For centuries, the Sulfur smell has been associated in the human imagination with all things demonic or supernatural. It's the scent said to precede the appearance of a mysterious being, or to waft suddenly into a cold room before objects spontaneously fall, or to fill your breath in a dark forest before you see a strange light flickering between the trees.
From sightings of strange creatures in remote locations to modern-day exorcisms, this smell remains a mysterious sign, recounted by eyewitnesses as a chemical signature of the unseen.
But what if this same smell holds the key to understanding some of those experiences?
Sulfur smell: Real stories
1. Exorcism rituals
In repeated testimonies from various countries, exorcists describe the room suddenly filling with a suffocating sulfurous odor.
They interpret this as a sign of resistance to the evil spirit, and regardless of the validity of the interpretation, the odor remains a constant feature of the scene.
We should not forget that the body may secrete sulfurous odors due to pathological conditions, bacterial activity on the skin, or environmental odors.
2. UFO sighting: Falcon Lake incident
In the 1967 Falcon Lake incident, Stephen Michalak witnessed an unidentified flying object land on a rock about 46 meters away, while another similar object moved away in the sky, changing colors until it disappeared.
While observing the descending craft, he noticed intense purple lights emanating from the forward ports and began to smell a pungent sulfurous odor, accompanied by a persistent hissing sound.
These indications, combined with the object's shape and glowing metallic color, led him to believe he was witnessing an alien craft.
3. Moroccan sorcerer's experience
There is a partially documented incident in Moroccan newspaper archives from the late 1970s about a sorcerer in the city of Fez who claimed to be able to summon jinn kings.
According to the report, the sorcerer rented an old house and surrounded himself with a group of followers. He then began a nightly ritual using incense and unknown herbs, and drew talismans on the floor.
After about half an hour, those present reported feeling an intense heat in the room despite the cool air, and the air began to fill with a pungent odor resembling rotten eggs or burning sulfur. Some even felt nauseous.
Witnesses said the sorcerer claimed the smell was a sign of the presence of the Red Jinn King, whom he was summoning.
A specialist later explained that the incense he used may have released sulfurous gases as a result of the combustion of its components, causing the intense odor and physical symptoms.
4. Flatwoods monster
On the evening of September 12, 1952, the small town of Flatwoods, West Virginia, witnessed one of the most bizarre incidents in the history of unexplained phenomena.
After a group of children spotted a glowing red light descending behind a nearby hill, they rushed out with a local woman and a National Guardsman to investigate.
As they approached the site, they noticed a thick fog and a suffocating odor, similar to rotten eggs or burning sulfur, which burned their throats and made their eyes water.
5. Mysterious landscapes
In darkness and fog, these smells may be accompanied by strange light or sound scenes, creating a perfect story of an unseen presence, especially in volcanic areas or near thermal vents, where residents report that the air sometimes carries a strong sulfurous smell with changing wind direction or subterranean activity.
Scientific explanation: What do we really smell?
The smell we describe as sulfur is often not from elemental sulfur, but from its pungent gaseous compounds such as:
- Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): Rotten egg smell, produced by the decomposition of organic matter in oxygen-poor environments (swamps, sewers, damp soil) containing sulfur-reducing bacteria that produce H₂S.
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂): A natural, intermittent or continuous emission, it is a pungent odor that occurs frequently in volcanic or geothermal activity.
- Highly pungent gases: These are naturally formed from organic decomposition, such as those emitted by sewage networks and landfills, or the decomposition of waste and polluted water.
- Sulfur compounds: These are intentionally added in small amounts to odorless gases to detect any gas leaks in the home.
Sulfurous odors emanating from the human body
Certain anaerobic bacteria found on the skin, in the mouth, and in the digestive tract produce volatile sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, which are the cause of some cases of bad breath or sweat.
Chronic liver or kidney disease can also lead to the accumulation of these compounds in the blood and their release through the breath or sweat. A diet rich in sulfur—such as garlic, onions, and cabbage—can impart a distinctive body odor.
There are also rare metabolic disorders that cause the body to secrete pungent odors resembling sulfur or chemicals, which explains why this odor can occur within a person without any apparent environmental source.
Sulfur smell and possession by jinn
In popular lore, especially in the context of ruqyah sessions or spiritual rituals, healers often consider a person's pungent, sulfur-like odor a sure sign of jinn possession or the presence of an invisible entity.
This odor is described as emanating suddenly, even in closed rooms, and often coincides with other symptoms such as screaming, convulsions, or a change in voice.
However, a scientific explanation does not rule out the possibility that the odor's source is internal. Anaerobic bacteria in the mouth, digestive tract, or skin can produce volatile sulfur compounds. Liver or kidney disease may also cause these compounds to accumulate and be released through breathing or sweat. It may even be caused by a recent consumption of sulfur-rich foods.
When these physical factors coincide with a psychologically charged situation or a spiritual healing session, it becomes easy for attendees to interpret the odor as a sign of the supernatural, when in fact it may be a purely biological product. Thus, it can be understood that all cases of sulfur smell reported in the context of possession are not necessarily supernatural, but may be an extension of a physical response that coincidentally meets with a cultural framework that interprets it as the activity of jinn.
Can these gases cause hallucinations or a supernatural sense?
In many cultures, the smell of sulfur symbolizes the devil. This association predisposes the brain to interpret any mysterious stimulus as a paranormal experience, i.e., as a cultural revelation.
However, we must not deny that these gases have a neurological effect when exposed to high concentrations. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) can cause dizziness, confusion, visual disturbances, and, in rare cases, hallucinations.
The interaction of these heavy sulfur gases with oxygen in enclosed spaces also affects the brain, creating images or a sense of the presence of an entity.
Why does the smell suddenly appear?
This is due to a many reasons such as:
- Changes in soil pressure or temperature may release gas pockets
- Dry water traps in drain pipes allow sewer gases to return
- Wind gusts can suddenly transport gases from a distant source
- Volcanic activity or underground organic decomposition can release intermittent emissions
In conclusion, whether the smell of sulfur is a sign from another world or simply a natural interaction between the earth and the air, it remains one of the most imaginative elements in paranormal stories.
Science demonstrates that sulfurous gases are present in many environments, and their effects on the body and mind can be tangible—even disturbing.
But even if some experiences are explained by environmental and chemistry, the impact of that moment on the experiencer remains powerful, and sulfur continues to serve as a mysterious bridge between ancient myth and modern interpretation, between the known and the unknown.