Does Durian Smell Like....?!

The best way for me to describe it is as wet sweaty gym socks that have been sitting in a plastic bag under the hot sun for a few days. Not pleasant.

If you want to try it for the first time I recommend buying frozen durian. It comes boxed in a custard form.

Different people taste durian differently, that is why despite some people say it stinks, many people love it too. I myself, plus many people I know, didn't used to like the smell and taste when we were young, but as we all became older adults, somehow we get attracted and don't find it nasty. Gradually we all love it.

There are 2 types of durians, I only like the one called Golden Pillow which is more expensive. This is not as creamy, its texture is firmer and it smells like a combination of flower, oil and spice, not like anything else. The regular type is like custard with a stronger and more pungent smell.

I have no idea how rotten onions, kiwis, banana smell like.

From Wikipedia: The edible flesh emits a distinctive odour, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust and has been described variously as almonds, rotten onions, turpentine and gym socks. The odour has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Rotten onions and bananas isn't a bad comparison. It's sweet and creamy and kind of sweet but the smell is simply vile and lingers in the sinuses for hours. The attraction for the people who like it is the contrast, which they say enhances the flavour.
Don't take any home; your place will stink for a week. In parts of Asia you're not allowed to carry one on public transport, or take one into your hotel room.
If you want to get just a hint of a taste, hunt down some durian icecream. If you like it, go for the durian itself, but they're not cheap.

it smells nothing like rotten onion or banana.. but it really smells bad.
however the texture is creamy and smooth, smoother than ripe avocados.

if you want to tone it down for first try, have a go at durian ice cream or something.

I'm Indonesian, durians everywhere here.

to people unfamiliar with the fruit, it's supposed to smell awful like barf.
but to many chinese (esp. southern chinese) and south-east asians, it is considered a treat and smells wonderful and fruity :)

I'm asian

as i lived in malaysia i can say without doubt that this fruit smells like an open ces pit that has been let to rot for a few months but it tastes like tropical fruit salad with strawberry's and cream they say in malaya when the durian is ripe the saris come off

It smells like barf! But if you eat it while blocking your nose, it tastes like some sort of cream!

I live in Asia! ;)

like a sewage , but once you get past that smell it taste a bit sweeter than an unripe banana

It smelled like burnt garlic and raw sewage, to me.