Hanna was mocking Cobain because his then-girlfriend, Tobi Vail (Bikini Kill’s drummer), wore Teen Spirit , a popular deodorant marketed to teenage girls. She meant he literally smelled like her deodorant.
Later that night, while Cobain slept, Hanna scrawled across his apartment wall with a Sharpie. Nirvana Smells Like
Cobain, who didn't know the brand existed, thought the phrase was a poetic, revolutionary slogan about the anarchist spirit of youth. He loved it so much he called Hanna six months later to ask if he could use it as a lyric. The Sound of Revolution Hanna was mocking Cobain because his then-girlfriend, Tobi
The iconic phrase "Nirvana smells like" is forever linked to the 1991 anthem that defined Generation X and catapulted grunge into the mainstream. Ironically, the title of one of rock’s most rebellious songs originated from a misunderstanding about a brand of drugstore deodorant. The Graffiti That Started It All Cobain, who didn't know the brand existed, thought