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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.

More info: Reddit

#1

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Seafood. Easily the most revolting smell ever IMHO. Yes, even fresh seafood in a top notch restaurant makes me gag.

ProbablySatirical , Terje Sollie Report

#2

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Incense, it tends to give me a headache.

aRabidGerbil , Caroline Attwood Report

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whineygingercat
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#3

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Those pine tree thingy air fresheners? they make me feel nauseous.

frailmobility , David Guerrero Report

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Mike F
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get a whiff of "black ice", you'll fill your nasal cavities with pine.

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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.

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#4

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Patchouli.

ZodiacRedux , Tara Winstead Report

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to old to care
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3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have another one - Lavender, can't stand that scent. (oops should have scrolled down farther.)

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#5

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Avon perfume from the 1970s that old women drench themselves in before heading to the grocery store.

soylentdna , Karolina Kaboompics Report

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Reset Game
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#6

Ripe bananas. Cloying near rotten fruity sweetness mixed solventy volatiles.

psilome Report

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

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) That goddamn cucumber melon lotion that *every girl on earth* used in the early 2000's.

OxytocinDeficiency , Linda Prebreza Report

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GlitterPanda
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how dare you come for the scent that defined our adolescence!!!

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#8

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) 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.

Isitgum , Baraa Jalahej Report

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#9

Bath and Body Works. Thanks for ruining this section of the mall a******s. 


Lush gets an honorable mention. .

Finchypoo Report

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?

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#10

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Pumpkin scented candles 🤢.

scarlett_wonder_9540 , Vlada Karpovich Report

#11

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Vanilla scented candles and lotions etc. The winter holiday season is a plague on my senses. QQ.

OolongPeachTea , Sherise Van Dyk Report

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Brenda
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3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love vanilla scent, but most are using artificial vanilla scent which gives me a headache. Real vanilla is harder to find and more expensive, so I usually make my own. I prefer it mixed with other scents, like cinnamon

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#12

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Coins and wet metal. It makes me shutter to even think about it.

Wifey_snowflake , Anthony Report

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...

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#13

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Rose scented anything.

g00gly-eyes , Pixabay Report

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LadyRougarou
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fake rose fragrance is the worst imo I absolutely cannot stand it or lavender 🤮

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#14

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) New car smell, cant stand it.

ABitchForSalt , Mike Bird Report

#15

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Powered Parmesan cheese smells like vomit to me.

Slight_Sherbert_5239 , Pixabay Report

#16

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Air freshener in a bathroom! For the love of God, just turn on the fan or open the door or the window!

SassySoul_Xoxo , Alesia Kozik Report

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XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#17

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Lillies smell like death to me.

Extra_Flower6958 , Tomas Williams Report

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Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Britain, they were considered a flower only for funerals. It was quite the insult to give someone lilies, especially if they were old.

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#20

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) 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.

Nerdy_Nightowl , Annie Spratt Report

#21

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Any liquor smell tbh.

ArgoverseComics , Dylan de Jonge Report

#22

Truffles. They smell like hobo feet.

ElectronFossil Report

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Serena Myers
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having never smelt the feet of a hobo, I wouldn't know, perhaps OP should clarify?

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#23

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) 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.

Artistic_Arugula_906 , Kai-Chieh Chan Report

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#24

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) 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.

EdithWhartonsFarts , Ochir-Erdene Oyunmedeg Report

#25

Babies they smell like s**t.

CandidEmergency8687 Report

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Lil Miss Hobbit
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no! Have you ever held a freshly-bathed baby wrapped in a towel?! They smell amazing.

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#26

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Anything that smells too sweet tends to make me nauseous. Eating it usually isn’t a problem, though.

UsefulIdiot85 , Foodie Factor Report

#27

“What’s A Smell That Most People Consider To Be Good But You Find Repulsive?” (30 Answers) Cooked eggs.

Sylvergirl , Mikhail Nilov Report

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Angela C
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no issue with the smell of eggs themselves but as soon as you go to wash the pan and you get hit with that wet egg smell (scrambled eggs are the worst for this)... Ugh

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#30

Cumin.

busty-shortcake Report

Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.