Top 20 weird smells ’embarrassed’ Brits admit enjoying from wet dogs to manure

BRITS’ favourite weird smells have been revealed – as some admit they are ’embarrassed’ to enjoy the odour of wet dogs and manure.

A poll of 2,000 adults found others have an affection towards the scent of rain, the ‘new car’ smell, and newspaper pages.

Other popular aromas include shoe polish, pet food, and TCP antiseptic cream.

But a fifth confess they’re sometimes embarrassed about their love of odd smells, which also include cigarette smoke and cat breath.

To celebrate the uniquely popular scent of ‘new car’, Fred Sirieix has teamed up with automotive platform for new and used cars Auto Trader, to create a list of distinctive scent profiles for various car brands.

The smelling notes are said to “capture the essence of each brand, from the earthy richness of Land Rover, to the nostalgic blend of British oak and tobacco leaf in Vauxhall.”

The First Dates star said: “Some people might not like to admit that they enjoy unusual scents.

“But taste is subjective, and one person’s rose might be another’s seaweed – we don’t like to judge.

“If people are getting their joy from the aroma of a brand new car, who are we to say they are wrong?”

The study also found 21 per cent would also like the ‘new car smell’ to last for the entire time they owned their new vehicle.

Additionally, a quarter said they would purchase an electric car to avoid fuel smells with 14 per cent also going electric to have the ‘new car smell’ last longer.

And 31 per cent strongly dislike– when that smell starts to dissipate.

The study also found 47 per cent of adults have a link between an odd smell and a positive memory.

While 63 per cent claim smells can have an influence on their mood, and 45 per cent can even be encouraged to buy something if it’s got the right aroma.

Brits are also far more likely to prefer natural scents to those made synthetically (68 per cent compared to just five per cent).

Citrus scents were voted the best smell category by 34 per cent, followed by woody (33 per cent) and floral (32 per cent) aromas.

It also emerged 46 per cent of those who took part in the study by OnePoll.com associate certain smells with people they’ve met, and 63 per cent can be transported back to a childhood holiday just by a scent in their nostrils.

Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, added: “People often find themselves drawn to unusual scents because they evoke strong emotions or memories.

“When you hear the term ‘new car smell’, you can instantly imagine what that smells like.

“It’s a very evocative smell that can bring joy, pride and relief the moment you step into your new vehicle and we had a lot of fun trying to pinpoint exactly what those smells are with the help of Fred’s discerning nose.”

Fred Sirieix’s bespoke smelling notes for new cars

Renault – Combining comfort and style, Renault brings out fresh mountain breeze fortified by warmer tones of aromatic embers, complemented by soft textures of sandalwood and clean pine needles.

Ford – Imploring an athletic design, Ford’s focused interior styling is exploding with earthy oak hues, stabilised by the refreshing herbal notes of fresh-cut grass and lighter flower blossoms.

Hyundai – Hyundai’s design philosophy of “Sensuous Sportiness,” brings vibrant mix of sweet apricot and clean cotton, moderated by the warmth of honey and vanilla with subtle exposure to notes of polished metal.

Land Rover – Designed to encompass revolutionary luxury, Land Rover maximises the unique polished metal aromatics with a robust fusion of rich leather and cedarwood, accented by the fresh scent of rain-soaked wood and a hint of wildflowers from the open countryside.

Audi – Based on Audi’s urbansphere design concept creating “a lounge on wheels”, the complex smell notes feature undertones of pine with subtle hints of black pepper and cedarwood, alluding to earthy tones that are cut through by the scent of clean metal.

BMW – With the immaculate BMW Individual fine-grain ‘Merino’ leather used, this creates an aroma of lighter, sweeter citrus-like hibiscus notes, grounded by the smokier feel of candle wax and hints of rich leather.

Vauxhall – Built to be bold and pure, Vauxhall paints a nostalgic blend of liquorice and smoky tobacco leaf, with brighter notes of eucalyptus and the calming scent of beeswax.

Mercedes-Benz – Iconically desirable and aesthetically appealing, Mercedes-Benz embraces luxury with rich senses of suede with deep undertones of hazelnut and vanilla, lifted by the subtle sweetness of lavender and a whisper of freshly cut hay.