Why do coins have a metallic smell?The surprising scent of your own skin.

From the show

Science Around You

That characteristic smell you get after handling coins isn't from the metal itself. It's actually a chemical reaction happening right on your fingertips. Your skin's natural oils interact with the metal to create a unique scent that our brains interpret as 'metallic'. You're smelling a personalized body odor, not the object you're touching.