History Main / HumansAreSmelly

** When Marco and Jake morph dogs in book 10, there’s an inversion: they easily notice Erek, who’s a robot with a human hologram, because unlike actual humans, Erek has no smell.

** #35: The Extreme'' has a InvertedTrope. Cassie, in fly morph, says that [[BigBad Visser Three]] would stink to a human, but her fly brain thinks he smells pretty good.
** Upon meeting the [[ProudMerchantRace Ishkoort]], one tries to swindle them by yelling "You stink horribly! Let me cleanse you!" He doesn't make the sale.

** When Marco and Jake morph dogs in book 11, there’s an inversion: they easily notice Erek, who’s a robot with a human hologram, because unlike actual humans, Erek has no smell.

* ''WebVideo/BackstrokeOfTheWest'', the RecursiveTranslation GagDub of ''StarWars Episode III: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', has General Grievous refer to Anakin as a "smelly boy".

* In ''Film/GreenLantern'' Kilowog sniffs Hal Jordan, loud and long, before remarking: "You smell funny."

** The Imga, a minor race of intelligent "ape men," consider the races of Men to be beneath them, copying their [[OurElvesAreDifferemt Altmeri (High Elf)]] idols, and pretend to find their smell offensive. They wear {{Pimped Out Cape}}s at all times, with one perfumed corner which they hold over their noses when humans are around.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' reveals that humans smell bad to Vulcans, and that T'Pol has had to take medications to desensitize her, though this may be justified as it is specifically the females who think humans stink, while the other Vulcan main characters have been male.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures InHarmonyWithNature, to whose senses our natural body odour isn't offensive -- but the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour absolutely are.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures InHarmonyWithNature, to whose senses our natural body odour isn't offensive -- but the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour absolutely is.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures InHarmonyWithNature. The logic being that while our natural body odour doesn't offend their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour absolutely does.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures linked closely with nature, such as TheFairFolk. The logic being that while our natural body odour doesn't offend their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour absolutely does.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures linked closely with nature, such as TheFairFolk. The logic being that while our natural body odour isn't much of an offense to their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour absolutely does.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures linked closely with nature, such as TheFairFolk. The logic being that while our natural body odour isn't much of an offense to their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour makes us smell like a [[WalkingWasteland walking chemical spill]] to them.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures linked closely with nature, such as TheFairFolk; supposedly because while our natural body odour isn't much of an offense to their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask said odour makes us smell like a [[WalkingWasteland walking chemical spill]].

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. In fact, when this trope is in play, it's not unusual for a subversion to be introduced by having non-human entities find the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human. This is especially common when dealing with creatures linked closely with nature, such as TheFairFolk; supposedly because while our natural body odour aren't much of an offense to their senses, the artificial and industrially-made chemicals we use to mask it make us smell like a [[WalkingWasteland walking chemical spill]].

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen.[[note]]In fact, it makes a little sense, and it's been done often enough, to introduce a subversion where an alien finds the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human.[[\note]] Compare CallAHumanAMeatbag, another example of humans' biological processes being the basis of an insult, and HumansAreUgly, which is based on humans' appearance rather than smell. In literal cases, may cross with StinkSnub.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen.[[Note]]In fact, it makes a little sense, and it's been done often enough, to introduce a subversion where an alien finds the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human.[[\note]] Compare CallAHumanAMeatbag, another example of humans' biological processes being the basis of an insult, and HumansAreUgly, which is based on humans' appearance rather than smell. In literal cases, may cross with StinkSnub.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigPen. (In fact, it makes a little sense, and it's been done often enough, to introduce a subversion where an alien finds the Pig-Pen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human.) Compare CallAHumanAMeatbag, another example of humans' biological processes being the basis of an insult, and HumansAreUgly, which is based on humans' appearance rather than smell. In literal cases, may cross with StinkSnub.

** The Imga, a minor race of intelligent "ape men," consider the races of Men to be beneath them, copying their [[OurElvesAreBetter Altmeri (High Elf)]] idols, and pretend to find their smell offensive. They wear {{Pimped Out Cape}}s at all times, with one perfumed corner which they hold over their noses when humans are around.

* An exchange between Dorian and Iron Bull in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' gives us the Qunari perspective.

