ooh ooh that smell, can't you smell that smell...

[Doug R]

Apologizies to Lynnard Skynnerd.

I can smell my hives from really far away. It is the beehive smell, but MUCH stronger. I was taking them apart today to investigate (I've never smelled foulbrood) and I was somewhat worried. Then i realized the smell reminds me of mead, very strong mead. I saw no signs of disease within the hive, so I figured that maybe there was a moisture problem and I opened up the bottom boards. I had them closed to do mite counts on a sticky board.

Any one know the smell I'm talking about or have any thoughts?

Thanks,

Doug Rolley

[Christopher Petree]

I've noticed a particularly foul smell that comes from the bees reducing goldenrod nectar. It might be something they are collecting, or it could be fermenting honey, since you said it smells like mead. AFB has a soured smell to it.

[power napper]

Goldenrod definately causes a strong and unique smell when the girls are processing it.

[rache]

my whole family has been very aware of the beehive smell since the very beginning - my husband and kids think it's offensive, i find it sharp, but rather pleasant. i have noticed that as the season progresses, i can smell it from farther and farther from the hive. i've chalked it up to a combination of the fall pollen (which i've heard can have a very strong scent) and to the fact that there are SO many bees in there right now.

[Tia]

My hives totally stink! And, yes, I can smell it 50 feet away when I'm working in from the garden. To me it smells like wet, rotting leaves. It slams me in the face when I first take the inner cover off and then disperses so fast, I can't smell it anymore! Haven't gone into the broodnest so at present I'm hoping it's goldenrod which they're collecting like crazy. Wish there was an experienced beek around here that could come take a whiff and let me know if it's the goldenrod smell. Judging from the number of bees and how active they are, I really don't think it's AFB but it'll have me nervous until I get a chance to go in. . .

[Michael Bush]

>my husband and kids think it's offensive, i find it sharp, but rather pleasant.

That's a pretty good indication it's goldenrod. Some people hate the smell and others don't.

Goldenrod nectar smells like old gym socks to me.

>To me it smells like wet, rotting leaves.

That sounds about right for Goldenrod. Foulbrood would smell more like a dead animal kind of thing than a mildewy roting leaves smell.

[Doug R]

It does have a sickly sweet smell to it. It did kind of remind me of ripe sneakers. The pollen is coming in like crazy right now.

Thanks for the help!

Doug Rolley

[jamiev]

I also smell the strong scent as much as 25 ' from the hive right now. It is sort of "ripe" I mean ripe like slightly over-rippened fruit in the fall but not rotten? I do not find it offensive but it is strong. The frames i pulled this weekend had the odor but the honey i sampled right out of the honeycomb tasted wonderful. If that is goldenrod/aster honey..both are in bloom although GR is fading fast, then i like it a lot, odor or not. I do not think the honey had the odor but I could be wrong.

[Rod Weakley]

I've been smelling a strong, (what I thought) was dog feces smell from my back yard. 2 beehives tons of GR around. I have a couple dogs, I just thought it was building up, but I guess it could be the GR.
LOL

[kensfarm]

"Goldenrod nectar smells like old gym socks to me."

Michael.. I had noticed a smell that was pretty faint at first when I was checking on the bees. My description was along the lines of "sour shoe smell." The odor has gotten stronger.. and I was worried. Did natural mite fall counts for 24 hours.. did sugar powder treatment.. cleaned sticky boards off the next morning.

This hive had 5 Med. supers.. and I swear when I put the 5th on that they were well into working the 4th.. I took them both off. This hive has a SBB and a ventilated inner cover.. but the telescoping cover's inside had starting getting black mold on it. The colony seemed light compared to an identical hive started at the same time so I started feeding it for this winter.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

When the goldenrod starts pouring in, notice how yellow the wax turns.

Goldenrod smells like money, the money I didn't have to spend on winter feed. smile.gif

[Dick Allen]

>notice how yellow the wax turns

How well does goldenrod wax work in frozen candles?

[CWBees]

Some of bee have a return with light pollen other with a darker orange lookin pollen. Which is the GR pollen and what is probably the other pollen?

Concerning the smell. I have noticed it but I don't mind it.

[nursebee]

Nice to read this discussion. We have been taking OBS hive to county fair this week. Strong hives but frame smells bad. Only a few notice. I thought it was mildew on the wood...

FYI, lemon oil and extract do not cover the smell up for long.