The Smell of a Submarine
When nuclear submarines are at sea, the crew spends most of their time in a completely sealed environment. To remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air inside the submarine, a chemical substance called amine is used. Amine absorbs carbon dioxide when cooled and releases it when heated, after which the carbon dioxide is separated from the submarine’s air.
This system is effective but comes with one drawback: the chemical process of amine produces a “distinctive smell” that permeates everything inside the submarine, including the crew’s clothes and skin. In addition to the smell of amine, the crew becomes accustomed to other odors such as the aroma of food, fumes of hydraulic oil, diesel, and various other scents. Over time, the crew stops noticing these smells, but outsiders can immediately detect them.
A former submariner shared an experience when he was traveling home on leave and was seated next to an elderly woman on an airplane. Suddenly, the woman asked him, “Do you serve on a submarine?” Startled, he replied, “Yes, how did you know?” The woman responded, “My husband used to serve on a submarine, and I can never forget that smell.”