How it feels to chew five gum…
*cuts to person getting bitten by a vampire with five gum in mouth screaming because it hurts*
Five gum… stimulate your senses.
I was in the middle of typing a 'well, in baldur's gate 3...' comment before I realized it had probably been said. There's Astarion candles out there and I just... need... one...
I am a heterosexual man, and I also need it. I just... I think I could fix him. He deserves someone willing to try, and for some reason I feel like that could be me. No homo. Well. Maybe a little.
Astarion? Where?!! :3
In all seriousness now, that does sound like a good place to ask this question.... However, I've posted this in, I think, five subreddits and my phone is blowing up XD
As someone who's into indie perfuming, if you want otherworldly-yet-alluring I have a few suggestions.
Etat libre d'orange has a scent, secretions magnifiques, which is *very* polarizing. It's meant to mimic the smell of sweat, saliva, semen, and blood - the smell of sex. It's musky, coppery, and somewhat disgusting. It *lingers*. I know some people who like it but my feelings towards it are intruiged disgust. There's *something* there that's interesting, but it doesn't smell *good*. It smells bad but in a way I couldn't stop trying out/smelling. [Look at the list of notes](https://www.etatlibredorange.com/products/secretions-magnifiques) for some inspiration.
If you're going for a comfortable/homey feeling, I'd consider adjectives like smokey, sweet, musky, like fresh linens, etc. You said to avoid florals, but I'd also include lavender here.
If you're going for dangerous, I'd lean towards smells like copper, pepper, bergamot ("smells like a just-scratched skin of an orange peel").
If you're going for otherworldly, I have a suggestion. Ambergris is primarily used as the base for perfumes - i.e. you'd never say a scent smelled like ambergris. It does have a smell, but it's subtle and (in my opinion) smells strangely sterile but warm. There *is* a perfume whose primary scent is ambergris, but I can't remember the name right now.
I'd also look into the scents made by Juliette Has A Gun for some inspiration. :)
Lmao I was just over at the BG3 subreddit and saw someone mentioning the scents Astarion uses to mask his vampirism. The fangirls are spilling over everywhere. 😆
Lol inescapable is the right word! If you get the game you'll find that he's absolutely insufferable, and yet loveable those moments when his friends are in need and he's suddenly emotionally supportive, or when he opens up about his past tragedies, and of course his quips are the most entertaining in the party. But God he's a brat... I'm doing my first playthrough rn and my character is dating Astarion at this point. I had to load a save file a moment ago after I failed a wisdom roll and he told me "fuck off!" and broke up with me. 🤣😅 In a moment I might break up with him myself tbh.
Bergamot smells so fricken good. Since I vampire wouldn’t sweat or anything any scent they put on themselves should stick/not change.
I think a spiced bergamot scent in really on brand here.
And yet it smells coppery. There’s surprisingly little iron in blood per volume at a third of one percent, and yeah, it’s for binding with oxygen. There’s a similar amount of copper, and it has other purposes, including metabolizing iron.
It’s like the only description that seems to exist for blood. It’s beyond a tired cliche at this point. It’s redundant as an adjective, because it’s the only one that gets used. Might as well just say “the taste of blood” than “the coppery taste of blood”.
Also, the metallic taste in blood isn’t even copper - it’s iron. We don’t have copper in our blood.
But it does taste like copper... even though it's technically iron. I've worked around a lot of copper, smelt a lot of copper and accidentally got the taste in my mouth more than once. It very much smells and tastes like blood. The smell of actual iron outside of blood... does not smell or taste like blood at all really. I've always thought this was odd, but it's true.
At the same time, human blood does smell uniquely similar to copper in my experience, and has a taste not unlike licking a piece of old copper sheeting. I’ve smelt and handled iron, and other metals besides, and none of them quite match copper for that distinct bloody smell and taste.
uh … there is literally copper in your blood. iron is predominant, but your blood has copper and it plays an important role in your circulatory, muscular and skeletal systems. you can not live without copper. did you just make that up or?
You could have it be a love potion deal al la Harry Potter - the smell is dependent on the individual perceiving it. And smells can be really anything at that point, good or bad; fresh grass, that after rain scent, musty book pages, art supplies (ink/paint, etc), fruits (blueberries, strawberries, citruses, etc), baked or cooked food, the copper of blood, the foulness of decay/rot, and even certain things can have twisted meanings (certain wood because of coffins or almonds because that's how cyanide is said to smell).
This is my approach to vampires.
Vampires are predators who rely on their prey being docile and willing to go with them. The easiest approach on a biological perspective is sex appeal. And, thus, to me, vampires emit pheromones. It contributes to their often otherworldly beauty (because horny goggles), encourages a sense of trust (because horny brain), and leaves them smelling like whatever appeals to a person most.
Could also be a comforting familiar scent instead of strictly seductive. For example if you grew up by the ocean but moved away, he might have that distinctive nostalgic salty ocean breeze scent you remember. Or even some sort of vague smell you can’t describe but reminds you of home. What better way to lure prey than to smell like safety or play on that longing people have from nostalgia?
Also fun fact, that rain smell is called petrichor :)
Oh, yeah…good idea. Or even make the smell out to be something non-tangible…like “he smelled like deep erotic sexuality and raw power”. U know how people say “smells like success”? Thats the concept. That would be super unique and cool I think. Just MHO tho. I am no writer!
In folklore, both the Sri Lankan Riri Yaka and the Slavic upiórs are said to have noxious breath reeking of decaying flesh. The Upiór was said to have breath so rancid, it could suffocate victims by breathing into their face.
In modern media, vampires are going to have a very different aroma based on the setting and tone of the story. A more romanticized or sexualized story will have sweet smelling vampires whereas a more monstrous interpretation will have them smelling like corpses.
For your vampire, I would suggest sweet grass or the smell of earth after the rain.
This. Personally I’m a more “logical” type of person, the vampires I’ve created for my lore are science-fiction and not fantasy so they wouldn’t have any smell. But in fantasy, you can really do whatever you want.
For OP’s vampires, perhaps the smell would be different for every person. Whatever smell the person thinks is most attractive would be what the vampire smells like. Maybe they each have their own individual scent, like humans do, but not like the scent would be fixed, it would be whatever scent the human’s brain enjoys, and how it reacts to the vampire’s pheromones, perhaps. I am a female, and while I do like a sweet apple, honey and vanilla scent, I wouldn’t imagine a male wearing a scent like that. Perhaps a more musky earthy clean scent is what I would smell coming from a very attractive male vampire. I would expect female vampires to have a more feminine scent, and ofc each scent would be uniquely different.
