Bucked a few white oak smalls today. Had to sniff a few. Possibly my favorite. Been a while since ive cut some...Fall 2019???
I cut some Chinese Pistache today. It has a strong unusual smell that isn’t appealing to me. Sticky sap comes out too.
When wet different species of wood does have a distinct odor to it but when dry it all smells the same to me. No odor.
Here’s a new one for me. I stopped along a backroad today to take a closer look at a small Chestnut and spotted a couple black oak rounds laying in the dirt. Like a good hoarder I took them home and split them. I don’t know if this is typical for this subspecies, but I think out of the red oak family this one smells the best to me. Different at least.
I hated the smell of red oak when I was a kid and had to help my stepdad load cord after cord onto his truck for delivery. Now I love it. My wife insists red oak smells like a combo of vomit and urine. Not sure I'm all in on that, but it can have a vinegar-like pungent odor to it. I could split sassafras all day. That spicy, citrusy aroma is the best.
Favorite smell when cutting: Pinyon pine Douglas Fir Ponderosa pine Favorite while burning: Pinyon pine Gambel Oak Douglas Fir Most reekish to burn: Russian Olive
I agree. I’ve cut a bunch of SBH and the smells turn me away from using it on meat. Not that it’s hateful, just not comparable to the apple and cherry that I’m used to. I think white oaks smells like a whiskey barrel. Love it.
My favorites would be hickory, apple and ash. Least favorites would be boxelder and elm! I also like the smell of fresh red oak! Smells tannic/chemically and like silage; a bit sweet.
Red Oak reeks to me. White Pine smells great. I've split Red Oak the last two mornings. Heading out to split more this morning.
Agree on cottonwood smells like manure when cut. Doesn’t smell like anything when burnt. i haven’t really paid enough attention to the different sent, I just know I like most of the smells when CSS. I’ll have to start paying/smelling more attention.
I love the smell of freshly stacked Cherry, most fruit woods, Doug Fir and Red Cedar. The smoke from these is agreeable as is Alder smoke. The smoke from Locust I don't like. Cottonwood stinks. There was a period that I disliked Cedar smell because I was riving up close to 20 square of shakes for a friends garage/shop. The smell gets into your nose and sinuses and stays for a while. Took a while for me to like it again. I have smelled Sassafras twigs but never cut any. I imagine I would like cutting it.
I love the smell of blue spruce fresh split and can’t stand the stink of fresh cut oak. BUT once you season it I love the seasoned oak smell.