Describe the smell of a public bus?

Question

I'm writing a story and need help for this bit. A depressed teenage girl is sitting on the bus as she waits for her stop.

Answer 1

It depends on the people on the bus. Some people smell very nice, some smell like nothing at all, and some just smell really really bad. Typically I say it has no certain smell.

Answer 2

A very faint smell of the cleaner used to do the floor lingers. It's about the most positive smell on the bus, though. When moving, slight odors of diesel and exhaust distract the mind from focusing upon more worthwhile scents: the career woman who wore that elusive fragrance, the bum's fetid breath and b.o., the taco sauce that the two boys played with and one stomped on it, splaying its contents across to the wall of the other side of the bus about an inch from the floor. As the man who has to stand adjusts his stance, you detect the hint of Aqua Velva, or Old Spice. Then the world seems to get close, too close, when the bus stops for passengers, and two young urbanites bound up the bus steps and shove their change into the fare machine. One smells of beer and cigarettes, the other of gasoline and grease.

Answer 3

Been on a brand new Novabus LFS Artic in Gatineau and the new bus smell it has smells really beautiful!

Answer 4

That would depend on what city and what passengers ride the bus.



Why not answer this yourself by considering the smell of a school bus... they are public transportation.

Answer 5

All buses in general smell the same to me. Diesel fumes and old rubber

Answer 6

I would describe it as peoples overused perfume and body odor mixed with a musty seats and stale food smell.

Answer 7

Tired, old, cheap, stale, "people sitting like pools of misery fenced in by elbows and shopping bags"

Answer 8

Dear Ruby, Hot and stuffy.

Answer 9

Like a public restroom and a homeless guy.

Answer 10

Never been but I'm guessing armpits and gasoline

Answer 11

Old sweat, cigarette and pot smoke, and a bit of dust.

Answer 12

grotesque

Answer 13

Gross, awful