Comments on: Other than hope

Question: Other than hope

boy detective — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:52:59 -0800

What does Barack Obama smell like?

Despite the creepy and irrelevant nature of this inquiry, I am genuinely curious to know. Pine? Pencil shavings? I want a composite scent based on hard facts. It cannot be an impossible task; he is extremely famous and daily comes into contact with thousands of people who have functioning aural facilities.

- Is his choice of cologne known publicly?
- What about detergent?
- Does he enjoy onions on his sandwich?
- Does anyone have a first-hand account?

I tried a search to no avail, but it's likely I am missing some relevant article (I can't be the first person to wonder. Um. You know?)

Thanks!

By: boy detective

boy detective — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:59:03 -0800

Aural facilities are very important, but what I meant to say was olfactory senses.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:05:16 -0800

Some of the people over at Kos thought he smelled like smoke after he claimed to have quit smoking. Someone said his shirt smelled like fabric softener. This dog says he smells good. There are these idiot air fresheners which they describe as "much-needed fresh air". Some say new carpet.

I met him in 2004 and he smelled like nothing, nothing at all.

By: beagle

beagle — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:18:42 -0800

I have met plenty of politicians, although not Obama, and none of them smelled, regardless of their ideology. I think they are smart enough to take showers and avoid scents.

By: Kimothy

Kimothy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:36:42 -0800

What Beagle said.

I would think politicians would be careful to avoid colognes and strong soaps that might offend the nostril - or worse upset someone's allergies.

Sometimes all it takes is that one thing to create a bad association with an event or person. Poor cologne choice is a hardly worth the presidency.

Or something like that.... :)

By: lunasol

lunasol — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:36:58 -0800

I've met him a few times, once in a small room, but I never noticed a particular odor.

By: Frank Grimes

Frank Grimes — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:44:11 -0800

He smells like B.O.

By: East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:04:06 -0800

I have met Senator Obama twice. I discerned no odor.

By: SoulOnIce

SoulOnIce — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:40:03 -0800

He smells like a breath of fresh air....seriously though, I've met him once and didn't detect anything, but then of course I was too busy being completely awestruck as I shook his hand ...and there were like 20,000 other people around at the time as well....

By: jammy

jammy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:43:46 -0800

according to Michelle, he's snore-y & stinky, at least in the morning

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:49:30 -0800

[a few comments removed STOP with the hope and victory comments]

By: Lesser Shrew

Lesser Shrew — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:20:05 -0800

jessamyn and East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 - no odor like nothing worth noticing, or no odor like freakishly without one? Because I've heard that about Gore, which is shocking becaues he looks sweaty on the TV.

Also, why are we asking this?!?!

By: Miko

Miko — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:22:05 -0800

I've met him too; he smelled like nothing in particular. The old NH banquet hall where the event happened had a stronger smell itself than any people there, including Obama.

The hell....? What's the purpose of asking this? It's an asshole-magnet of a question.

By: HopperFan

HopperFan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:00:06 -0800

I'm volunteering at a rally for him on Friday, if he comes anywhere near me, I'll take a big sniff and let you know.

And I can't believe the B.O. comment stayed, either. The comment smells like B.S. to me.

By: iamkimiam

iamkimiam — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:12:02 -0800

I'm sure part of the reason it stayed is because it prevents the mods from having to endlessly delete a B.O. comment every time the joke occurred to somebody. That is to say it's true, answers the OP's question accurately, is well-intentioned, light-hearted and lastly, damn funny.

By: greta simone

greta simone — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:56:26 -0800

A friend of mine just met him on Sunday, and said he smelled 'good'. Like what, I do not know. Perhaps I will ask. But apparently he has very soft hands.

By: PFL

PFL — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:08:27 -0800

I think the "B.O." comment was a play on his initials, which is why it stayed.

By: rmless

rmless — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:25:37 -0800

When I met him, he didn't smell like anything.

By: Quidam

Quidam — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:07:29 -0800

Echoing what others have said, I shook his hand in February, and noticed no smell at all.

By: k8lin

k8lin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:19:55 -0800

Apparently his plane doesn't smell very good: "The McCain campaign plane is better than Obama's, which is cramped, uncomfortable and smells terrible most of the time."

By: boy detective

boy detective — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:46:20 -0800

Thank you for the links and input, all very enlightening. HopperFan, please do!

By: HopperFan

HopperFan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:47:39 -0800

Sorry, I ended up on the outskirts of the crowd, since I took tickets/directed people until just before he came on. I can say, though, that he looked very fresh - ie. shirt pressed, no sweat stains, etc... Here's a video.

By: anthropomorphic

anthropomorphic — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:28:38 -0800

i've been in the elevator with him twice during the primaries. he smelled like cigarette smoke.