What IS Old Pony Smell?

[Esbayne]

I've wondered all my life but never really thought to actually ask or look it up, and when I tried recently I got nothing.

What is the reason G1s smell the way they do?

I don't honestly know if there's any smell I could ever like more. It's such a very specific, unique smell and I've never smelled anything exactly like it other than authentic G1 ponies. The repros don't smell like anything, either. And it's not like Hasbro scented them or anything. (Except the obviously deliberately scented ones)

No other gens have that smell either. (I guess mine all sort of smell like G1s because I keep them all together and somehow the G1 smell with most mine manages to be so potent/preserved that they can make the other ponies smell like it, too. These were mostly ponies from my/my aunt's childhood collection, most G1s I buy second hand don't have the smell. They are in storage until the first week of February and I am soooo looking forward to opening that box and smelling the smell. Lol.)

I want to think, and always have kind of thought it was just the plastic, but then why don't other toys ever smell like them, or repros,or other gens? Also how does it stick around so long?

I have so many questions about The Pony Smell.
(Also, if we -have- figured out what exactly the smell is, why is it not a perfume yet? :O We need to get someone on this stat! lol)

[SpacePinto]

It's the smell of happy memories, innocence and magic.

[Esbayne]

It's the smell of happy memories, innocence and magic.

Yes!

[Mewtwofan1]

It's the smell of happy memories, innocence and magic.

Since we don’t have a scientific confirmed answer, I think this is the best we got. My personal idea? Something in the type of plastic they’re made of. But it is an amazing smell...ahh, old pony...like old spice, but better because it’s old g1 ponies!

[Loona]

It's the smell of happy memories, innocence and magic.

This. This is EPIC.

I love the smell too, and, while not so prominent, I can also smell it on second-hand finds (just sniffed two recently bought ones that currently stand on my desk, waiting to be cleaned up). I always thought it's just the type of plastic - I too have wondered why I never encountered any other toys that smelled like G1 ponies, but I also don't think I've really come across any other toys of the same age that are made out of plastic that seems similar in looks, touch and stiffness.

The perfume thing is an interesting idea. Perfumes that smell like linen, kitties, or even dirt exist, so there would totally be room for this. However, I'm not sure I'd like the smell also if it was detached from ponies - I mean, I'm pretty sure part of my liking the smell is coming from the fact that I'm sniffing an actual original G1 when I smell it, so I'm not sure it would have the same effect (for me at least) if it was coming from something else, or if I myself smelled like that

[SaraMari]

As for a scientific reason, I think it might be the smell of the plasticizer(s) they use to make the vinyl soft, in combination with the other chemicals used. The Retro repros, and hqg1c both do not the same texture and don't smell the same.

Here's some links about Plasticizers. I think probably they were using DINP phthalates. Nowadays some manufacturers are moving towards biodegradable Plasticizers like alkyl citrates (used in toys) because of the negative effects phthalates have

https://www.ecocenter.org/healthy-stuff/reports/vinyl-floor-tiles/flooring_phthalate_hazards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticizer

Of course the amount of phthalates in toys wouldn't have the same impact as vinyl flooring on health but I imagine it's not something toy companies would want to use if avoidable. Of course this is a speculative hypothesis since I don't know the chemical composition of G1 ponies vs new vs Retros etc

I've been looking a bit at the transparency of pvc/vinyl because that's another difference I notice between G1 ponies and the Retro and HQG1C, the G1s are more opaque. It seems plasticizers might have an effect of the transparency as well

[Aurora]

Once at work I opened a box of towels. They smelled EXACTLY like vintage ponies. I may have carried the plastic packaging around with me all day, making my co-workers smell it.

[SkyCakes]

I once smelled a fabric softener that smelled just like the G1 smell. I used it for awhile but it was so overpowering.

[Ponyfan]

I think someone did try to make a G1 pony smell perfume. I didn't buy any bottles but the person that made it said it was very close to G1 pony smell.



Ponyfan

[pinkkittywinks]

It isn't really describable, but I know it when I smell it!

Love pkw xxx

[Kiwi]

Yeah, can't describe it but it's wonderful. When my collection was still small (like under 20 - mixed G1s and G3s) they fit in one small box. I opened it after having it closed for a while, and the smell was just awesome.

It's the smell of happy memories, innocence and magic.

Best description!

[LadyMoondancer]

If anyone here gets a Basic Fun retro G3, please take a sniff.  Because I got G3 Applejack and she DOES have that old G1 smell IMO.

Which is strange because original G3s don't have any smell at all.

[lonewolf]

I clearly remember opening a package and being greeted by that smell back in the 80's (unfortunately it only happened 8 times). I smelled it with the first G3's I bought too (though it was slightly different). Though the smell is pretty much gone from my childhood ones (and my other G1's), for some reason my Steamer still has a pretty strong scent of it to remind me. Maybe it's time someone tries to re-create it again and make something like those "new car smell" sprays for use on ponies.
Sniffing ponies...

[SkyCakes]

All I have to do is enter my pony room its pony smell always makes me feel comforted.

[BlackCurtains]

I love the way Argies smell and they all smell the same (at least the 7 I have do). It smells faintly of soap but there's more to it. I'm not sure I know what normal G1 smell is. I'll have to sniff some ponies...