From what I heard, Durians smell like a sweaty gym bag
Some people might say it's worse. Others alikened it with sweaty gym socks after a hot day in summer, rotting sewage, milk-rag after several hot, humid days and so on and so forth. The durian is actually closely related to cacao trees, and their particular smell comes from sulphur compounds (to be exact, disulfides) that acts as 'bait' for their pollinator, mainly certain beetle species and flying island fox for a particular island of Malaysia.
From what I heard, Durians smell like a sweaty gym bag
No. Had you heard the jokes that durians are like nature's BIOWEAPON? Oh they're not kidding alright, it smells even worse. The taste is actually good, but the smell is so horrid that you'll be ending up puking anyway.
Some can actually handle it, but majority would rather stay away.
As someone who grew up in Malaysia with a family mostly obsessed with the fruit, even the taste is not universally beloved.
You think it smells like puke? I always felt it eats like puke as well, both taste and texture. I've tried all of my most hated childhood foods from time to time over the years just to see if I'm over the bad reaction but durian is the one thing I can't develop a taste for.
Though I do acknowledge the smell can be...overbearing :P
Funny enough, I have no issue with anything durian flavored. There is just something about the smell and texture of actual raw durian that is similar to decay.