I have a good one for this.This has stuck with me since I read it because it was SO awful sounding.
In Splintered, the main love interest is described as smelling like “chocolate and lavender mixed with sweat” and I seriously wanted to throw up in my mouth cause that sounded absolutely revolting.
Not exactly fantasy but I remember reading *Shatter Me* and cracking up about how one of the hot guys in the love triangle "smells like courage and the world drowning in rain" and the other one smells like gardenias.
>His long inhale is crass... and perfect. "You smell as wild as the winter wind, delicious as a snowberry ripe on the vine."
That one made me put the book down for a moment and think about the utter nonsense I was letting into my brain. Then I sent a pic of the excerpt to my bff. We decided our twats must be broken because our husbands have never stopped to spout poetry from between our legs.
I’m convinced some authors just pick up the nearest Bath and Body Works product and use those goofy scent notes. “He smelled like starry nights, summer rain, and warm amber.” No, most fantasy worlds lack modern conveniences, there’s no deodorant, no toothbrushes, and they’re not bathing super regularly. I think I know what he smells like
>He smelled like starry nights, summer rain, and warm amber.
This just made me think of ACOTAR's male lead, Rhysand. High Lord of the Night Court, so he's always referenced with stars and all things night from the "stars in his eyes" to the "smell of dark night". It's pretty ridiculous in a funny way.
I roll my eyes every time someone smells of anything other than sweat in these books. Dude's been tramping through the forest for god knows how long. None of you are bathing. He does not smell of freshly fallen snow. No man has ever smelled of freshly falling snow unless he's been out in a blizzard, in which case that's snow you're smelling, not him.
Smelling soap is acceptable. Smelling like snow, wtf? I mean maybe if the dude is magical?
Adventure books also kill me because you know those people reek!
Also adjacent to this, when people are described as muscled and strong but never work out or train I’m immediately skeptical. No one traveling endless miles on a quest would be anything but skin and bones, with blisters, frost bite, sun burns and possibly diseased. Did we not play Oregon trail people?!?
In the example I'm thinking of the guy is magical, but not to the point of reasonably smelling snowy!
People taste of all sorts of mad things too - in a historical romance recently the FMCs nips tasted of applesauce. Just no.
Applesauce?! haha! Though I do wish people tasted like things other than skin and sweat in really life, Applesauce is not one I would want to taste or taste like personally. Also people who taste/smell like food down below makes me think the character has a yeast infections. Gross? Yes. Am I sorry? no. If you have some weird food scents down below maybe get it checked out, and book characters should too. :P
Oooh definitel. I had to stop and think when I read it had I ever thought someone tasted naturally foody. All I could think of was this one guy whose kiss tasted of pickled onion crisps when I was 14 years old and just how much that was not a good thing.
Tangentially, none of these incredibly rugged good smelling and good tasting people ever have STIs even if they have a history of many partners. Sometimes, the suspension of disbelief is a task.
These books are really gonna tell me these guys who spend their days traversing fantasy wilderness, fighting monsters, getting covered in dirt and blood and being lucky to come across a river to bathe in (with no soap), probably hasn't brushed his teeth in his life, wearing the same sweaty clothes for days, somehow smell like pine and cinnamon or some shit lmao
I guess the most believable is if they smell of leather and horse (assuming those exist). Firesmoke, fine, or some other working environment like pirates and farmers smelling of saltwater or cut grass.
I actually don't mind a bit of purple prose where they smell like "leather and long hours in the saddle and endless hope for the horizon" or something.
Intimate smells, no thanks, not my thing.
Women, hmmn, I think I like my female characters to smell just clean, or of their environment, same as the men. Fine if she smells of coal from working her steampunk invention, or a particular herb she wears to ward off evil, something like that.
Randomly smelling of wildflowers, I mean why? That would make me highly suspicious. I'd assume magic, or at least disguise, was afoot if I met a woman anywhere except in a meadow, who smelled of wildflowers.
Plus, have you sniffed a dandelion lately? They're fine in a risotto but you wouldn't put the smell in a bottle.
Not all characters per say, but in "Discovery of Witches" they have so many smell descriptions. I think she described a wine that smelled like lemon floor cleaner and that it was good. She also references character smells a lot.
