What does gas smell like?

Natural gas has a very distinctive tart, sulfur odor added to it for safety. In its raw state, natural gas has no smell or color. That’s why we have added a “rotten egg” odor to make you aware if gas is leaking.

If you think you smell gas:

• Remain calm.
• Don’t light a match, candle or cigarette.
• Don’t turn electrical appliances or lights on or off.
• If you are in a safe location, call Okaloosa Gas at 850-729-4700, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call 911. We will send a trained technician to investigate.

Natural gas has the best safety and reliability record of all traditional energy sources. Generally, natural gas accidentally released in the open will vent harmlessly into the air. However, when a gas and air mixture within the flammability range collects in a confined space, it can ignite accidentally.

How to identify a gas leak

Look: You may notice blowing dirt, bubbling creeks or ponds, dry spots in moist areas or dead plants surrounded by green live plants. Damaged connections to your natural gas appliance(s).

Listen: If you hear an unusual hissing or whistling sound near gas lines or appliances may indicate a natural gas leak.

Smell: In its raw state, natural gas is odorless. Okaloosa Gas add a harmless substance called mercaptan to create a rotten-egg like smell. You should take action if the odor is faint.

Don’t Rely on Just Your Nose

Although a distinctive odor is added to make natural gas easy to recognize, you may not be able to smell leaking gas if:

• You have a diminished sense of smell

• You’re experiencing odor fatigue (inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it)

• You have a physical condition such as a common cold, sinus condition or allergies

• The odor is masked or hidden by other odors that are present

• Pipe and soil conditions have caused odor fade
  • In new, steel pipe that has been recently manufactured or hasn’t been used for odorized natural gas before
  • In natural gas piping systems using higher gas pressure, and when natural gas flow is limited or intermittent
  • In the presence of rust, mill scale, moisture, air, cutting oil, pipe thread compound, liquids, condensates and other substances(see below)


For your safety, you may want to consider purchasing a combination gas and carbon monoxide detector.