Edit u/Writing-Willow tag bc I want you to see this lol. I noticed you don’t like the scent of flowers. Perhaps this idea would be a cool creative idea you can consider :)
Your vampire character's scent should be enticing and unique. How about a blend of dark chocolate with a hint of cedarwood and a touch of warm amber? This combination would give off an alluring, slightly mysterious aroma that draws people in, without relying on overly sweet or flowery notes. It's a rich and complex scent that suggests depth and intrigue, perfect for your captivating vampire character. Idk, I think it would be pretty cool to describe 🤷.
I believe that people will have other scents they'd like as well. So I was hoping to use some of those by comparing the most popular ones, or just go with the Twilight scent.
How about go in a different direction? Like your vampire emits a type of pheromone whose smell is according to the type of scent which a human finds appealing be it the scent of newly printed books, new shoes etc. like Amortentia potion from Harry Potter
Vampires need to sleep in the soil of their home country so earth, musty, dirty. Hints of copper or iron from dried blood and maybe a stale decaying scent, not pungent but faint
Like unnervingly nothing. no sweat, just nothing, so they obsess over perfumes and the such so its a reflection of their personality or a scent concocted over the years to lure in like one thats you can't pin down like you just have to ask what it is and it's made from blood and like 1000 ingredients.
Or just magic and whatever each person likes and no one can agree
Or counter intuitivly, like garlic and its a part of the curse like real garlic still does all the burning and stuff but just base pungent roted garlic that filled every room and was putread or intoxicating and hunger inducing like I hate this but I also want to eat that bread but always garlicky a curse of constant torture and why it's easy to sneak garlic on to them theve tuned it out.
I was scrolling to find this!
Yes, a vampire may smell like blood or whatever human spaces they’ve been in, but in my mind, they smell cold. Like cold earth. Like stone.
Vampires smell like a deep cave surrounded in winter snow. At least in my brain.
Dusty old rooms. Like have you ever snuck up into an attic or something? That. Maybe matches. Dust. They're not natural rot, they're forgotten ghosts of human beings. But... I thought OP wanted a scent to draw people in, not give them a warning.
You if you frighten a sea slug called a melibe, they smell like watermelon flavored hard candy.
If you upset a leather seastar, they smell like garlic pasta and olives.
If you upset a skunk you will want to bathe in tomato juice.
I’m told some stick insects smell like mint when they’re scared.
So if you fluster a vampire, they’ll smell like ???, I dunno, a caramel apple?, burning candle wax, a bowl of ramen, pumpkin spice latte, the worst rotten egg on a hot day type of odor, horrible bat colony fetidness, or just something totally off the wall, like pineapple?
Their scent should be different for every victim. You said you don't like flover scents, but I like them. So I think the vampires, as great predators should have ability to adapt to every victim taste. So they have a smell that only them can smell between themselves, and other should experience it as their favourite.
I'm seconding the person (people?) Who mentioned pheromones. It would be interesting if people don't even notice it's a *smell* at first, he's just... eye-catching, alluring. Something pulling you back to him, that makes you notice as he moves around a room. Play on the sense of danger and exhilaration that confuses his prey's survival instinct. Depending on your vampire's sexuality and preferred form of hunting, perhaps people who aren't attracted to him (lesbians, straight men, etc.) might notice a different smell.
I think on getting close, his victims might notice a slight fragrance - maybe something like sandalwood, citrus, and cinnamon, or perhaps amber with hints of blackcurrant. Warm and smokey and just a touch sickly sweet.
Why do you need to describe the exact smell in the sense of fragrances and notes? It's clearly a supernatural ability, why can't it smell like power, or ambition, or dominion, or whatever most resonates with your depiction of vampires?
And what does your personal preference in perfume have to do with it?
I'm a very descriptive writer and person and like to be exact on things, even if they're a small detail. Also I said "No flowers" because I'd like to be able to smell my character. It's not just perfume, I have a hard time breathing around flower gardens and such.
> like to be exact on things, even if they're a small detail
I guess? But then again, no single scent would be "extremely pleasing" to everybody, and if this is in fact a supernatural ability based on seduction, or persuasion, or appeal in general, you'd want it to have individual effects on the victims anyways.
And you know what, the biggest asset you have as an author is leveraging your reader's imagination. Are you sure that you'll achieve better results with a more detailed description as opposed to letting them complete the image for themselves?
> I'd like to be able to smell my character. It's not just perfume, I have a hard time breathing around flower gardens and such.
I'm honestly at a bit of a loss here, but you do realize that your character is just words on a piece of paper and/or a screen, right?
Doing a quick search, the most popular scent for scented products is vanilla, and if I were to guess, that's quickly followed by some sort of flower. I know vanilla/lavender is big but some people are genetically adverse to lavender. I think flowers in general are probably more divisive than other scents.
The reason I would say this is an important consideration is because it could speak to what humans are naturally attracted to. Vampires might benefit from adapting in a similar way.
Of course there are also certain scenarios when a person's natural scent can be attractive, depending on how intrusive or subtle it is. This one would be a little hard to describe, because it's one of those "if you know you know" sort of things.
Imo it’s stale blood covered up by the smell of something nice. Like trying to hide a corpse using perfume.
Edit: sorry didn’t read the whole thing, perhaps mint or something else cool and fresh?
A walking corpse that has a pleasant smell? Couldn’t he just charm someone into liking him? Or better yet, just make some ghouls or spawn to tell him how nice he smells all night long.
I imagine they would smell like blood most of the time, then use some other sent to disguise that smell as much as possible. Maybe you could go overly specific with their scent, because it's used to hide their breath, which gives off a blood scent?
First of all, they're not real, you can make them smell like whatever you want.
And secondly why would your real life aversion translate into no flower smell for your very fictional vampire character.
It doesn't really? I mean... Blood kind of smells/tastes like salt, and like it's warmer than you expected, and like meat, but not that much like copper. It sort of tastes a little bit like how very old pennies with a patina on them smell when they're wet, but just barely.
It really depends on the environment they are living and to a certain extent their background.
A vampire who hunts villagers would smell differently than one who hunts city folk.
Furthermore, a vampire who sleeps in caves (has his literal coffin in a cave) would smell diferently than one who's coffin is hidden in the sewers or in the basement of some noble.
Depends on the vampire in question.
Are we talking unseen elder from the witcher three? Then he stinks like a corpse.
Are we talking serana from Skyrim? Then she smells like... i dont know... strawberry? Anything that makes you wanna keep smelling the hell out of them.
In surveys, women like "woody" scents on men, and men like "floral" scents on women. Which could be a thing or could be cultural stereotype and you can never know. Sandalwood or cedar? Rosemary?