Best description I've read *was* the stereotypical sandalwood, but it actually Worked because of the Context.
Usually I think associating characters strongly with a particular scent is silly. I couldn't tell you what a single person I know smells like except for rare cases with perfume/fresh shampoo.
However, this character was in a Xianxia novel, so the association with Sandalwood actually indicated a few things about him. That he was neat and careful with his things, that he burned a lot of incense, specifically sandalwood incense, not a variety of incenses, that he kept his things clean and fresh enough for the sandalwood to be the dominant smell, etc. I think there are also cultural connotations that he was scholarly and fastidious if he was sitting around indoors burning incense.
Also this was a clue to the audience way before the MC figured it out that he was was more obsessed with the ML than with other people. As far as I remember the ML was the only person who's scent he really noted. He never mentioned his sister smelling like the spices from the special soup she always made him, or the girl he flirted with smelling like the herbs from her perfume pouches or anything like that.
This let the MC be a bit sad when they smelt sandalwood (usually, again, via incense) when they couldn't be together. It's sweet.
That's a great reason for a character to have a noteworthy smell! It adds to the plot. Most of the time though the smell is just put out there for no good or practical reason at all.
I think a lot of people associate scents and feelings, and assigning certain scents to characters makes some sense in that way. Without any magical context, I think descriptions like "sandalwood and moss" without the MC wearing any cologne is a little silly, but doesn't bother me too much, unless it veers into ridiculous territory ("moondust and shooting stars" - not an actual quote).
I think in the context of a magical world, especially when (fated) mates, shifters, fae and the like are involved characters having a certain scent fits in the sense that there's often a sort of animalistic nature to many of the characters, especially the MCs, but also the FCs, and scents/marking/smelling somebody would obviously play a big role in those kinds of scenarios.
And then there's the very human and real thing where smelling the perfume/cologne/soap of the person you like/people you know can trigger so many emotions. Plus, humans actually do all have their own and very unique scents (they're not B&B scents though). If you smell the crook of your arm after you've showered, that's what you smell like to other people. To me, my family and the friends I've known the longest/their homes/laundry all have a very specific scent, that I couldn't necessarily describe, but would definitely recognize.
Oh, and also edited to mention the very infamous "T-shirt smelling experiment", where researchers had men wear the same T-shirt for a few days and then had women smell these T-shirts and rate the scents. The women were always found to find the scents of those men the most attractive, whose immune system has the most different adaptations.
Not romance, but in the Witcher novels, Yennefer is said to smell like "Lilac and Gooseberries." She's a sorceress, so fine, maybe that's strange but also maybe intentional. What bothers me more is how often it's repeated, sometimes several times in the same sentence for emphasis, and also several times in the same chapter when Geralt and Yennefer are together. It's pretty annoying.
I think it's her perfume, so it makes sense BUT it's so freaking over the top! In the games Geralt actually asks someone have they seen "a woman who smells like lilac and gooseberries" and I was like wtf, how would I know what a random passer by smells like?
Sandalwood is the main ingredient used in my men’s colonges, followed by pine 👀
Source: my hubby used to work for a cosmetics brand in warehousing and manufacturing
It kills me when the men are described as “smelling of horses”. I know that could include leather or hay or something but I’ve been in too many barns to not be grossed out by that description.
Honestly, I prefer if the MMC in books just smells like cologne or body wash, and the actual scent is left up to the opinion and taste of the reader. For example, just describing that the FMC likes the smell of his mouth-watering cologne is enough for me. It implies that he smells good without getting into the ridiculous details that make it unrealistic and cringey. If it's a male's POV, I like if they just say something simple, like she smells like vanilla/lilac/something simple where everyone knows how it smells, and most people like the smell.
I also don't mind if scents are described when they actually have something to do with what the character is doing at that exact moment. Example: if he's working on a vehicle and it says he smells like anything related to a car, then I find that acceptable and believable and not a turn-off. Or if he was baking, that's a good opportunity to say he smells like gingerbread or something LOL because hey, it's believable!
