Why does my goldfish bowl smell like catnip, its only 2 days old?

Goldfish bowls start getting dirty and polluted right after the water is changed - even though it doesn't look like it.
The smell is probably associated with the water getting dirty.
An aquarium with a filter is the best suited home for a goldfish, but
If you have no choice but to use the bowl, changing the water every couple of days will help keep the water clean for your fish.

Fish shouldn't even be kept in bowls. But I do recommend changing the water every day or two.
Like the person above said, an aquarium and a filter would be best.

I've had goldfish in an aquarium with great results. I had one who lived several years and I ended up calling him Biggie as he got so huge. Try that and you'll have much better results than a fishbowl. Also, if you are using household tap water this could also be part of the problem with the bowl smelling. If you can't afford a fish tank yet, next best thing is buy some bottled spring water. It has much less contaminants in it than regular tap water to start with. Do not use distilled water though, only bottled spring water.

Wal mart sells a 10 gallon kit that works nicely for goldfish and a number of other tropical fish.