Scent of a kiln

[BadExampleMan]

I've noticed that my kiln has a distinctive odor, kind of like hot bricks I guess, at a certain point in the ramp up, 800F or so. But it goes away before 1000F and doesn't recur during the rest of the cycle.

It's not surprising to me that something made of hot bricks should smell like hot bricks, but you'd think it would smell that way the whole time it was hot. Wondering if it might be something else, like I don't know, the glue or Sharpie marks burning off. Anyone else encounter this?

[Peter Angel]

What are you actually firing in the kiln?

[Tony Smith]

Are you sure it's not kilnwash that you're smelling?

Tony

[Valerie Adams]

If you're using Thinfire or other fiber material, the organics smell a bit while burning off.

[Jeanne]

Glue smells too.

[Judd]

That sounds like organics and trapped water burning off. My kiln is in my basement and as it fires, any moisture that evaporates carries the smell of whatever else I'm firing. You could try capturing the aroma and bottling it. Eau de Kiln.