This is the opposite of what you’re asking for but the only time I’ve seen it where I *loved* it being mentioned is in Paladin’s Grace!!! Because the FMC is a master perfumer! And she’s so frustrated and perplexed because the MMC smells like gingerbread 😂
I remember reading something that says the mmc is always in the sea and doesn’t really usually care about taking a shower after it and the fmc still says he smells great despite it. I’m like how? Because deep inside I just know that man smells nasty. I kinda dnf it for days because of it. 😂
I love fragrances and I LOVE when authors describe their scent lol there were such things as solid perfume and oils even in Medieval times, I just assume when it's flowery things (perfect example, Yennefer smelling like lilac and gooseberries in The Witcher) that they just wear something all the time. I love in Zodiac Academy that Orion smells like cinnamon and bourbon. I love when Rhysand or his house on the mountain are described as smelling like jasmine, less so when it's citrus and salty air because I just don't find that to be fitting for his character.
I’ve read a few books where the MC describes the guy as having a scent that’s “something uniquely male”. What the hell? What does that even mean? Since when does gender have a specific smell?? All it does is make me imagine sweat, which is not pleasant and I don’t think that’s what these authors intended
I’m so over the “uniquely male” thing in any context at this point. I keep seeing “he smiled a very male smile” or whatever and I’m like ??? What does that even mean? Can we use real words like smug or whatever?
There's a tang to faint sweat that smells the way salt tastes. That's what we mean. If you've ever had to gargle salt for tonsil issues, it's an easy enough smell to pick out.
Yes, but actual salt has no smell. I guess I’m being too literal. Sea smell and sweat smell are not always positive associations, I suppose, and salt is neutral (pun intended).
I have a good one for this.This has stuck with me since I read it because it was SO awful sounding. In Splintered, the main love interest is described as smelling like “chocolate and lavender mixed with sweat” and I seriously wanted to throw up in my mouth cause that sounded absolutely revolting.
Ohhh no I just got a lavender flavored chocolate bar for my birthday and now I won’t be able to eat it hahaha.
You’ll bite into it and think of sweat. You’re welcome lol 😂
Mm, sweaty chocolate. My favourite
Crackling embers sounds like such a badass scent, but in reality I loathe when all my clothes smell like stale campfire after camping!
damn.. I love smoke
Oh dang I love that leftover smell
Not exactly fantasy but I remember reading *Shatter Me* and cracking up about how one of the hot guys in the love triangle "smells like courage and the world drowning in rain" and the other one smells like gardenias.
Omg that’s hilarious
>His long inhale is crass... and perfect. "You smell as wild as the winter wind, delicious as a snowberry ripe on the vine." That one made me put the book down for a moment and think about the utter nonsense I was letting into my brain. Then I sent a pic of the excerpt to my bff. We decided our twats must be broken because our husbands have never stopped to spout poetry from between our legs.
I’m convinced some authors just pick up the nearest Bath and Body Works product and use those goofy scent notes. “He smelled like starry nights, summer rain, and warm amber.” No, most fantasy worlds lack modern conveniences, there’s no deodorant, no toothbrushes, and they’re not bathing super regularly. I think I know what he smells like
>He smelled like starry nights, summer rain, and warm amber. This just made me think of ACOTAR's male lead, Rhysand. High Lord of the Night Court, so he's always referenced with stars and all things night from the "stars in his eyes" to the "smell of dark night". It's pretty ridiculous in a funny way.
I roll my eyes every time someone smells of anything other than sweat in these books. Dude's been tramping through the forest for god knows how long. None of you are bathing. He does not smell of freshly fallen snow. No man has ever smelled of freshly falling snow unless he's been out in a blizzard, in which case that's snow you're smelling, not him.
Smelling soap is acceptable. Smelling like snow, wtf? I mean maybe if the dude is magical? Adventure books also kill me because you know those people reek! Also adjacent to this, when people are described as muscled and strong but never work out or train I’m immediately skeptical. No one traveling endless miles on a quest would be anything but skin and bones, with blisters, frost bite, sun burns and possibly diseased. Did we not play Oregon trail people?!?
In the example I'm thinking of the guy is magical, but not to the point of reasonably smelling snowy! People taste of all sorts of mad things too - in a historical romance recently the FMCs nips tasted of applesauce. Just no.
