The two odors of iron when touched or pickled: (Skin) carbonyl compounds and organophosphines

(Figure Presented) The smell of money and chemical weapons: The perplexing metallic odor from touching iron tools or coins (see picture) is a type of human body odor linked to the decomposition of skin peroxides. Fe2+ ion containing rust, drinking water, and blood all cause a similar metallic odor. Another "garlic" metallic odor, that of phosphorus-alloyed iron under acid attack, is caused by organophosphines, including C-P compounds which are monitored under the Chemical Weapons Convention. © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.