What's that funky smell? (lotion, light, scent, natural)

[gentlearts]

You know how, when you go to a tanning bed, there is a funny smell on your skin for the rest of the day? What is that?
Same thing happens when I use a self tanner, and I've heard it's true when you get a spray tan too. I understand that the spray tan or self tanner may have an odor, but I don't know what smells when you use a tanning bed. It does not happen when you get a natural tan in the sun.

[Opsimathia]

Maybe you are smelling the sanitizer spray? I know regular sunlight deodorizes things by killing bacteria and drying items out.

[man of mucus]

thats nasty get off here wit dhat

[cb at sea]

I've never noticed a "funky" smell after using a tanning bed, unless I've used a lotion with a scent I don't like...and that's happened! Now, I go for an unscented lotion, since when I do use a tanning bed, it's in the middle of the workday, and I can't go and shower the lotion off....so I've found unscented is better for me.

[JordanJP]

Maybe you're smelling someone else's burnt skin?

[gentlearts]

No, it's a smell that lingers on my skin afterward. I do not use a lotion while I tan and there is no odor in the tanning bed. It's as if there is some kind of chemical reaction that takes place.

[nightcrawler]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. When I would tan, I would smell it also, just faint, but I know what you mean. I just used lotion on my face though. Once I would take a shower, a few hours later, the smell goes away.

[M3 Mitch]

Is it an ozone smell - one of the smells you have around a thunderstorm (how do I describe a smell on a web forum?!) UV can generate ozone from atmospheric diatomic (normal) oxygen.

[debzkidz]

I know exactly what smell you're talking about. I've wondered about it too.

[paladinking]

Mites!! do you know? This is a dead mites body scent!!! lol, maybe not!!