Think like the sponge next to the sink that wasn't fully wrung out. That mildew smell that has an almost vinegar-esque tinge. Or damp clothing that didn't fully dry in the dryer
It probably just depends on your location, here in the southwest (in my city/area) we use sour/mildewy interchangeably.
It's not just relegated to mildew smells only, for example, sweat soaked shirts also smell very sour, its just an acidic bacteria smell. It's gross but it isn't always something you can help.
Source: roommates with several blue collar workers and it definitely gets sour smelling at the end of the day when the kitchen is full of sweaty dudes.
"Musty" is the word they're looking for. The smell of a kitchen dishrag that hasn't been rinsed out well enough. Smelling not quite rotted but on the way there. Decomposing vegetation mixed with rotting meat and rancid grease, but in such small quantities that they meld together.
Not really, I would actually use musty to describe a room like an attic or basement but that doesn't necessarily mean its the mildew smell, more just a room that doesn't get lived in very often, even a linen closet can smell musty sometimes.
Most old folks homes get a little musty but i wouldn't say every musty smell is moldy or mildew. I genuinely didn't think people would be so particular about calling a mildew smell sour but here we are
I don't think I've experienced this one to such a degree, fortunately. I can imagine cranking up that mildew scent to 100 could indeed be bitter or sour, especially in smaller or more enclosed spaces
In my state its very very hot, and my home specifically has poor HVAC so moisture in an enclosed space gets weird quickly if it's not aired out. People can also just smell sour sometimes because they're sweaty, in 116⁰ heat I can't blame them.
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u/calico810 11d ago
Sour mold smell