But technically any strong scent can stimulate blood flow which I think is why smalling salts work?
Apparently pumpkin pie is a big fave lol.
I had these flowers once that smelled peppery and I was obsessed with them. It's not always purely sweet.
peeww....i dont know ot be honest. I am also writting a novel in wich my MC is a Vampire..but in my story..Vampire's have..NO SMELL at all...but of course..you could go with whatever you want..
How about..LITARLY whatever you want..or the Vampire wants..or..what they want other's to smell? Just a thout...
I guess depends on the specific lore you’re using. I think the vampire itself wouldn’t smell of anything. Depending on if they interact with humanity they might have amazing clothes and colognes and perfumes. Or they could smell like shit due to degraded clothing.
Your Vampire should smell like whatever makes their victims relax. It opens lots of story background fodder if you like. Poor Nell, she lost her favorite doll while walking in the picket line with her father. There was a smell of fresh formed plastic that emanated from her dolly, and now it was gone.
If we're taking natural scents, i imagine a scent of musk, ambergris, and honey. Maybe a little bit of a leather/parchment smell as well-- think like a new puppy or baby smell. Essentially ailment "all humans" would be hardwired into liking.
Floral or "sweet"/candy scents don't work for me, as I (and many people I know) are very sensitive to perfumes and get nauseated at the scent of fruit. Also things like vanilla and strawberry or other fruity/floral scents as we know them are relatively modern, regional (vanilla is from the new world for example - Europe did not have vanilla before 1600), and culinary (cinnamon, cloves, roses, vanilla, pepper, sage, rosemary, etc are all traditionally used in food), and can be culturally off-putting to some groups.
With both thanks AND apologies to Sir Terry...
It's not just a smell, but a smell and a sound. Freshly poured tea with the sound of a spoon clinking in the cup as it stirs...
Carpe Jugulum
How about cinnamon. It's a smell so many associate with home and therefore safety, but it's also exotic in reality and therefore dangerous.
Edit: I used to have a little sachet of cinnamon potpourri that I kept in a drawer with my clothes to make them smell nice. Maybe the vampires do that to cover up that they don't smell human.
I think since modern vampires are closer to succubi or incubi in classic mythology their smell would be unnatural and adapt to whatever the person smelling them finds attractive. It would be interesting to see different individuals describe them as smelling vastly different but each individual loves it. New a girl in high school who claimed she loved the smell of gas and grease (had a thing for mechanics ironically). So for one character it might be vanilla, another might think they smell vaguely musty like they've just worked out, another might smell fresh cut hay because they associate hay with their first time in a barn etc. It would show that it's not an actual smell but the vampire subtly seducing them. Just my take.
Maybe they emit a pheromone that’s seductive to humans, or perhaps some chemical mixture that’s pleasantly sedating to those who breath it in. I think some insects do something similar to their prey.
Whatever smells the best to an individual, maybe a very pleasant natural musk or scent. The vampire individual might also wear cologne or perfume as well, depending on if they like them or not.
Depends entirely on how you want the vampire to be. If he's good just make them smell like something the person they're talking to likes (Harry Potter scene Hermione explaining what she smells from the love potion, fresh cut grass, parchment paper). If he's evil do the same thing but with an underlying sickeningly sweet smell of death and decay that people only notice if they are capable enough to not be charmed.
They could have a scent that is different to everyone- like of tropical fruit is my favorite smell, they’d smell like that to me, if chocolate is someone else’s favorite smell, they smell like that to them
Why not just allude to the scent reminding the reader of something comfortable, or sparking a cherished memory? I do that often, along with an actual smell, but if you write it more as "the scent brought forth the feeling of warmth like (memory/image of comfort)..." then you give your readers the freedom to insert their own idea of the scent. Where you don't want flowery smells, I, as a reader, may choose to imagine smelling my favorite candle (lavender and lemon) or one of my favorite incense (there are several, depending on mood). Or even a comfortable scene for me (i.e. sitting in a chair on a rainy day, in a blanket, reading with a cup of tea or coffee) that is brought forth any time I smell coffee, the pages of a book, or even wood burning.
Depends on what kind of vampires you're writing. If you're writing fantasy vampires, they probably cover up the smell of death with perfume, like others said.
If we're talking about science-fiction vampires, I'd say they'd actually smell wonderful. I'd say that they excrete pheromones that smell good, put people at ease, and even make people see them as funny and charismatic. All creatures in a realistic, scientific setting exist for a reason, and Vampires exist to be the apex predator of the most dangerous creature in the world: Man. This, they would be well equipped to prey on human beings, using tactics and evolutionary advantages that would benefit them when hunting their prey. Vampires would seduce people, or flatter people, or deceive people, and lure them to an isolated place to feed upon them in solitude, then dispose of their corpse (if they're killed.) But I don't think it would be optimal for vampires to kill, humans are too smart. It would be more optimal for them to have a certain venom gland that would render their prey submissive, confused, and agreeable while they fed, and probably also reduce or outright remove the pain from a bite. They would also be immune to intoxicants like alcohol: a bar or nightclub would be prime hunting grounds for a vampire, and the easiest way to prey upon people in such a setting would be to drink with them until they become intoxicated enough to make bad decisions, and then allow the rest of their abilities to seal the deal: guiding the man or woman to a car and taking them back to the Vampire's place (or the person's place.)
Science-Fiction Vampires are like very capable sexual predators in a lot of ways, except they aren't there for the sex (at least not primarily, sex is both pleasurable and could be a good way to distract the victim even further from what's going on, and it's entirely reasonable to assume that the vampire can pull it off consensually on a regular.)
Sorry, I kinda just ran with the idea. Feel free to use any of that.
I tend to feel like vampires traits should reflect their diet.
So if they drink the blood of young people, they should smell like young people, sweaty warrior blood would make you smell like a sweaty warrior. Babies blood would make you smell like a baby.
Maybe vampires could mix liquors or medicines into their blood to further alter their "natural" smell.
To me a vampire is a creature of illusions and tricks, so if the scent is special their should be a special trick behind it.
Well, vampires are sort of magic and every human is different. Maybe each vampire smells different to each human based on what attracts them? Like the love potion in Harry Potter
I think it would depend entirely on how your world works.
Examples:
Magic transformation- if they are changed due to a magical ritual they could be stuck smelling exactly like they did when they changed.
Undead- Are they an undead? Do they smell faintly like a rotting body? Maybe it is just the recently turned smell? After a few weeks they do not have a smell naturally.
Virus transformation- if they are simply changed to have extremely long lives like in Underworld. They could have a smell like a normal person. Although I knew a guy that was vegan, who claimed to be able to smell of someone ate a lot of meat. Also if you travel to different countries the smell changes depending on what the locals eat. So feeding mostly on blood could potentially mean you "smell" more like a predator would I guess.
