"You 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 stinking dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like...victory."
— Colonel Kilgore, Apocalypse Now
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," although the original quote had a bit more in between each iconic line. Sometimes played slightly more redundantly as "I love the smell of X in the morning. Smells like... X."
Examples
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Comic Books
- In the Justice League of America spin-off Extreme Justice, Firestorm, chafing under Captain Atom's military leadership, makes a sarcastic comment about the smell of napalm in the morning. Atom replies that if he'd seen what napalm did, he wouldn't joke about it.
Films — Animated
- The Lion King 1 ½
Timon: Ahh...I love the smell of Pumbaa 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.
- Horton Hears a Who! (2008):
Horton: I love the smell of bananas in the morning!
- In Bee Movie when Ken is attacking Barry in the bathroom, Ken sprays him with perfume.
Barry: I love the smell of flowers!
Ken: Oh, yeah?! How do you like the smell of FLAMES?! (holds up a lighter in front of the perfume spray)
Barry: Not as much!
Films — Live-Action
- 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 (1997)
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 Chase (1994)
Uncredited Clown: [after the end credits, gives the Apocalypse Now speech]
- Tomcats
Kyle: I love the smell of bridesmaids in the morning.
- 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!
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie:
"I love the smell of destruction in the evening!"
- Jackass Forever has Johnny Knoxville deliver the line, even wearing a Kilgore-inspired outfit.
"I love the smell of paintballs in the morning!"
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!
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 watching The Giant Gila Monster
Crow: I love the smell of lizard in the morning! It smells like... chicken!
- NewsRadio episode "The Station Sale"
Jimmy: I love the smell of a negotiating room in the morning. Smells like...
Dave: Victory?
Jimmy: What?
Dave: Like victory, from Apocalypse Now, yeah.
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.
- 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. - House, after the title character gets the last clue he needed to prove his diagnosis right from smelling the patient's bra:
House: I love the smell of pus in the morning. It smells like... victory.
- MythBusters: Just before the duo's first experience with New Mexico Tech's rocket sled, the local rocket expert is briefing them on the rockets they'll be using:
Rocket expert: And if you take a whiff...[both the expert and Adam do so]... there's nothing like the smell of rocket propellant in the morning.
Video Games
- Team Fortress 2:
Soldier: I love the smell of a kicked ass in the morning.
- Overwatch:
Soldier 76: I love the smell of pulse munitions in the morning.
- Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Mattias Nilsson: I love the smell of roasted rainforest in the afternoon!
- Destroy All Humans!:
Cryptosporidium: Man, I love the smell of presidential brains in the morning.
- Duke Nukem: Time to Kill:
Duke Nukem: I love the smell of bacon in the morning.
- Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project:
Duke Nukem: I love the smell of burnt crap in the morning.
- Deadpool (2013):
Deadpool: I love the smell of pancakes in the morning. Smells like...victory! (chuckle)
- StarCraft and StarCraft II:
Firebat: I love the smell of napalm.
- Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions:
Deadpool: I love the smell of burning superhero in the morning. Smells like...bacon.
- Quest for Glory II:
I love the smell of victory in the morning... It smells like... sweat. No, no... oregano... nooo... like Victory! Yea Victory!... Yea! Yea! That's the ticket.
- Tales of Monkey Island:
Guybrush: I love the smell of treasure in the morning.
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3:
Rocket Raccoon: I love the spell of napalm in the morning.
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves:
Nathan Drake: I love the smell of propane in the morning.
- Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!:
Master Chef: Mmm, I love the smell of turtle soup in the morning... Heh heh...
- Bully: A variant.
Mr. Burton: Ah, dodgeball. How I love the sound of boys crying in the morning.
Mr. Slawter: Ah, I just love the smell of formaldehyde in the morning. - BattleTech:
Trainee 1: I love the smell of coolant in the morning... It smells like victory!
Trainee 2: Coolant is toxic. If you can smell it you're probably going to die. - In The Legendary Starfy, the description for the Sea Swabbie toy mentions that "This pirate loves the smell of seaweed in the morning."
- Injustice 2:
Red Hood 1: Ah, the smell of gunpowder.
Red Hood 2: You can't smell with a mask on.
Red Hood 1: Upgrade your gear, poseur. - Command and Conquer: Yuri's Revenge:
Gattling Tank: I love the smell of gunpowder.
Stand Up Comedy
- Eddie Izzard (as the WWII US Cavalry): "I love the smell of Europe in the morning!"
Webcomics
- 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
- HISHE's parody of Avatar
features Quaritch saying he loves the smell of CGI in the morning.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series episode 14.
Joey: I love the smell of card games in the morning.
Western Animation
- The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius: At the beginning (and end) of the episode "Sorry, Wrong Era", Sheen says "I love the smell of banana in the morning" while making milkshakes with his friends.
- The Lion Guard: "Babysitter Bunga" opens with Reirei saying, "I love the smell of zebras in the morning."
- In an episode of Recess where the class is taking a field trip, Ms. Finster comments "I love the smell of diesel in the morning."
- An inversion from the Sabrina's Secret Life episode "At the Hop":
Salem: Yuck! I hate the smell of brimstone in the morning. (jumps, opens window and sniffs) Yeah.
Real Life
- A group of Revolutionary War re-enacters featured on Penn & Teller: Bullshit! do a near-verbatim version of the beginning and end of the excerpt in the page quotation.
I love the smell of gunpowder in the afternoon, it smells like victory.
- Jack Thompson a Media Watchdog whose hatred of video games cannot be described with words, said of his liberal opponents "I love the smell of burning gamers in the morning."
