03/10/2026
Tiny fish. Enormous smell.
Saturday with my boy at the dock this saturday. A few small whiting and crabs but still great fun.
BUT the smells is still on our hands... Theres a reason for that. A live fish barely smells. The fishy smell comes afterwards, when bacteria and enzymes turn an odourless compound in the fish into trimethylamine.
Whiting are cod family, and that family is known for it.
Trimethylamine is a base.
Thats why lemon or vinegar works: the acid locks it into a salt that doesnt evaporate, so your nose cant pick it up. It got me thinking about everything else that clings to hands.
Garlic and onion are sulphur compounds.
Diesel, oil and grease soak into the skins own natural oils. Water alone just runs off.
Drains and sewers bring hydrogen sulphide. And plenty that doesnt smell at all. Smell is the only dirt we can actually notice. If it lingers, something is still there. But most of what a tradesperson has on their hands after a days work, you can neither see nor smell.
By the water we had only a wipe and our jeans. In a lot of vans it isnt much better.
๐คฆI should have brought a ShoulderSink - water, soap, paper and a bin fully portable, to rinse immediately before it starts smelling. Always ready.
Any smells in your trade that beats Trimethylamine?
Disclaimer: Animals WERE harmed in this process and used for bait - and all the preteens in the photos were cordially asked if they were willing to be part of this post. Only a little candy were used as bribe :)
Have a great weekend!