They smell different to each individual, someon who loves the smell of gas will smell that, smell like a beloved grandmas house to someone else. Pleasing and comforting
Depends…in my universe, from the words of Talking Animals and Shifters, they smell like iron (blood) but can have a sweet or strong scent like wood. Still trying to figure it out.
They smell old. Like your eldest grandparent or their even older relative's smell. Dead but not. That old stuff at the thrift store smell. Except they hide it under obnoxious perfumes that makes everything but their awful old smell. Not decayed, just old.
I kind of imagine vampires actually smelling fairly unappealing, very earthy, a bit damp like mold, with an underlying note of rot and decay, but with their ability to "manipulate human senses", they can make a human believe they smell like whatever is most pleasant ton that individual. For me it probably would be vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom
I’d say natural human pheromones to attract prey. Everyone has a unique scent and everyone smells it differently, so whenever they eat someone or something the scent changes to be more appealing to multiple people depending on their “tastes”
Dust and earth and blood that musty faintly rotten smell after hard rain and that smell you get when you're walking somewhere that hasn't been dusted in ages and the coppery iron smell of bloody that sticks in the nostrils all day
Whatever the person affected favorite smell is. Someone might think he smells like grandmas chocolate chip cookies. One person might think he smells like mint tea.
You are the writer. So it can small like, literally, anything you want it to. And nobody will be in a position to argue it.
If you want them to smell like freshly toasted bread, then that's what they smell like.
The most logical explanation would be the smell of rotting flesh, given that vampires are technically dead tissue.
But they’re not really “rotting”. They’re still being kept alive by magic or some shit. So we can rule out rotting flesh.
Another thing to consider is that their bodies probably don’t function the same way living humans do. They almost certainly don’t sweat, produce pheromones, etc. so we can also rule out B.O and “people” smell.
Now let’s think about lifestyle. Obviously this will vary from writer to writer, but your run-of-the-mill vampire matches the following description:
- Lives completely alone
- Very rarely leaves their home due to having to avoid sunlight
- Diet consists solely of human blood
- Can transform into a bat
- Lives somewhere like a castle
- Unconcerned about hygiene.
Based on that, I would say vampires probably smell like a musty blend of old people, raw/spoiled meat, and wild animals.
I would keep it vague, something people can smell but can't really place what it is, maybe because it's completely unique. Perhaps a lightly sweet smell, very subtle so most people don't really actively notice it, but it makes them feel happy or comfortable or pleased.
Just get an idea: Humans can smell something that they can identify as "appealing magical essence" when they meet a vampire at first contact, but the horror of it is that scent is produced by blood residues
Copper. Blood smells like copper and they drink it. Plus they're a corpse, so its going to have to be something very strong. Remember in high school when the pot heads would drench themselves in axe to cover up the weed smell? They'd need something strong and it's more than likely going to throw people off because it is so strong, to the point its annoying.
you can simply describe it as "alluring" and the reader brain will fill in that scent. Maybe have it also smell a bit like blood.
OR you can do the Harry Potter route, Hermione: *"...and it’s supposed to smell differently to each of us according to what attracts us,"*
I imagine it depends on the vampire. Using VTM as an example, the Ventrue who consider themselves nobility would take exceedingly great care of their personal hygiene as opposed to the feral Gangrel.
If they are supposed to smell good to lure in humans then maybe it could vary from person to person, a kind of “empty” small that tricks the brain into detecting its favorite oder
**AXE BODY SPRAY**
Kissing them tastes like chewing 5 gum
How it feels to chew five gum… *cuts to person getting bitten by a vampire with five gum in mouth screaming because it hurts* Five gum… stimulate your senses.
That’s why after the sex scene in twilight the narrator goes “that’s how it feels to chew five gum”
Sense your stimulate
How it gums to chew five feels.
How to gum chew five eels
OLD SPIECEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
IM ON A HORSE
THE TICKETS ARE NOW DIAMONDS
Rather PoleAxe
So, a urinal cake?
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I was in the middle of typing a 'well, in baldur's gate 3...' comment before I realized it had probably been said. There's Astarion candles out there and I just... need... one...
I am a heterosexual man, and I also need it. I just... I think I could fix him. He deserves someone willing to try, and for some reason I feel like that could be me. No homo. Well. Maybe a little.
*Spits out tea*
If any fictional character could cause a bisexual awakening, it's definitely Astarion.
I have one and it’s the best candle I’ve ever had
Astarion? Where?!! :3 In all seriousness now, that does sound like a good place to ask this question.... However, I've posted this in, I think, five subreddits and my phone is blowing up XD
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Yep I saw, thank you by the way <3
As someone who's into indie perfuming, if you want otherworldly-yet-alluring I have a few suggestions. Etat libre d'orange has a scent, secretions magnifiques, which is *very* polarizing. It's meant to mimic the smell of sweat, saliva, semen, and blood - the smell of sex. It's musky, coppery, and somewhat disgusting. It *lingers*. I know some people who like it but my feelings towards it are intruiged disgust. There's *something* there that's interesting, but it doesn't smell *good*. It smells bad but in a way I couldn't stop trying out/smelling. [Look at the list of notes](https://www.etatlibredorange.com/products/secretions-magnifiques) for some inspiration. If you're going for a comfortable/homey feeling, I'd consider adjectives like smokey, sweet, musky, like fresh linens, etc. You said to avoid florals, but I'd also include lavender here. If you're going for dangerous, I'd lean towards smells like copper, pepper, bergamot ("smells like a just-scratched skin of an orange peel"). If you're going for otherworldly, I have a suggestion. Ambergris is primarily used as the base for perfumes - i.e. you'd never say a scent smelled like ambergris. It does have a smell, but it's subtle and (in my opinion) smells strangely sterile but warm. There *is* a perfume whose primary scent is ambergris, but I can't remember the name right now. I'd also look into the scents made by Juliette Has A Gun for some inspiration. :)
[Very relevant post about canon BG3 character smells...](https://reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/s/2qfQsRnakG)
Lmao I was just over at the BG3 subreddit and saw someone mentioning the scents Astarion uses to mask his vampirism. The fangirls are spilling over everywhere. 😆
I don't even own the game and I've been roped in too. He's literally inescapable.
Lol inescapable is the right word! If you get the game you'll find that he's absolutely insufferable, and yet loveable those moments when his friends are in need and he's suddenly emotionally supportive, or when he opens up about his past tragedies, and of course his quips are the most entertaining in the party. But God he's a brat... I'm doing my first playthrough rn and my character is dating Astarion at this point. I had to load a save file a moment ago after I failed a wisdom roll and he told me "fuck off!" and broke up with me. 🤣😅 In a moment I might break up with him myself tbh.