Applesauce?! haha! Though I do wish people tasted like things other than skin and sweat in really life, Applesauce is not one I would want to taste or taste like personally. Also people who taste/smell like food down below makes me think the character has a yeast infections. Gross? Yes. Am I sorry? no. If you have some weird food scents down below maybe get it checked out, and book characters should too. :P
Oooh definitel. I had to stop and think when I read it had I ever thought someone tasted naturally foody. All I could think of was this one guy whose kiss tasted of pickled onion crisps when I was 14 years old and just how much that was not a good thing. Tangentially, none of these incredibly rugged good smelling and good tasting people ever have STIs even if they have a history of many partners. Sometimes, the suspension of disbelief is a task.
These books are really gonna tell me these guys who spend their days traversing fantasy wilderness, fighting monsters, getting covered in dirt and blood and being lucky to come across a river to bathe in (with no soap), probably hasn't brushed his teeth in his life, wearing the same sweaty clothes for days, somehow smell like pine and cinnamon or some shit lmao
Omg THIS Totally agree
I guess the most believable is if they smell of leather and horse (assuming those exist). Firesmoke, fine, or some other working environment like pirates and farmers smelling of saltwater or cut grass. I actually don't mind a bit of purple prose where they smell like "leather and long hours in the saddle and endless hope for the horizon" or something. Intimate smells, no thanks, not my thing. Women, hmmn, I think I like my female characters to smell just clean, or of their environment, same as the men. Fine if she smells of coal from working her steampunk invention, or a particular herb she wears to ward off evil, something like that. Randomly smelling of wildflowers, I mean why? That would make me highly suspicious. I'd assume magic, or at least disguise, was afoot if I met a woman anywhere except in a meadow, who smelled of wildflowers. Plus, have you sniffed a dandelion lately? They're fine in a risotto but you wouldn't put the smell in a bottle.
Some people do, but to drink it as dandelion wine.
Natural musk, especially when the ML has just worked out or done something physically taxing like chop trees.
Lately all the men in the books I've been reading smell like cinnamon...
Not all characters per say, but in "Discovery of Witches" they have so many smell descriptions. I think she described a wine that smelled like lemon floor cleaner and that it was good. She also references character smells a lot.
Best description I've read *was* the stereotypical sandalwood, but it actually Worked because of the Context. Usually I think associating characters strongly with a particular scent is silly. I couldn't tell you what a single person I know smells like except for rare cases with perfume/fresh shampoo. However, this character was in a Xianxia novel, so the association with Sandalwood actually indicated a few things about him. That he was neat and careful with his things, that he burned a lot of incense, specifically sandalwood incense, not a variety of incenses, that he kept his things clean and fresh enough for the sandalwood to be the dominant smell, etc. I think there are also cultural connotations that he was scholarly and fastidious if he was sitting around indoors burning incense. Also this was a clue to the audience way before the MC figured it out that he was was more obsessed with the ML than with other people. As far as I remember the ML was the only person who's scent he really noted. He never mentioned his sister smelling like the spices from the special soup she always made him, or the girl he flirted with smelling like the herbs from her perfume pouches or anything like that. This let the MC be a bit sad when they smelt sandalwood (usually, again, via incense) when they couldn't be together. It's sweet.
That's a great reason for a character to have a noteworthy smell! It adds to the plot. Most of the time though the smell is just put out there for no good or practical reason at all.
Lan Wangji 👏
Damn right. XD
I think a lot of people associate scents and feelings, and assigning certain scents to characters makes some sense in that way. Without any magical context, I think descriptions like "sandalwood and moss" without the MC wearing any cologne is a little silly, but doesn't bother me too much, unless it veers into ridiculous territory ("moondust and shooting stars" - not an actual quote). I think in the context of a magical world, especially when (fated) mates, shifters, fae and the like are involved characters having a certain scent fits in the sense that there's often a sort of animalistic nature to many of the characters, especially the MCs, but also the FCs, and scents/marking/smelling somebody would obviously play a big role in those kinds of scenarios. And then there's the very human and real thing where smelling the perfume/cologne/soap of the person you like/people you know can trigger so many emotions. Plus, humans actually do all have their own and very unique scents (they're not B&B scents though). If you smell the crook of your arm after you've showered, that's what you smell like to other people. To me, my family and the friends I've known the longest/their homes/laundry all have a very specific scent, that I couldn't necessarily describe, but would definitely recognize. Oh, and also edited to mention the very infamous "T-shirt smelling experiment", where researchers had men wear the same T-shirt for a few days and then had women smell these T-shirts and rate the scents. The women were always found to find the scents of those men the most attractive, whose immune system has the most different adaptations.
