In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Favorite and least favorite smelling woods

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by jrider, Jul 12, 2021.

  1. Ohio dave

    Ohio dave

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    Hickory is my least favorite smelling. But love hickory smoked meats. Best apple or black cherry
     
  2. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    Bucked a few white oak smalls today. Had to sniff a few. Possibly my favorite. Been a while since ive cut some...Fall 2019???
     
  3. Chud

    Chud

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    I cut some Chinese Pistache today. It has a strong unusual smell that isn’t appealing to me.
    Sticky sap comes out too.
     
  4. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    Is that where pistachios come from? Did you get any of the sap on your nose when you sniffed?
     
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  5. Chud

    Chud

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    It doesn’t have to be near your nose in order to smell. Similar to White Pine sap sticky.
     
  6. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    Thats STICKY!
     
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  7. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    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.
     
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  8. jrider

    jrider

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    Never even heard of that tree
     
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  9. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

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    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.
    43BE98C2-1913-41A5-95B2-CB1A7493FC0E.jpeg
     
  10. TMACK

    TMACK

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    Fresh cut,split,stacked load of red elm
    Nothing finer.
     
  11. rainking63

    rainking63

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    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.
     
  12. Timberdog

    Timberdog

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    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
     
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  13. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

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    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.
     
  14. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    Agree very little oak up my way
     
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  15. MaladaptiveMonkey

    MaladaptiveMonkey

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    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.
     
  16. moresnow

    moresnow

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    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.
     
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  17. Brad M

    Brad M

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    Favorites are white oak and black walnut. Least favorite is elm.
     
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  18. Dakota Hoarder

    Dakota Hoarder

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    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.
     
  19. metalcuttr

    metalcuttr

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    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.
     
  20. Yardsale

    Yardsale

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    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.
     
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