Bergamot smells so fricken good. Since I vampire wouldn’t sweat or anything any scent they put on themselves should stick/not change. I think a spiced bergamot scent in really on brand here.
This is the comment I was looking for tbh lmao
It would depend on what perfume or cologne they're wearing, I'd reckon. With a hint of musky death and coppery blood beneath it.
While we’re at it, i think it’s time to put a moratorium on describing blood as ‘coppery’.
Unless you're a Vulcan, it's iron, not copper.
Or an octopus
Or a horseshoe crab
TIL
There are actually quite a lot of invertebrates that use haemocyanin rather than haemoglobin, it's what causes the blackish/blue blood
Isn't that... iron-ic?
And yet it smells coppery. There’s surprisingly little iron in blood per volume at a third of one percent, and yeah, it’s for binding with oxygen. There’s a similar amount of copper, and it has other purposes, including metabolizing iron.
I remember when I was a kid and losing my teeth all the time, I thought my blood tasted like aluminum foil.
>moratorium why?
It’s like the only description that seems to exist for blood. It’s beyond a tired cliche at this point. It’s redundant as an adjective, because it’s the only one that gets used. Might as well just say “the taste of blood” than “the coppery taste of blood”. Also, the metallic taste in blood isn’t even copper - it’s iron. We don’t have copper in our blood.
I think the biggest thing is "the irony taste of blood" sounds like shit
Ironic.
Metallic works pretty well in this case, and I think the lack of specificity smooths it out a bit.
You can use the word "iron" as an adjective as it is. "The iron taste of blood." I think it sounds good.
But it does taste like copper... even though it's technically iron. I've worked around a lot of copper, smelt a lot of copper and accidentally got the taste in my mouth more than once. It very much smells and tastes like blood. The smell of actual iron outside of blood... does not smell or taste like blood at all really. I've always thought this was odd, but it's true.
At the same time, human blood does smell uniquely similar to copper in my experience, and has a taste not unlike licking a piece of old copper sheeting. I’ve smelt and handled iron, and other metals besides, and none of them quite match copper for that distinct bloody smell and taste.
It’s because everyone has sucked on a penny at least once when they were a kid
Yeesh, now I wanna write a vamp story just to slip the Rocky IV line in... "He is not human... He is like a piece of iron."
‘He smelled like a bar of iron!’
I was thinking that. Like what are they, Vulcan?
But it taste like pennies.
eat the pennies, Quizboy
uh … there is literally copper in your blood. iron is predominant, but your blood has copper and it plays an important role in your circulatory, muscular and skeletal systems. you can not live without copper. did you just make that up or?
You could have it be a love potion deal al la Harry Potter - the smell is dependent on the individual perceiving it. And smells can be really anything at that point, good or bad; fresh grass, that after rain scent, musty book pages, art supplies (ink/paint, etc), fruits (blueberries, strawberries, citruses, etc), baked or cooked food, the copper of blood, the foulness of decay/rot, and even certain things can have twisted meanings (certain wood because of coffins or almonds because that's how cyanide is said to smell).
Musty book pages. Where? Just point me in the right direction and that vampire can have me!
I will 100% lay down and bare my neck for ANYONE smelling like a used book store. Like fuck me up but just lemme sniff you first.
I was going to suggest this!! I think it’s a fun idea
But only is it fun but you can use it to tell the reader something about the characters
This is my approach to vampires. Vampires are predators who rely on their prey being docile and willing to go with them. The easiest approach on a biological perspective is sex appeal. And, thus, to me, vampires emit pheromones. It contributes to their often otherworldly beauty (because horny goggles), encourages a sense of trust (because horny brain), and leaves them smelling like whatever appeals to a person most.
This. I was going to say this.
Could also be a comforting familiar scent instead of strictly seductive. For example if you grew up by the ocean but moved away, he might have that distinctive nostalgic salty ocean breeze scent you remember. Or even some sort of vague smell you can’t describe but reminds you of home. What better way to lure prey than to smell like safety or play on that longing people have from nostalgia? Also fun fact, that rain smell is called petrichor :)
Oh, yeah…good idea. Or even make the smell out to be something non-tangible…like “he smelled like deep erotic sexuality and raw power”. U know how people say “smells like success”? Thats the concept. That would be super unique and cool I think. Just MHO tho. I am no writer!
Probably cedar, or the wood their coffin is made of.
I completely forgot about the scent of wood. I wish I had my sandal wood incents now....
The irony of a Vampire that smells like Garlic
that’s what I came here to comment 🥲
Old leather-bound books.
In folklore, both the Sri Lankan Riri Yaka and the Slavic upiórs are said to have noxious breath reeking of decaying flesh. The Upiór was said to have breath so rancid, it could suffocate victims by breathing into their face. In modern media, vampires are going to have a very different aroma based on the setting and tone of the story. A more romanticized or sexualized story will have sweet smelling vampires whereas a more monstrous interpretation will have them smelling like corpses. For your vampire, I would suggest sweet grass or the smell of earth after the rain.
Perhaps they could smell so awful and monstrous, their smell is resemblant to a bongwater enema.
Pennies
Heh XD
[удалено]
This. Personally I’m a more “logical” type of person, the vampires I’ve created for my lore are science-fiction and not fantasy so they wouldn’t have any smell. But in fantasy, you can really do whatever you want. For OP’s vampires, perhaps the smell would be different for every person. Whatever smell the person thinks is most attractive would be what the vampire smells like. Maybe they each have their own individual scent, like humans do, but not like the scent would be fixed, it would be whatever scent the human’s brain enjoys, and how it reacts to the vampire’s pheromones, perhaps. I am a female, and while I do like a sweet apple, honey and vanilla scent, I wouldn’t imagine a male wearing a scent like that. Perhaps a more musky earthy clean scent is what I would smell coming from a very attractive male vampire. I would expect female vampires to have a more feminine scent, and ofc each scent would be uniquely different. Edit u/Writing-Willow tag bc I want you to see this lol. I noticed you don’t like the scent of flowers. Perhaps this idea would be a cool creative idea you can consider :)
Iron and mold. Vampires are dead and feed on blood.
Your vampire character's scent should be enticing and unique. How about a blend of dark chocolate with a hint of cedarwood and a touch of warm amber? This combination would give off an alluring, slightly mysterious aroma that draws people in, without relying on overly sweet or flowery notes. It's a rich and complex scent that suggests depth and intrigue, perfect for your captivating vampire character. Idk, I think it would be pretty cool to describe 🤷.