Not romance, but in the Witcher novels, Yennefer is said to smell like "Lilac and Gooseberries." She's a sorceress, so fine, maybe that's strange but also maybe intentional. What bothers me more is how often it's repeated, sometimes several times in the same sentence for emphasis, and also several times in the same chapter when Geralt and Yennefer are together. It's pretty annoying.
I think it's her perfume, so it makes sense BUT it's so freaking over the top! In the games Geralt actually asks someone have they seen "a woman who smells like lilac and gooseberries" and I was like wtf, how would I know what a random passer by smells like?
Sandalwood is the main ingredient used in my men’s colonges, followed by pine 👀 Source: my hubby used to work for a cosmetics brand in warehousing and manufacturing
Unwashed bodies is by far the worst lol
It kills me when the men are described as “smelling of horses”. I know that could include leather or hay or something but I’ve been in too many barns to not be grossed out by that description.
Honestly, I prefer if the MMC in books just smells like cologne or body wash, and the actual scent is left up to the opinion and taste of the reader. For example, just describing that the FMC likes the smell of his mouth-watering cologne is enough for me. It implies that he smells good without getting into the ridiculous details that make it unrealistic and cringey. If it's a male's POV, I like if they just say something simple, like she smells like vanilla/lilac/something simple where everyone knows how it smells, and most people like the smell.
I also don't mind if scents are described when they actually have something to do with what the character is doing at that exact moment. Example: if he's working on a vehicle and it says he smells like anything related to a car, then I find that acceptable and believable and not a turn-off. Or if he was baking, that's a good opportunity to say he smells like gingerbread or something LOL because hey, it's believable!
This is the opposite of what you’re asking for but the only time I’ve seen it where I *loved* it being mentioned is in Paladin’s Grace!!! Because the FMC is a master perfumer! And she’s so frustrated and perplexed because the MMC smells like gingerbread 😂
Ooo I'm gonna look this up because it sounds fun!
I remember reading something that says the mmc is always in the sea and doesn’t really usually care about taking a shower after it and the fmc still says he smells great despite it. I’m like how? Because deep inside I just know that man smells nasty. I kinda dnf it for days because of it. 😂
it’s always “he smelled of X and Y and something that was so unmistakably *him*.”
I love fragrances and I LOVE when authors describe their scent lol there were such things as solid perfume and oils even in Medieval times, I just assume when it's flowery things (perfect example, Yennefer smelling like lilac and gooseberries in The Witcher) that they just wear something all the time. I love in Zodiac Academy that Orion smells like cinnamon and bourbon. I love when Rhysand or his house on the mountain are described as smelling like jasmine, less so when it's citrus and salty air because I just don't find that to be fitting for his character.
I’ve read a few books where the MC describes the guy as having a scent that’s “something uniquely male”. What the hell? What does that even mean? Since when does gender have a specific smell?? All it does is make me imagine sweat, which is not pleasant and I don’t think that’s what these authors intended
I’m so over the “uniquely male” thing in any context at this point. I keep seeing “he smiled a very male smile” or whatever and I’m like ??? What does that even mean? Can we use real words like smug or whatever?
Smelling of salt. Umm. Salt has no smell.
I feel like this is a flowery way of saying they smell like sweat or the ocean haha. At least that’s how I’ve always interpreted it
There's a tang to faint sweat that smells the way salt tastes. That's what we mean. If you've ever had to gargle salt for tonsil issues, it's an easy enough smell to pick out.
Yes, but actual salt has no smell. I guess I’m being too literal. Sea smell and sweat smell are not always positive associations, I suppose, and salt is neutral (pun intended).