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“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers)
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on humanity, forcing us to reconsider dozens and hundreds of things, from our attitude towards health and safety to the organization of remote work. And the coronavirus has also shown us how important smells really are in our lives.
Yes, only by losing and then regaining the ability to distinguish odors can one understand their importance for a full perception of the world around us. However, each of us has our own unique sense of smell - and some absolutely cannot stand some odors that are completely natural for the rest of humanity. And this viral thread in the AskReddit community is dedicated to just such examples.
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#1
Seafood. Easily the most revolting smell ever IMHO. Yes, even fresh seafood in a top notch restaurant makes me gag.
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#2
Incense, it tends to give me a headache.
whineygingercat 1 year ago
Same here. I may be sensitive to it or straight up allergic. My sister burned that c**p as a teen in her room, right next to mine. All. The. Time.
The great German writer Erich Maria Remarque once wrote: “It’s strange how easily everything is forgotten except smells,” and he was damn right. Except for one thing - literally the same smell can be perceived completely differently by different people. For some, let's say, an expensive cologne smells nice, but others begin to sneeze, wince - and generally admit that they can't stand the stench. No, it's absolutely true - one of my friends couldn't stand the smell of perfumes. Almost any perfumes, to be honest.
#4
Patchouli.
to old to care 1 year ago (edited)
I have another one - Lavender, can't stand that scent. (oops should have scrolled down farther.)
#5
Avon perfume from the 1970s that old women drench themselves in before heading to the grocery store.
Reset Game 1 year ago
Too much of any perfume or cologne. Hang your clothes up, give it a spray or two, take a shower, then put your clothes on. You won't need to spray yourself constantly throughout the day
In fact, the smells that some of us find unbearable are completely different, and often it can be the most harmless and common of them. The smell of chocolate, fresh bread, milk, coffee, apples, or that unique smell of a fresh book, repeatedly sung in numerous books (damn, isn't that a form of book self-promotion?..) - any of these scents may turn out to be just disgusting to some of us.
#7
That goddamn cucumber melon lotion that *every girl on earth* used in the early 2000's.
#8
Lavender. Someone gave me lavender flavored suckers when I was having horrible morning sickness during my first pregnancy. It made it so much worse. The smell still makes me gag.
#9
Bath and Body Works. Thanks for ruining this section of the mall a******s. Lush gets an honorable mention. .
By the way, doctors say that this phenomenon is called hyperosmia, and that in fact it is a kind of disease that causes a person a lot of problems in everyday life. "People with hyperosmia can experience strong discomfort and even illness from certain smells. Exposure to chemical odors like synthetic fragrances, perfumes, and cleaning products can trigger mild to severe discomfort. Even the scent of certain shampoos can be too much," the Health Line dedicated article states.
Among the reasons that can cause hyperosmia, experts list pregnancy, migraines, Lyme disease, autoimmune diseases, as well as various neurological conditions. There are different treatments available - so if you have some common odor that you find unpleasant, perhaps you should see a doctor for a checkup?
#11
Vanilla scented candles and lotions etc. The winter holiday season is a plague on my senses. QQ.
#12
Coins and wet metal. It makes me shutter to even think about it.
Be that as it may, if a given feature doesn't cause serious problems for you or those around you (and doesn't harm your health) some people simply perceive it as a unique feature of their body. Well, everyone decides for themselves - but for now just feel free to scroll this list to the very end, and maybe share your own examples in the comments below. After all, a fascinating discussion is also good because it doesn't have any smell - neither pleasant nor unpleasant...
#13
Rose scented anything.
LadyRougarou 1 year ago
The fake rose fragrance is the worst imo I absolutely cannot stand it or lavender 🤮
#16
Air freshener in a bathroom! For the love of God, just turn on the fan or open the door or the window!
XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 1 year ago
Just light a match. No one wants to smell "fresh summer breeze" & caca. Or, idk, maybe that's your jam, but we have a jar filled with matches in all our restrooms for this reason.
#17
Lillies smell like death to me.
#18
Gas….. like gas at the gas station lol.
sleepybear 1 year ago
i love the gas smell! probably could kill me from inhaling it but ill die happy lol
#20
Those damn cinnamon pinecones they put out at christmas. So overpowering. I was forced to stock them at work and maintain the christmas candle section one year and now I can't stand anything "christmas scented" They dump twice as much perfume into the seasonal candles, and its all too overwhelming.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
To me, Christmas scent was roast turkey and dressing, green bean casserole, etc.
#21
Any liquor smell tbh.