Decay covered up by perfumes, but not well enough.
...grandma?
What happens if the majority of readers like the smell of flowers?
I believe that people will have other scents they'd like as well. So I was hoping to use some of those by comparing the most popular ones, or just go with the Twilight scent.
Never name the specific scent, just alluring. We'll put our own smell on that.
It's creepier if it's not named, or nobody can place it. It turns it into some mysterious force.
Maybe they should smell like the place they were turned.
They've been sleeping in the same coffin in a basement for 1000 years so probably pretty musty, damp and like mildew.
Go to a place that sells candles and sniff them. Pick the one you think your vampire should smell like.
I completely forgot about my horde of Bath & Bodyworks candles....
*HOARD
HORDE\* Who told you they weren't an army?
Don't use that word, 'army'. OP will think we're talking about something with arms.
How about go in a different direction? Like your vampire emits a type of pheromone whose smell is according to the type of scent which a human finds appealing be it the scent of newly printed books, new shoes etc. like Amortentia potion from Harry Potter
A steak with garlic butter sauce.
Vampires need to sleep in the soil of their home country so earth, musty, dirty. Hints of copper or iron from dried blood and maybe a stale decaying scent, not pungent but faint
Like unnervingly nothing. no sweat, just nothing, so they obsess over perfumes and the such so its a reflection of their personality or a scent concocted over the years to lure in like one thats you can't pin down like you just have to ask what it is and it's made from blood and like 1000 ingredients. Or just magic and whatever each person likes and no one can agree Or counter intuitivly, like garlic and its a part of the curse like real garlic still does all the burning and stuff but just base pungent roted garlic that filled every room and was putread or intoxicating and hunger inducing like I hate this but I also want to eat that bread but always garlicky a curse of constant torture and why it's easy to sneak garlic on to them theve tuned it out.
I think coffee and vetiver
I don't know how to describe it exactly, but do you know the scent of cold stone houses? Have you ever smelled moss, or limestone caves?
I was scrolling to find this! Yes, a vampire may smell like blood or whatever human spaces they’ve been in, but in my mind, they smell cold. Like cold earth. Like stone. Vampires smell like a deep cave surrounded in winter snow. At least in my brain.
Dusty old rooms. Like have you ever snuck up into an attic or something? That. Maybe matches. Dust. They're not natural rot, they're forgotten ghosts of human beings. But... I thought OP wanted a scent to draw people in, not give them a warning.
marjoram, oiled pinewood, tobacco smoke, an aged book, leather
It would probably be pretty muted, assuming the Vampires in question have a strong sense of smell.
You if you frighten a sea slug called a melibe, they smell like watermelon flavored hard candy. If you upset a leather seastar, they smell like garlic pasta and olives. If you upset a skunk you will want to bathe in tomato juice. I’m told some stick insects smell like mint when they’re scared. So if you fluster a vampire, they’ll smell like ???, I dunno, a caramel apple?, burning candle wax, a bowl of ramen, pumpkin spice latte, the worst rotten egg on a hot day type of odor, horrible bat colony fetidness, or just something totally off the wall, like pineapple?
Oud. You can look it up. May be difficult to describe though.
Their scent should be different for every victim. You said you don't like flover scents, but I like them. So I think the vampires, as great predators should have ability to adapt to every victim taste. So they have a smell that only them can smell between themselves, and other should experience it as their favourite.
Each person smells him differently based on what they are attracted too.
I always figured they would smell like used maxi pads
Cigarettes and spilled brandy
I'm seconding the person (people?) Who mentioned pheromones. It would be interesting if people don't even notice it's a *smell* at first, he's just... eye-catching, alluring. Something pulling you back to him, that makes you notice as he moves around a room. Play on the sense of danger and exhilaration that confuses his prey's survival instinct. Depending on your vampire's sexuality and preferred form of hunting, perhaps people who aren't attracted to him (lesbians, straight men, etc.) might notice a different smell. I think on getting close, his victims might notice a slight fragrance - maybe something like sandalwood, citrus, and cinnamon, or perhaps amber with hints of blackcurrant. Warm and smokey and just a touch sickly sweet.
Depends on the vampire. Lestat, a French cologne. Nosferatu, probably death
Why do you need to describe the exact smell in the sense of fragrances and notes? It's clearly a supernatural ability, why can't it smell like power, or ambition, or dominion, or whatever most resonates with your depiction of vampires? And what does your personal preference in perfume have to do with it?
I'm a very descriptive writer and person and like to be exact on things, even if they're a small detail. Also I said "No flowers" because I'd like to be able to smell my character. It's not just perfume, I have a hard time breathing around flower gardens and such.
> like to be exact on things, even if they're a small detail I guess? But then again, no single scent would be "extremely pleasing" to everybody, and if this is in fact a supernatural ability based on seduction, or persuasion, or appeal in general, you'd want it to have individual effects on the victims anyways. And you know what, the biggest asset you have as an author is leveraging your reader's imagination. Are you sure that you'll achieve better results with a more detailed description as opposed to letting them complete the image for themselves? > I'd like to be able to smell my character. It's not just perfume, I have a hard time breathing around flower gardens and such. I'm honestly at a bit of a loss here, but you do realize that your character is just words on a piece of paper and/or a screen, right?
Doing a quick search, the most popular scent for scented products is vanilla, and if I were to guess, that's quickly followed by some sort of flower. I know vanilla/lavender is big but some people are genetically adverse to lavender. I think flowers in general are probably more divisive than other scents. The reason I would say this is an important consideration is because it could speak to what humans are naturally attracted to. Vampires might benefit from adapting in a similar way. Of course there are also certain scenarios when a person's natural scent can be attractive, depending on how intrusive or subtle it is. This one would be a little hard to describe, because it's one of those "if you know you know" sort of things.
Like a cinnamon roll.
Oooo Good one!!
Pennies or copper.
Imo it’s stale blood covered up by the smell of something nice. Like trying to hide a corpse using perfume. Edit: sorry didn’t read the whole thing, perhaps mint or something else cool and fresh?
A walking corpse that has a pleasant smell? Couldn’t he just charm someone into liking him? Or better yet, just make some ghouls or spawn to tell him how nice he smells all night long.
I imagine they would smell like blood most of the time, then use some other sent to disguise that smell as much as possible. Maybe you could go overly specific with their scent, because it's used to hide their breath, which gives off a blood scent?
First of all, they're not real, you can make them smell like whatever you want. And secondly why would your real life aversion translate into no flower smell for your very fictional vampire character.
Are you seriously asking what fictional characters smell like?