* Related, humans aren't very tasty to most predators (smell does play a part in taste). One of the more famous examples is that of the Great White Shark which has been known to attack humans because they resemble seals when swimming. Great Whites first go for a "nibble" to inflict a serious (often fatal) wound before a more violent kill. When nibbling a human, the shark realizes that we are not seal and do not continue with the follow-up attack because it hates the way we taste. Part of the reason why there are so few deaths from shark attacks is the "nibble" is usually quite treatable and with prompt medical attention, one can live a normal healthy life (though missing limbs are not uncommon). In fact, most apex predators do not hunt humans and will stay away from them. Most animal attacks are the result of animals feeling threatened by humans or humans provoking the animal. There are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-eater exceptions]] to this general rule, however.

Note that for this trope to apply, it applies to ''all'' humans and not just ThePigpen. (In fact, it makes a little sense, and it's been done often enough, to introduce a subversion where an alien finds the Pigpen's smell of decay to be more pleasant than the smell of an average human.) Compare CallAHumanAMeatbag, another example of humans' biological processes being the basis of an insult, and HumansAreUgly, which is based on humans' appearance rather than smell. In literal cases, may cross with StinkSnub.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', it is taken as given, among humans, that goblins smell foul and repugnant. In ''Discworld/RaisingSteam'', Moist von Lipwig realises that from a goblin's point of view, humans smell pretty ripely too.

* [[TheFightingNarcissist Sunstreaker]] in ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersMegaseries Transformers: Infiltration]]'' complains about how disgusting humans are due to the amount of dead skin cells and sweat they constantly excrete.

->''"I ''hate'' this place. This zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it, I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell...if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can ''taste'' your stink and every time I do, I fear that I've somehow been infected by it. It's repulsive!"''

* [[TheFightingNarcissist Sunstreaker]] in ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersMegaseries Transformers: Infiltration]] complains about how disgusting humans are due to the amount of dead skin cells and sweat they constantly excrete.

** After Calvin turns himself into an owl with his transmogrification gun, Hobbes says he might be better off, and when Calvin asks why, Hobbes replies, "Well, I never knew quite how to say this, but little boys don't smell very good..." This may have less to do with Calvin's species than his aversion to bathing.
** Ironically, owls are noteworthy for being very insensitive to certain bad smells, especially that of the notorious skunk.
** And in another two strips, Hobbes tells him that he has unique words for different smells, such as "snippid" for burning leaves. When Calvin asks what the word for his smell is, Hobbes can't resist saying "terrible", causing Calvin to chase after him.

* In ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'', San expresses disgust at smelling "like a human" after interacting with Ashitaka. The gods and spirits refer to human scent as a "stink" or "stench."

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E11Utopia "Utopia"]], the Tenth Doctor refers to the "ripe old smell of humans" while inside the bunker.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* ''WebVideo/BackstrokeOfTheWest'', the RecursiveTranslation GagDub of ''StarWars Episode III: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', has General Grievous refer to Anakin as a "smelly boy".

* He brings it up again in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'':

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsResistance'': In [[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E11Bibo "Bibo"]], when Kaz (human) complains about the terrible smell of the title character, the new pet of Neeku (Nikto), Neeku retorts that he prefers Bibo's "natural musk" to the way Kaz smells, causing him to feel self-conscious and Tam (also human) to laugh.

* Related, humans aren't very tasty to most predators (smell does play a part in taste). One of the more famous examples is that of the Great White Shark which has been known to attack humans because they resemble seals when swimming. Great Whites first go for a "nibble" to inflict a serious (often fatal) wound before a more violent kill. When nibbling a human, the shark realizes that we are not seal and do not continue with the follow up attack because it hates the way we taste. Part of the reason why there are so few deaths from shark attacks is the "nibble" is usually quite treatable and with prompt medical attention, one can live a normal healthy life (though missing limbs are not uncommon). In fact, most apex predators do not hunt humans and will stay away from them. Most animal attacks are the result of animals feeling threatened by humans or humans provoking the animal. There are [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-eater exceptions]] to this general rule, however.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Tenth Doctor once referred to the "ripe old smell of humans".

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsResistance'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E11Bibo Bibo]]", when Kaz (human) complains about the terrible smell of the title character, the new pet of Neeku (Nikto), Neeku retorts that he prefers Bibo's "natural musk" to the way Kaz smells, causing him to feel self-conscious and Tam (also human) to laugh.