Is it just me, or do lilies smell like garbage?

[Yellownotblue]

I find the smell unbearable, stomach churning. I got two bunches from friends in the last few weeks, and had to bin them both as they were giving me a headache and nearly making me gag.

Is this widespread or am I the only one?

At least I know my sense of smell works. Silver linings and all that.

Lilies are awful. Not only do they stink, they stain absolutely everything. They also remind me of death.

It's a no from me.

I absolutely love lillies and always used to take them to dinner parties etc thinking they’re a unanimously liked flower.

Then a few years ago I was at a restaurant with some friends where there was a huge display and they all started talking about how awful they were

I stick to wine nowadays

Totally agree- the stench hits you at the front door. Plus, whilst I’ll accept this is probably coincidence, on the rare occasion I have them the kids always get ill with streaming colds/respiratory infections. I got some for my birthday at the end of August and a few days later they both developed streaming colds/ coughs, resulting in missing the start of school waiting for covid tests..... I’ve banned them now!

For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds

Shakespeare agreed

My favourite flower and wanted white lillies at my wedding till the florist said they were a flower of death

Oh goodness, they're vile!
I smell them as burnt plastic/burnt rubber. Blegh!

They have a dreadful cloying smell. They also give me awful hayfever.

@flatwhite99

Oh my god. I love them 🤣🤣🤣🤣

So do I

Hate them, yup!

Another vote for them smelling like cat piss. Plus they stain.

I can’t stand them, funeral flowers and they smell of cat pee.

I like a lilly but so rarely have them in the house so actually don't know the last time I would have smelled them. Otoh daffs smell really strongly of urine to me, it's disgusting!

The funeral association is because in the days of yore, they were kept next to dead bodies as the pungent smell of the lilies could cover up the smell of decomposition.

So that's nice.

I love lilies and the smell of them. I dont get what the connection is with death.

They smell kind of smoky to me, I can't stand them.

@Shoppingwithmother

Oh god yes, I won’t have lilies in the house - I think they smell like cat piss.

Was going to say the same.

I hate lilies. Both the smell and the look. I think they look very triffid-like. I always feel very ungrateful when I'm given a bunch of flowers, they always seem to contain lilies. It's such a waste to chuck them, but I really can't stand them.

It’s when they’ve been in the vase for a while, on the cusp of wilting, they suddenly smell like a dirty nappy to me! Yuck.

I HATE lillies with a passion. I'm really allergic so if I get them I snip out the stems but very rarely get them. When it was my sons funeral we specifally said no lilies, I feel like they're death flowers

Absolutely disgusting.

I don't know what they smell like because as soon as I enter a room with them in I pass out

I love the smell. Nothing like garbage funny how people smell things differently!

Lilies and death smell similar to me (as in recently deceased people) so I'm guessing that's why they used to be popular at funerals? Or is that just French funerals?

• I did read once that you should never take Lilies to a French diner party.

Someone at work smells of death/ lilies. I think it's their natural smell, but I hope it's a perfume

I love the scent - nothing like walking in to a room filled with the scent of lillies.
Sadly I can't have them at home because they're toxic to cats.

Oh god I hate the smell too , I did not know they were toxic to cats though .