LizzieBoredom 1 year ago
Don't go to Lynchburg, Tennessee. The whole town smells like Jack Daniels.
#22
Truffles. They smell like hobo feet.
Serena Myers 1 year ago
Having never smelt the feet of a hobo, I wouldn't know, perhaps OP should clarify?
#23
Artificial grape. Most people I know love it, but it turns my stomach every time.
Edit, because this has a stupid amount of responses: Please quit telling me to try Concord grapes. I’ve had them. I don’t think they taste remotely similar. Also, this thread is about smells, not tastes.
And for those of you claiming no one likes that smell, this thread of full of people stating that they are also surrounded by people who love that smell. They literally make incense and air fresheners in that smell that sell out.
#24
Freshly cut grass. I'm super allergic to grass, so while others associate that smell with nostalgia, summer and sun, I associate it with headaches, sneezing and itchy eyes.
#25
Babies they smell like s**t.
Lil Miss Hobbit 1 year ago
Oh no! Have you ever held a freshly-bathed baby wrapped in a towel?! They smell amazing.
#26
Anything that smells too sweet tends to make me nauseous. Eating it usually isn’t a problem, though.
The Announcer 1 year ago
Sometimes the smell makes me gain 5 to 10 pounds. Yeah, that's my story.
#29
Burning sage.
#31
Mint. There was an incident as a child involving a days long ride in an old dodge van in 100+ degree weather while cramped in like a sardine between various family members chewing mint gum in the heat while being violently car sick. and now i have a mint aversion. Can't stand the smell or taste of it. Also, lavender, it smells like itchy musty dust to me and now that i'm thinking of it, i'm fairly certain that probably means i'm allergic.
WindySwede 1 year ago
Or drinking to much Minttu in uni. Could jot brush teath for days without feeling like close to puking! minttu-pep...ipullo.jpg 
#34
Some people love the smell of the sea. To me it smells like old rotting fish.
Emma London 1 year ago
It depends on how much seaweed is on it, and how oxygenated the water is. Can be fresh, can smell like rot.
#35
Fruit perfume 🤮🤮🤮.
#36
Star anise - I have some in my pantry for certain recipes and it's locked away tightly in a jar.
#37
Hay. My mom grew up on a farm and she loves the smell. I'm allergic (so is she).
#39
Asiago cheese. I used to LOVE it. Once upon a time ago Ruby Tuesdays had an Asiago Peppercorn steak that was a favorite...and then one night I developed a stomach virus after having it for lunch. Now I can't smell it without my stomach turning.
CaliCoast 1 year ago
It's such a bummer when a bad cold or virus taints your love for a favorite food. My daughter used to love Hawaiian pizza but unfortunately ate some right before getting sick with the flu. She always associate the two and hasn't eaten it since. Please, no Hawaiian pizza hate. I still miss sharing it with her....fond distant memories.
#40
I hate the smell of food cooking and hangs around the house for days I don't know how people cook daily for big families yet keep a nice smelling home.
What do you think ?
DB 1 year ago
Weed. Especially when it gets into people's clothes, and they act like they can't smell it.
María Hermida 1 year ago
Actually, they can't smell it. Your nose "gets used" to a smell after a while, and you stop smelling it. That's the reason why some people stink of their favourite perfume. If they use it every day they can't smell it as much as the rest of us.
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Trillian 1 year ago
Fried bacon. I really don't like bacon and the smell makes me queasy. I remember when I was pregnant with my youngest I was eating breakfast in a hotel and I sat next to the open kitchen door. I just glimpsed someone emptying a huge bowl of bacon into a pan before I grabbed my coffe and ran.
Mike F 1 year ago
You would have starved in our house growing up. Bacon was an every day breakfast food. And, there was a cup of bacon grease kept on the stove for making biscuits. Gosh I miss those days.
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DB 1 year ago
Weed. Especially when it gets into people's clothes, and they act like they can't smell it.
María Hermida 1 year ago
Actually, they can't smell it. Your nose "gets used" to a smell after a while, and you stop smelling it. That's the reason why some people stink of their favourite perfume. If they use it every day they can't smell it as much as the rest of us.
Load More Replies... Trillian 1 year ago
Fried bacon. I really don't like bacon and the smell makes me queasy. I remember when I was pregnant with my youngest I was eating breakfast in a hotel and I sat next to the open kitchen door. I just glimpsed someone emptying a huge bowl of bacon into a pan before I grabbed my coffe and ran.
Mike F 1 year ago
You would have starved in our house growing up. Bacon was an every day breakfast food. And, there was a cup of bacon grease kept on the stove for making biscuits. Gosh I miss those days.
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