"Smell that? You smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... Victory. Someday this war's gonna end..."
This is a
Stock Phrase in which a character expresses a preference for something by commenting on how great it smells on a morning or afternoon. Originating with the above
Apocalypse Now quote, it has become a common
Stock Parody, where whatever the character likes is substituted for the original "napalm." Often, the new noun is as distasteful as napalm.
Frequently followed straight up by "Smells like... Victory". Sometimes played slightly more redundantly as "I love the smell of X in the morning.
Smells like... X".
Examples
Film
- Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Patches O'Houlihan: I love the smell of queef in the morning.
- Mallrats
Brodie: I love the smell of commerce in the morning.
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Alvin: [entering classroom for the first time] Ah, I love the smell of zitcream in the morning!
- Spawn
Clown: I love the smell of burning asphalt in the morning.
- Imagine Me & You
Ned: I love the smell of hot dogs in the evening. Smells like...
hot dogs.
- Problem Child
Junior: [After breaking several milk bottles] I love the smell of spilled milk in the morning. It smells like victory.
- Small Soldiers
Major Chip Hazard: I love the smell of polyurethane in the morning.
- Garfield (2004)
Garfield: I love the smell of cinnamon apple in the morning. It smells like victory.
- The Lion King 1 1/2
Timon: Ahh...I love the smell of Pumbaa in the morning.
- The Chase
Uncredited Clown: [after the end credits, gives the
Apocalypse Now speech]
- Tomcats
Kyle: I love the smell of bridesmaids in the morning.
- Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
General W.R. Monger: I love the smell of pumpkin guts in the evening. It smells like victory. Also, a little like pie.
- H-E Double Hockey Sticks
Ms. Beezlebub: I love the smell of carbon monoxide in the morning.
- Bet Your Life
Joseph: I love the smell of Cleveland in the morning. It smells like...
Cleveland.
- Zombie '90: Extreme Pestilence
Dr. Bern: I love the smell of zombies in the morning!
- Casper:
Stretch: I love the smell of fleshies in the morning!
- Horton Hears a Who!:
Horton: I love the smell of bananas in the morning!
- Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie:
"I love the smell of destruction in the evening!"
Live-Action TV
- True Blood episode "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'"
Jason Stackhouse: I love the smell of nail polish in the morning!
- Charmed episode "Morality Bites"
Nathaniel Pratt: I love the smell of burnt witch in the morning.
- Veronica Mars
Veronica: I love the smell of testosterone in the morning.
- The A-Team episode "The Theory of Revolution"
Murdock: I love the smell of revolution in the morning. It smells like hushpuppies.
- Roswell episode "Viva Las Vegas"
Alex: I love the smell of formaldehyde in the morning.
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman episode "Stop the Presses"
Perry White: I love the smell of ink in the morning.
- Lizzie McGuire episode "Bad Girl McGuire"
Gordo: I love the smell of pop quizzes in the morning!
- NewsRadio episode "The Station Sale"
Jimmy: I love the smell of a negotiating room in the morning. Smells like...
Dave: Victory?
Jimmy: What?
Jimmy: Dave, I'd love to discuss movies with you, but I have a negotiation to close.
- The Invisible Man (2000-2002)
Albert Eberts: I love the smell of toner in the morning.
- Blue Murder episode "Lonely"
DS Shap: [Approaching a landfill] I love the smell of landfill first thing in the morning.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Gingerbread", as Moral Guardians are ransacking Giles's books:
Principal Snyder: I love the smell of desperate librarian in the morning.
Soap Opera
- All My Children
Ryan Lavery: I love the smell of power in the morning.
Kendall Cambias: Well, good morning, Mr. Chairman. Your title fits you almost as well as that suit.
Video Games
Web Comics
- The Order of the Stick:
Vaarsuvius: I love the smell of bat guano in the morning. Smells like... victory.
- Questionable Content
Hannelore: Do you smell that? Fabric cleaner, son. I love the smell of fabric cleaner in the morning.
Web Original
Western Animation
- In an episode of Recess where the class is taking a field trip, Ms. Finister comments "I love the smell of diesel in the morning."
Real Life
