bad smell in the air tickles a person's nose

[alpacinou]

When there is a bad smell in the air, does it make sense to say that smell "tickles a person's nose"?

Is this correct and natural?

Jane looked out past the dust-streaked window at the hazy city. She opened the window and the smell of low-quality car fuel in the air tickled her nose. The cars in he city were old and belched vapors of thick black smoke into the air.

 

[emsr2d2]

When there is a bad smell in the air, does it make sense to say that smell "tickles a person's nose"?

Is this correct and natural?

Jane looked [STRIKE]out past[/STRIKE] through the dust-streaked window at the hazy city. She opened the window and the smell of low-quality car fuel in the air tickled her nose. The cars in the city were old and belched [STRIKE]vapors of[/STRIKE] thick black smoke into the air.

I'd use "irritated".

Note my other changes. The cars belch either vapors or thick black smoke.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Or stung.

 

[Tdol]

I have lived in a very polluted city and the black smoke stings more than it tickles.