Ghost Smells

A little background: we live in a remodeled farmhouse built in 1898 (the same year my father was born). It's on 12 acres in rural Maine, about 25 miles outside Portland. We purchased the property in 2004 - almost 13 years ago. And once upon a time, neither of us put too much stock - or even thought - into the paranormal.

That was then. Things are different now.

Shortly after moving in, we would hear kitchen cabinets close after we went to bed. And a "phantom ball" would bounce down the back steps, which caused me to take out the steps and turn the space into an office. The bouncing stopped. And then there were the disembodied voices, usually from what appeared to be under the bed, but sometimes sounding like they were in another room.

All apparently harmless, and we are now accustomed to such things, and ignore them for the most part.

Now to the reason for this post - I am seeking the input of people who have encountered, and may have an explanation for - what we call "ghost smells". Every so often we will get a strong whiff of unexplainable smells, from perfume (which we do not use), pipe smoke (no pipe smokers here), cigar smoke (ditto) and even baking smells, like brownies, cinnamon buns etc. - when no baking is being done.

The smells are strong, short in duration, and can happen anywhere in the house, at any time. Guests have commented on them. In one instance a friend spent the night in the guest room, and came downstairs in the morning looking for the cinnamon buns he got a whiff of when he awoke. There weren't any. And another time a house sitter asked if we had any of those air fresheners plugged in some hidden place she could not see it - she claimed she kept getting a whiff of vanilla.

So, it would be great if any readers have experienced anything similar, and if you have any insight as to what may be the cause. Would like to get your story. Feel free to use the COMMENT link to post.

And no, we are not crazy. Just curious.

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