I won't be purchasing any candles that smell like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, but if I smell the real thing, you better believe I'm taking a deep breath.
Smells are deeply linked with memory, often triggering a round of flashbacks with just one whiff. While not every memory is good, somehow smells (even bad ones), can light up the nostalgia centers in our little noggins, allowing us to recall sensations and memories linked with our smell in a wholesome or positive way. You may not have had the perfect childhood, but the smell of fresh-cut grass will always remind you of your peaceful walks in the neighborhood. Or the smell of roadside convenience store coffee, regarded as the foulest of burnt coffee smells, will still remind you of the joys of roadtripping and the associated excitement.
Alas, smells are very powerful, even if they're not particularly perfumey.
Stinky stinks are also secretly sort of nice. The smell of your dog's frito feet, your partner's BO, or the smelly skunks that live under your deck can evoke some delightful memories. In that case, are those smells so bad anymore? There are many stinks that are actually quite lovely.