The Outdoors' Best Smells

by
posted on August 17, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (8)
Research shows that scent evokes memories and past emotions with more potency than any other sense. A psychologist would say that is why the scent of leather makes me think of football; why fresh-cut grass evokes memories of summer; and why one whiff of my mother-in-law's perfume terrifies the hell out of me.
It also probably explains the decades-old love affair sportsmen have shared with Hoppe's No. 9. Not only does it have a naturally appealing smell, but it stirs memories of times spent afield, a favorite over/under and maybe even the first time Dad showed us how to clean a gun. I love the stuff and, when I'm not trying to dab it behind my significant other's ears, I'm applying it to my guns. Problem is I only get to enjoy its scent wafting through my gun room for an hour or two before it's gone. Finally, though, Hoppe's has created the product sportsmen have demanded for so long: A Hoppe's No. 9 air freshener!
Let's celebrate its release by naming our other all-time favorite outdoor smells. I've listed my top 10 below. I look forward to reading some of yours.
-Burnt shotshell powder
-Roasting (skin-on) mallards
-Gundog puppy breath
-Wet retriever
-That old, family hunting cabin smell
-Pan-fried quail
-Neoprene
-Pheasant feathers
-Wet, decaying leaves underfoot (think grouse/woodcock season)
-Duck blind Thermoscoffee

 

Latest

Long Beard TSS Beauty 2
Long Beard TSS Beauty 2

Turkey Loads 101

Seemingly simple, selecting the proper turkey load is anything but a grab-and-go proposition nowadays. Instead, it requires consideration of key load characteristics, purpose and value, all of which are covered in this article.

New for 2026: Kings Camo XKG Summit Series Packs

Kings Camo has launched its all-new XKG Summit Series Packs. Engineered for versatility, comfort and load-hauling capability, this pack systems offer modular performance suitable for a wide range of adventures, from streamlined day hunts to extended backcountry trips.

New for 2026: Real Avid Ratchet Rest Adjustable Height Shooting Bags

Real Avid has announced the Ratchet Rest—Adjustable Height Shooting Bags designed to give shooters exact elevation control, faster target alignment and repeatable shooting performance.

MDF Invested $48.3 Million for Conservation in 2025

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) mobilized a total of $48.3 million for mule deer and black-tailed deer in 2025, its second-best year on record. Across 153 projects in 17 states, MDF helped restore more than 537,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat, benefitted 129 deer herds and eliminated or converted 149 miles of hazardous fence to restore safe movement corridors for wildlife.

Behind the Bullet: .17 Mach 2

Ever heard of the .17 Mach 2? Go behind the scenes on this hot little rimfire round with resident ammo guru Phil Massaro.

Tuo Curates Specialized Turkey Hunting Collection

For the 2026 spring season, Tuo has architected a technical system specifically curated to meet the demands of turkey hunters. While engineered for maximum versatility, the Tuo ecosystem has developed a particular following in regions where the early season isn't defined by green leaves and lilac blooms, but by the high-contrast skeletal timber and grey-scale of the early spring woods.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.