ACFT EQUIP PROB BLEED AIR LEAK FUMES IN COCKPIT MALFUNCTION. RETURN LAND. EMER GND EQUIP CALLED; EMER DECLARED BY ATCT LCL CTLR SUPVR.

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ON V214 OVER BWI WE EXPERIENCED STRONG FUEL FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER TRYING TO ADJUST THE FLOWS (BLEED AIR) THE STRONG FUMES CONTINUED. WE CONSULTED WITH THE FLT ATTENDANT WHO SMELLED THE FUMES ALSO IN THE GALLEY AND COCKPIT; ADVISED US THAT IT DIDN'T SMELL IN THE CABIN. WE ADVISED THE FLT ATTENDANT THAT WE WOULD BE RETURNING TO IAD (OUR DEP POINT) WHICH WAS MUCH CLOSER THAN OUR DEST JFK. WE OPTED NOT TO LAND AT BWI BECAUSE THE FUMES WERE NOT OVERPOWERING. WHEN INFORMED OF OUR INTENTIONS; ATC INQUIRED WHY WE WERE RETURNING; THE CAPT SAID; 'DUE TO FUMES IN THE COCKPIT.' ATC RESPONDED; 'UNDERSTAND SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT.' OUR CAPT SAID 'NO SMOKE; FUMES; WE ARE NOT DECLARING AN EMER.' ATC SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD; BUT ON FINAL APCH INTO IAD; APCH ASKED HOW MANY SOULS ON BOARD. OUR CAPT AGAIN STATED WE HAD NOT DECLARED AN EMER; APCH SAID ROGER; THEIR SUPVR HAD. WE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN THE CAPT CALLED THE TWR ABOUT IT; THE SUPVR STATED THAT BALTIMORE APCH HAD INFORMED THEM WE HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT. WE NEVER HAD SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT; ONLY FUEL FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. THERE WAS NEVER ANY INDICATION OF ANY PROB OTHER THAN THE BLEED AIRS PUMPING FUEL SMELLING AIR INTO THE COCKPIT. WE DID RETURN TO IAD DUE TO THE FUMES; BUT NEVER FELT THERE WAS ANY CHANCE OF DANGER; SO WE DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER.