History Main / SignatureScent

* In the ''VideoGame/Geneforge'' series, the presence of spawners in an area is usually preceded by a smell of vinegar.

* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid 2'', MadBomber Fatman uses a signature cologne and puts a bit of it in every bomb he makes, which Stillman is easily able to use to detect them. However, they all turn out to be a decoy for two massive scentless bombs placed in critical points of the structure.

* CiaphasCain's aide Ferik Jurgen has a very persistent and unique case of BO (he's an iceworlder, so balmy temperatures make him sweat, but even in the cold he stinks) exacerbated by various skin diseases that allows Cain to know he's there even with his back turned. It's also hinted that part of this "smell" is of psychic nature, a sense of unease due to him being TheSoulless that people rationalize as bad odor.

* Downplayed in episode 98 of the ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime. Early on, Usagi and Haruka are hiding together, and Usagi notices the scent of Haruka's cologne. Later, as Sailor Moon and Sailor Uranus, they're [[ChainedHeat handcuffed together]] by the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Monster of the Day]], and when they once again hide, Moon notices the same scent on Uranus. This is Moon's first clue to Uranus's identity, since at this point Uranus and Neptune have been working their own agenda separate from the other Sailor Senshi.

* In NeonGenesisEvangelion, Shinji reports smelling "the scent of Ayanami" during a synchronization test. Later, Rei says that Shinji's plug unit has his scent.

* In DonBluth's ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'', Dowager Empress Marie dabs peppermint oil on her opera gloves. The scent triggers a memory in orphan Anya of spilling peppermint oil on the palace carpet. No matter how much servants scrubbed that spot, it continued to smell of peppermint. This statement convinces Empress Marie that Anya is, in fact, her long-lost granddaughter Princess Anastasia.

* Comes up in ''{{Discworld}}'':

This comes up often in works featuring characters who have an [[TheNoseKnows enhanced sense of smell]] or in works with animals, since most animals rely more heavily on their sense of smell than humans do.

* In ''Grandia 2'', the villain Melfice is tracked by the beastman Mareg who tends to mutter (before attacking whatever he detected it on) "This SMELL... MELFICE!!" Melfice is revealed early on to be the main character's brother. This is a problem (understatement) when they first meet Mareg, because they apparently smell alike.

* In one episode of ''Manga/LupinIII'', Lupin is able to figure out that a love letter sent to him, supposedly written by Fujiko, was fake because, among other reasons, the letter didn't have the faintest hint of Chanel #5 perfume.

* In ''HarryPotter'' the love potion amortentia smells differently to each person based on what they're attracted to, including a scent they associate with a specific person.
* ''{{Twilight}}'':

* Bacterian from ''Dragon Ball'' has a recognizably foul stench.

* In ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' when Oz comes back to town he realizes that his former girlfriend Willow has been with [[spoiler:Tara]] because "I can smell her on you."

* ''{{Girl Genius}}'':
** The heroine has a pleasant scent which is used as the subject of a {{running gag}} by most of the characters, to the point that she considers using lab chemicals to alter it and avoid the "nice smell" comments.
*** Her smell is also typical of the Heterodyne bloodline, allowing Jägermonsters to identify her.

** [[{{Fan Nickname}} The Weasels]], or the Wasp Eaters, detect wasps via smell (even though they are animal constructs, they are trained to react to it). The Weasels react to Tarvek's smell too - they ''love'' it, which leads to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120613 a lot of Weasels hugging him]].

* In one ''WesternAnimation/{{Sixteen}}'' episode, the boys are in a contest to see who can smell the best without showering, which the girls are judginf. Wyatt goes about halfway and Jonesey doesn't even go a full second, but Jude makes it. One comments that Jude just smells, well, [[ShapedLikeItself like Jude]].

* ''WesternAnimationLooneyTunes'' character PepeLePew, of course. Ordinarily skunks don't stink except when they're actually spraying, which means Pepe stinks even by skunk standards.

* This is TruthInTelevision. Everyone, with the exceptions of identical twins who share one, has their own unique scent.

* ''LooneyTunes'' character PepeLePew, of course. Ordinarily skunks don't stink except when they're actually spraying, which means Pepe stinks even by skunk standards.

* This is TruthInTelevision. Every one aside from twins has their own scent.

** Agatha has her body chemistry tangled up as part of a {{Grand Theft Me}} which involves stimulants... lots of them. This is detected by Krosp (Emperor of cats), who points out that her scent is messed up.

* CiaphasCain's aide Ferik Jurgen has a very persistent and unique case of BO (he's an iceworlder, so balmy temperatures make him sweat, but even in the cold he stinks) exacerbated by various skin diseases that allows Cain to know he's there even with his back turned.