Why does my water taste like perfume? Here are the reasons
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Why does my water taste like perfume? Here are the reasons

13 june 2022

Have you ever experienced that your tap water smells like perfume? That sweet smell with a perfume-like aroma is from the presence of different chemicals in your water system. Therefore, you have to test this water to ensure it doesn't contain any harmful substances.

And in this guide, we will highlight some of the issues associated with such water that smells like perfume. So, continue reading to know all about it.

Why Does My Water Taste Floral?

If your tap water smells and tastes like floral perfume, it is due to the presence of volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These compounds are available in industrial, commercial, and residential products.

These include gasoline, fuel oils, cleaners, solvents, inks, paints, refrigeration, dyes, and pesticides. These VOCs are a concern for primary health standards because they are toxic to humans.

Why Does My Tap Water Taste Like Perfume?

reasons water smells like perfume

Your tap water might smell bad if you collect it from a specific faucet or sink with some unusual smells. This problem is more likely with your pipes or fixtures, causing the water to smell bad.

But if the water smells like some perfume, your main water supply is contaminated. Tap water smells like perfume, usually due to some VOCs in it. These VOCs have different types of fragrances, and they cause your tap water to smell like perfume.

Is It Bad To Drink Bottled Water That Smells Like Perfume?

Whether it smells bad or perfume, drinking such water can be hazardous to your health. If your water smells bad, your bottle is not properly clean.

Maybe the water is not treated properly from the main source and still has chemicals, or it might have been outdated. If it smells like perfume, it might again have some contaminants that cause this perfume-like smell.

Does A Water Softener Make Water Smell Like Perfume?

Whether your tap water supplier system has a rotten egg smell or a sewage smell like perfume, the most common culprit is the water softener you have been using. If your water has too much VOC content, it causes your water to smell like a perfume.

And when you treat your water using a water softener, it might cause the smell to increase due to bacterial growth. Water softeners might also have sulfur bacteria. These bacteria are found in the sodium that is there in these tanks. So, it might add to the overall smell and salty taste that your water has in it.

Usually, the smell that comes in your water due to water softeners is bad, but it can mix with that perfume-like smell and form a new aroma altogether. However, no matter the reason, you should avoid wearing such water.

How Can I Test for VOCs in My Water?

There is only one way to test your water for VOCs effectively. You can do so by sampling your water and sending it to a certified laboratory.

You can also go for the Watercheck Test Kit by the National Testing Laboratories, as this process is pretty straightforward. This test can identify heavy metals, bacteria, trihalomethanes, and 44 other types of volatile organics compounds that could be in your tap water.

If you rely on well water, you have to make sure that you run a test every year for the reliability of the water you are getting from the source. If you check your water periodically for VOCs, it is the most effective way to keep track of the situation and control it.

These waterborne volatile organic compounds might not necessarily have any taste or smell, or even color. This might result in high VOC levels in your water, so you need to run a check regularly.

How Can I Remove VOCs From My Water?

To effectively remove VOCs from your water, you will need carbon filters. These volatile organic compounds are organic compounds. It means they are all carbon-based. Carbon activated filters have high absorption properties, and they will grab any of these VOCs.

There is no battery defense mechanism you can go for other than choosing carbon filters. And the good thing is that these carbon filters come in all applications, shapes, and sizes. You might have a carbon filter in your refrigerator. It will efficiently get rid of any VOCs from your fridge water.

You can also install carbon-based filters right under your sink and countertop. Carbon filters are also available in howl house filtration systems. It has the additional advantage of getting rid of chloramines and chlorine. As a result, these filters can significantly improve the overall taste of the water that you drink right across your house.

If you have a point-of-use drinking water filter, make sure it is properly rated for a reduction in VOCs. VOCs can exhaust the filtration media way faster compared to chlorine. Therefore for effective results in VOC reduction, you have to make sure you don't overrun your filter's capacity.

Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Remove VOCs?

RO water filtration system can get rid of these volatile organic compounds. But they will only work if they feature carbon-based posts or pre-filter. The reverse osmosis system cannot get rid of VOCs; these VOCs can pass the RO membrane similarly to oxygen.

These RO systems come with carbon filters, so they become effective in removing these volatile organic compounds. If these VOCs pass through the membrane, that carbon filter will remove them from your drinking water before entering your glass.

Conclusion

Whether your tap water tastes and smells like rotten eggs or perfume, you should not consume it in both conditions. In either case, your water is contaminated, and to be, you need to test it out. The water smells like perfume because it has volatile organic compounds in most cases.

These compounds might make your water smell like a perfume, but they are harmful to humans. Therefore, you need to get rid of them for good. As these VOCs are carbon-based, you need to go for carbon filters to eliminate these harmful compounds.

OSMOZ team

OSMOZ team

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