The first attendance at a post mortem examination is, to say the least, a shock to the system. Yes, there is an irresistible urge to throw up, but somehow, quite quickly you get accustomed to the whiff. As the diathermy cut through and cauterised small blood vessels a familiar smell appeared. I couldn't place it initially until a few days later when I accidentally burnt my bacon one morning on the grill. I'm not surprised.
Patients can have smells too.
And this can play a part in diagnosis. Those with liver failure are said to have an aldehydic smell which in the books has been likened to mouse droppings - Goodness knows how many of us had smelled mice droppings, by the way.