I realize I'm a bit late...but I saw an old posting here about strange smell cravings. I was hoping someone could answer my question in that regard. For about the last 6 months I have physically craved the smell of the little white toilet bowl fresheners. The ones that smell a little like moth balls. I go to them anytime I'm in the store to smell them, I have 3 in my toilet at home. I'm considering putting one in my purse for when I need a quick fix! Can anyone tell me what chemical(s) are used to make these things, if it's harmful to sniff them, and why someone may be predisposed to the smell? I am certainly not a science knowledgable person, and anything anyone can offer would be VERY appreciated. I am beginning to feel a little freakish!!!!

I would say go with it. I remember actually making this stuff in grade 8. i doubt they are harmful.

Napthalene is the most common used, sometimes para-Dichlorobenzene.

Para-dichlorobenzene was used for them where I live, but that practice is abandoned, because this chemical is believed to be a carcinogen. So, I definitely would NOT want to smell that too often. Almost all chlorinated organics are banned from the general public life, for a good reason, and p-dichlorobenzene is one of them.

 

Naphtalene is the current alternative, but I also think it is not good to smell them. Btw, I hardly can imagine that you like that smell, it is terrible.P-chlorobenzene indeed has a peculiar, somewhat refreshing, non unpleasant smell, but the smell of naphtalene is plain crap. All chlorinates hydrocarbons I know (carbon tetrachloride, trichloro ethylene, chloroform, solventane, p-dichlorobenzene) have more or less pleasant smells, but sadly, all of them are quite toxic, and almost all of them are carcinogens and as such they are banned for general use.