Why Do Some CDRs Smell Like Almonds?

bertok asks: "I have several spindles of CD-Rs of various brands that I use at home and work, and some of them have a very strong almond odour when opened. Does anyone know what causes that? I know that Hydrogen Cyanide has a distinctive almond odour, but so does a range of other organic chemicals. Can any Slashdot readers with a chemistry background enlighten us as to the possible source of the smell?"

You are kidding right?

[Anonymous Coward]

This is just another April fools right?

mmmm, cynanide laced CDs.

Those evil terrorists!

You ARE kidding right?

In Soviet Russia

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia CDRS smells like YOU!

It's a plot...

[Anonymous Coward]

..by the media industry to slowly poison all the people who "steal" music ;-)

The flaw in their plan is that sales still won't go up cos they've just killed potential consumers!

Austin Powers 2!

[kruetz]

Does anyone else have flashbacks to Austin Powers 2, when the assassin Achmed (or some similar Arabian name) falls over the edge of the cliff...

Aaah! My leg is broken! The bone is sticking through the skin, and the wound is smelling of almonds, which is not good!

I'll try to stand on my other leg ... aah! now my other legs is broken!

To summarise, don't touch CDRs that smell of almonds. They are "not good". In fact, they will probably break your legs and cause you tremendous pain.

Thank God we can learn everything we need to know from the movies.

because...

[ptaff]

Because CD-R, like almonds, get tastier when burned a bit...

I BELIEVE YOU!

[falcon203e]

My TDK CD-Rs smell like almonds! Thank goodness I'm not the only one to wonder about this! Have you also noticed that, once burned, the smell goes away. Magic disappearing almonds...

OSQ

[Hell O'World]

My cat's breath smell's like catfood!

Speaking of nuts ...

[one9nine]

Does anybody's wireless router smell like peanut butter? Maybe it's just me.

Re:Speaking of nuts ...

[Mr.Phil]

My VCR smelled like peanut butter, until I found the sandwitch that my niece had tried to "play."

Re:More to the point....

[mattsucks]

[qouth the Mouse]

That's _exactly_ my point. Maybe the machines couldn't figure out what CDRs smell like. Maybe what you think CDRs smell like, really smells like almonds.

This is the best AF article so far.

[iuyterw]

I can imagine hundreds of Slashdot readers surreptiously sniffing their CD-Rs at work, little knowing that their bosses have just stepped up behind them.

boss: What the hell are you doing?!?!
SDR: Ummm..Err..Uh..Quality control.
boss: Oh...Very well. Carry on then.

Re:because...

[molarmass192]

Holy crap, you're right! They even TASTE like almonds, only crunchier! Oh man this makes a great snack food. Whoa ... not feeling so good all of a sudden ...