Why Durian is the Smelly 'King of Fruits' (IMAGE) American Chemical Society Caption Durian, known as the king of fruits, is eaten all over southeast Asia. But it's also banned from many public spaces due to its powerful odor. Both your genetics and your experience might influence how you react to this thorny delicacy. In this week's Reactions video, the chemistry behind the smell of durian is explained, and features fellow YouTubers from PBS Digital Studios on camera reacting to its unique stink: https://youtu.be/a0v0n6tKPLc. Credit The American Chemical Society Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.