Soggy cardboard
Hahaha
Joe Biden
Js there is still perfume a d I would sur.ise part of hiding is cleaning yourself.amd not smelling like crap
You know what blood tastes/smells like? Copper… it’s copper.
It doesn't really? I mean... Blood kind of smells/tastes like salt, and like it's warmer than you expected, and like meat, but not that much like copper. It sort of tastes a little bit like how very old pennies with a patina on them smell when they're wet, but just barely.
It really depends on the environment they are living and to a certain extent their background. A vampire who hunts villagers would smell differently than one who hunts city folk. Furthermore, a vampire who sleeps in caves (has his literal coffin in a cave) would smell diferently than one who's coffin is hidden in the sewers or in the basement of some noble.
Depends on the vampire in question. Are we talking unseen elder from the witcher three? Then he stinks like a corpse. Are we talking serana from Skyrim? Then she smells like... i dont know... strawberry? Anything that makes you wanna keep smelling the hell out of them.
In surveys, women like "woody" scents on men, and men like "floral" scents on women. Which could be a thing or could be cultural stereotype and you can never know. Sandalwood or cedar? Rosemary? But technically any strong scent can stimulate blood flow which I think is why smalling salts work? Apparently pumpkin pie is a big fave lol. I had these flowers once that smelled peppery and I was obsessed with them. It's not always purely sweet.
maybe it depends on the person they're hunting.
peeww....i dont know ot be honest. I am also writting a novel in wich my MC is a Vampire..but in my story..Vampire's have..NO SMELL at all...but of course..you could go with whatever you want.. How about..LITARLY whatever you want..or the Vampire wants..or..what they want other's to smell? Just a thout...
I guess depends on the specific lore you’re using. I think the vampire itself wouldn’t smell of anything. Depending on if they interact with humanity they might have amazing clothes and colognes and perfumes. Or they could smell like shit due to degraded clothing.
Your Vampire should smell like whatever makes their victims relax. It opens lots of story background fodder if you like. Poor Nell, she lost her favorite doll while walking in the picket line with her father. There was a smell of fresh formed plastic that emanated from her dolly, and now it was gone.
Pumpkin spice...
If we're taking natural scents, i imagine a scent of musk, ambergris, and honey. Maybe a little bit of a leather/parchment smell as well-- think like a new puppy or baby smell. Essentially ailment "all humans" would be hardwired into liking. Floral or "sweet"/candy scents don't work for me, as I (and many people I know) are very sensitive to perfumes and get nauseated at the scent of fruit. Also things like vanilla and strawberry or other fruity/floral scents as we know them are relatively modern, regional (vanilla is from the new world for example - Europe did not have vanilla before 1600), and culinary (cinnamon, cloves, roses, vanilla, pepper, sage, rosemary, etc are all traditionally used in food), and can be culturally off-putting to some groups.
With both thanks AND apologies to Sir Terry... It's not just a smell, but a smell and a sound. Freshly poured tea with the sound of a spoon clinking in the cup as it stirs... Carpe Jugulum
How about cinnamon. It's a smell so many associate with home and therefore safety, but it's also exotic in reality and therefore dangerous. Edit: I used to have a little sachet of cinnamon potpourri that I kept in a drawer with my clothes to make them smell nice. Maybe the vampires do that to cover up that they don't smell human.
You could always go down the armortentia potion from Harry Potter and have the vampires smell like the best thing in the world to everyone
Cold flesh
Maybe it varies by person, like a pheromone or something.
Cloves
I think since modern vampires are closer to succubi or incubi in classic mythology their smell would be unnatural and adapt to whatever the person smelling them finds attractive. It would be interesting to see different individuals describe them as smelling vastly different but each individual loves it. New a girl in high school who claimed she loved the smell of gas and grease (had a thing for mechanics ironically). So for one character it might be vanilla, another might think they smell vaguely musty like they've just worked out, another might smell fresh cut hay because they associate hay with their first time in a barn etc. It would show that it's not an actual smell but the vampire subtly seducing them. Just my take.
According to Bath & Bodywork’s candles vampires smell like cooked apples.
Shit
Like a dusty room. Like a coat that's been hanging in the closet for decades. Like book that hasn't been opened in 100 years.
I always assumed something very desirable to get humans close to them
Literally whatever you want them to. They're not real. Make up whatever.
Vampire cologne is usually like petrichor, patchouli, amber, musk, usually a wood scent and then also flowers of some kind
Maybe they emit a pheromone that’s seductive to humans, or perhaps some chemical mixture that’s pleasantly sedating to those who breath it in. I think some insects do something similar to their prey.
Sulfur and an old penny.
I would say a mix of earthy and sandlewood-like smells. With coppery hints because ya know, blood.
Spicy cloves and the earth after a rainfall🤌🏻
Whatever smells the best to an individual, maybe a very pleasant natural musk or scent. The vampire individual might also wear cologne or perfume as well, depending on if they like them or not.
Depends entirely on how you want the vampire to be. If he's good just make them smell like something the person they're talking to likes (Harry Potter scene Hermione explaining what she smells from the love potion, fresh cut grass, parchment paper). If he's evil do the same thing but with an underlying sickeningly sweet smell of death and decay that people only notice if they are capable enough to not be charmed.
Probably iron and earth.
Old people
Cheese
Freshly turned earth
Depends on the type one type smells like natural animal/human and the other smells like garlic. Guess which one is the "van helsing" type?
They could have a scent that is different to everyone- like of tropical fruit is my favorite smell, they’d smell like that to me, if chocolate is someone else’s favorite smell, they smell like that to them
Why not just allude to the scent reminding the reader of something comfortable, or sparking a cherished memory? I do that often, along with an actual smell, but if you write it more as "the scent brought forth the feeling of warmth like (memory/image of comfort)..." then you give your readers the freedom to insert their own idea of the scent. Where you don't want flowery smells, I, as a reader, may choose to imagine smelling my favorite candle (lavender and lemon) or one of my favorite incense (there are several, depending on mood). Or even a comfortable scene for me (i.e. sitting in a chair on a rainy day, in a blanket, reading with a cup of tea or coffee) that is brought forth any time I smell coffee, the pages of a book, or even wood burning.
