I didn't even know this was a thing until my twenties? I just thought to myself, "wow, it's so weird that sometimes I get a hit of a chemical-like stench that no one else can smell. Maybe I'm having a mini-stroke?"

Specific species have the strongest smell. I don't notice the smaller ones unless I'm two feet away from them.

The smelling trick only works indoors, though. I've never encountered anyone in the wilds who can claim smelling them outside.

does not everyone smell the formic acid, or do most people only smell it if an ant gets killed?

i've never noticed it

elasmata: It seems to vary greatly. I can only smell "juicy" ones. Could not cut it as a scent hound.

ferris must now disown you