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What does dragon breath smell like? (pawb.social)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I got my hands on MPEG-V standard documents which lets me inject "SEM" (sensory effect metadata) inside .mp4 files which would let me program real world stuff on cues like lights, chair movements, water sprays, etc. So literally if I had a NAS with a hoard of movies and bought the right equipment, i could make 4DX at home.

There's an effect description named "scent", which would, obviously, spray some aromatizer or something in the room. I checked out the standard list of scents that can be applied. There are scents like rose, lavender, mint, apples, mixed herbs, but i came across an interesting one which is the one i'm asking for.


  Scent of dragons breath
  Describes the scent of dragons breath

Maybe this is a weird reason to ask this... I really want to know out of curiosity if this "dragon breath" would be some specific mix of herbs or incense or any kind of room spray. I sense it would kind of be an artificial scent... but idk... really... Would it really work if i coded a "Home 4DX" version of the Hobbit movies?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

My guess is dragons breath is produced by a combination of two glands that produce chemicals that are hypergolic. This is seen in nature in bombardier beetles (which use hydroquinone + hydrogen peroxide).

The smell would certainly depend on the combination of chemicals, but a hot burnt and charred smells are probably common to all possibilities. The unburnt chemicals are likely to be irritants, being either strong oxidizers or reducers.

Overall, even after the main blaze has cooled, I would expect the area (and downwind) to be unsafe for humans and respiratory issues for those exposed to the remnants.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

Hey, this is a unironically a very good answer regarding "real" dragons. Although, the cinema scent would hopefully not be an airway irritant.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sulphur is what comes to mind.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

This is the real answer. Sulfur Dioxide would basically eliminate any other odors. I'm thinking ozone would be a possible addition, along with whatever that metallic smell is, but nothing biological, no rot, etc.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

Without any real technical answer, dragons breath should be sharp, warm, and smokey, but not so much that you think there's a fire in the building. Maybe the smell of slightly burnt, very seasoned meat?