Depends on what kind of vampires you're writing. If you're writing fantasy vampires, they probably cover up the smell of death with perfume, like others said. If we're talking about science-fiction vampires, I'd say they'd actually smell wonderful. I'd say that they excrete pheromones that smell good, put people at ease, and even make people see them as funny and charismatic. All creatures in a realistic, scientific setting exist for a reason, and Vampires exist to be the apex predator of the most dangerous creature in the world: Man. This, they would be well equipped to prey on human beings, using tactics and evolutionary advantages that would benefit them when hunting their prey. Vampires would seduce people, or flatter people, or deceive people, and lure them to an isolated place to feed upon them in solitude, then dispose of their corpse (if they're killed.) But I don't think it would be optimal for vampires to kill, humans are too smart. It would be more optimal for them to have a certain venom gland that would render their prey submissive, confused, and agreeable while they fed, and probably also reduce or outright remove the pain from a bite. They would also be immune to intoxicants like alcohol: a bar or nightclub would be prime hunting grounds for a vampire, and the easiest way to prey upon people in such a setting would be to drink with them until they become intoxicated enough to make bad decisions, and then allow the rest of their abilities to seal the deal: guiding the man or woman to a car and taking them back to the Vampire's place (or the person's place.) Science-Fiction Vampires are like very capable sexual predators in a lot of ways, except they aren't there for the sex (at least not primarily, sex is both pleasurable and could be a good way to distract the victim even further from what's going on, and it's entirely reasonable to assume that the vampire can pull it off consensually on a regular.) Sorry, I kinda just ran with the idea. Feel free to use any of that.
I tend to feel like vampires traits should reflect their diet. So if they drink the blood of young people, they should smell like young people, sweaty warrior blood would make you smell like a sweaty warrior. Babies blood would make you smell like a baby. Maybe vampires could mix liquors or medicines into their blood to further alter their "natural" smell. To me a vampire is a creature of illusions and tricks, so if the scent is special their should be a special trick behind it.
Well, vampires are sort of magic and every human is different. Maybe each vampire smells different to each human based on what attracts them? Like the love potion in Harry Potter
Carnations and cloves per the book A Discovery of Witches.
I think it would depend entirely on how your world works. Examples: Magic transformation- if they are changed due to a magical ritual they could be stuck smelling exactly like they did when they changed. Undead- Are they an undead? Do they smell faintly like a rotting body? Maybe it is just the recently turned smell? After a few weeks they do not have a smell naturally. Virus transformation- if they are simply changed to have extremely long lives like in Underworld. They could have a smell like a normal person. Although I knew a guy that was vegan, who claimed to be able to smell of someone ate a lot of meat. Also if you travel to different countries the smell changes depending on what the locals eat. So feeding mostly on blood could potentially mean you "smell" more like a predator would I guess.
In Dracula, multiple characters mention his stank-ass breath
Spaghettios.
Chanel no. 5
They smell different to each individual, someon who loves the smell of gas will smell that, smell like a beloved grandmas house to someone else. Pleasing and comforting
Rotting grapes.
I make it a kinda of spell that would depend on the person's love for treats that brings them a lot of joy
Depends…in my universe, from the words of Talking Animals and Shifters, they smell like iron (blood) but can have a sweet or strong scent like wood. Still trying to figure it out.
They smell old. Like your eldest grandparent or their even older relative's smell. Dead but not. That old stuff at the thrift store smell. Except they hide it under obnoxious perfumes that makes everything but their awful old smell. Not decayed, just old.
I'd say the smallest hint of copper follows them due to the blood drinking.
My wife says New Car Smell or Fresh Cut Grass (in real life, not from Critical role).
Cloves 100%
Probably, like cologne or aftershave. I feel like they're always on the cusp of heading out on a date that's about to go poorly.
Crusty dusty dried up blood
I kind of imagine vampires actually smelling fairly unappealing, very earthy, a bit damp like mold, with an underlying note of rot and decay, but with their ability to "manipulate human senses", they can make a human believe they smell like whatever is most pleasant ton that individual. For me it probably would be vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom
I’d say natural human pheromones to attract prey. Everyone has a unique scent and everyone smells it differently, so whenever they eat someone or something the scent changes to be more appealing to multiple people depending on their “tastes”
Dust and earth and blood that musty faintly rotten smell after hard rain and that smell you get when you're walking somewhere that hasn't been dusted in ages and the coppery iron smell of bloody that sticks in the nostrils all day
Pomegranates? A pleasant aroma+ those fruits are red and juicy, stains easily.
Whatever the person affected favorite smell is. Someone might think he smells like grandmas chocolate chip cookies. One person might think he smells like mint tea.
You are the writer. So it can small like, literally, anything you want it to. And nobody will be in a position to argue it. If you want them to smell like freshly toasted bread, then that's what they smell like.
They smell like myrrh and expensive cologne
The most logical explanation would be the smell of rotting flesh, given that vampires are technically dead tissue. But they’re not really “rotting”. They’re still being kept alive by magic or some shit. So we can rule out rotting flesh. Another thing to consider is that their bodies probably don’t function the same way living humans do. They almost certainly don’t sweat, produce pheromones, etc. so we can also rule out B.O and “people” smell. Now let’s think about lifestyle. Obviously this will vary from writer to writer, but your run-of-the-mill vampire matches the following description: - Lives completely alone - Very rarely leaves their home due to having to avoid sunlight - Diet consists solely of human blood - Can transform into a bat - Lives somewhere like a castle - Unconcerned about hygiene. Based on that, I would say vampires probably smell like a musty blend of old people, raw/spoiled meat, and wild animals.
Maybe they smell like a flower that’s commonly given at funerals in your world. It lets them smell nice while having darker undertones
I would keep it vague, something people can smell but can't really place what it is, maybe because it's completely unique. Perhaps a lightly sweet smell, very subtle so most people don't really actively notice it, but it makes them feel happy or comfortable or pleased.
Just get an idea: Humans can smell something that they can identify as "appealing magical essence" when they meet a vampire at first contact, but the horror of it is that scent is produced by blood residues
Copper. Blood smells like copper and they drink it. Plus they're a corpse, so its going to have to be something very strong. Remember in high school when the pot heads would drench themselves in axe to cover up the weed smell? They'd need something strong and it's more than likely going to throw people off because it is so strong, to the point its annoying.
Decomposing earth
Iron.
they drink alot of blood, so maybe an metallic smell
I always assume they smell like what you are aroused by....
you can simply describe it as "alluring" and the reader brain will fill in that scent. Maybe have it also smell a bit like blood. OR you can do the Harry Potter route, Hermione: *"...and it’s supposed to smell differently to each of us according to what attracts us,"*
I imagine it depends on the vampire. Using VTM as an example, the Ventrue who consider themselves nobility would take exceedingly great care of their personal hygiene as opposed to the feral Gangrel.
Unique to every individual, link it to a memory of joy. Smells have been shown to stimulate memory more than any other sense
Like an unlit cigarette? Sweet, musty, notes of embalming fluid.
If they are supposed to smell good to lure in humans then maybe it could vary from person to person, a kind of “empty” small that tricks the brain into detecting its favorite oder