Which Nirvana song was inspired by a phrase from the deodorant brand Teen Spirit?

Smells Like Teen Spirit was inspired by a phrase connected with the Teen Spirit deodorant brand. The song was written by Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl and became Nirvana’s best-known single.

The phrase came from a note written by Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of Bikini Kill, after she spent time with Cobain. Hanna wrote “Kurt smells like Teen Spirit,” referring to the deodorant worn by Cobain’s then-girlfriend, Tobi Vail. Cobain initially did not know that Teen Spirit was a commercial product and interpreted the phrase as a possible statement about youthful rebellion.

The song was released as a single in 1991 and served as the opening track on Nevermind. Its distorted guitar riff, quiet-loud dynamics, and memorable music video helped make it a defining recording of the grunge era. The deodorant itself was not the song’s subject or a product-placement campaign.