Smoke has very distinctive smells...I can tell the difference in the smoke smell of a house fire, forest fire smoke, or exposed to wood stove smoke, or cigarettes, and even pipe tobacco smoke......not sure about coal, but I'd bet it has it's own odor...cigarettes have a distinct smell, and most people know it! I do know that on metal...like old sewing machines..the grime (and smell) can be easily removed...but these newer machines made of plastic...I'd bet that's harder!