Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Physiological - Other; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Just after departure on the climb out we noticed an odd smell followed shortly by the presence of smoke/vapor. The Flight Attendant also called with the same in the cabin. We [requested a] return the departure airport. On the way back we ran the cabin smoke QRH and the lavatory fire QRH since it also went off. [We] had the Flight Attendant check for any indications of the source but found none. The smell seemed to start after we switched to engine bleeds so we started the APU and switched to APU bleed air and the smoke/vapor started to dissipate. After landing we had the ground crew check for any external indications but they found none. With the smoke/vapor dissipating; we taxied to the gate and deplaned.The odor did not smell like smoke but a semi sweet toxic smell that is hard to describe. The smoke/vapor never got thick to where it impaired vision.
We had a hard time communicating with the O2 masks on due to a possible malfunction with the microphone in one of the observer masks.
Crew noticed an odd smell followed by smoke/vapor in the cockpit. They donned their oxygen masks and returned to the departure airport. The smoke dissipated when they switched to APU bleed.