got the whiteout?
  2. because... by ptaff · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because CD-R, like almonds, get tastier when burned a bit...

  3. Speaking of nuts ... by one9nine · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does anybody's wireless router smell like peanut butter? Maybe it's just me.