I spent years trying various stainless steel ones. None are the same smell as the old aluminium ones.

I realised I got pleasure out of the smell it made. I prefer the coffee from my espresso machine & even the aeropress but that smell brings memories.

That old peculator with it's slurping & spluttering just brings back waves & waves of memories.

Maybe the answer is to use it infrequently & always with an open flame?