--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It smelled like Lysol and desperation." description: "\"“It smelled like Lysol and desperation.”\" — Rachel Caine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg" --- # It smelled like Lysol and desperation. ![“It smelled like Lysol and desperation.” quote by Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg) > ““It smelled like Lysol and desperation.”” [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid description of a harsh, oppressive environment using sensory detail to convey fear and desperation. **In simple terms:** The place feels both chemical and hopeless. Key Takeaway Recognize how atmosphere reflects emotional states. Themes despair environment sensory detail Mood tense grim Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - post‑apocalyptic setting - hospital - abandoned building Key Concepts urban decay psychological tension Questions to Reflect On - How does scent influence your perception of danger? - What other senses could deepen the scene? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate, missing subtler emotional cues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Like Lysol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-lysol-4125337/) [Lysol Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lysol-desperation-4125336/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Smelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smelled/) [Smelled Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smelled-like/) ## Related quotes > [When you chopped logs with the ax and they split open they smelled beautiful, like Christmas. But when you split someone's head open it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/when-you-chopped-logs-with-the-ax-and-they-split-open-they-smelled/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [“Abby took the box, and then tugged on my hand until we were in the entryway. It smelled like a combination of cleaner, candles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/abby-took-the-box-and-then-tugged-on-my-hand-until-we-were-in-the/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [The wind smelled clean, like clean magazines. It smelled like invisible ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-schulman/the-wind-smelled-clean-like-clean-magazines-it-smelled-like-invisible/) [Sarah Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-schulman/) > [“He smelled like family... and Javier, but I took that as a good sign.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/he-smelled-like-family-and-javier-but-i-took-that-as-a-good-sign/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) > [“His coat smelled like Irish Spring and a little bit like potpourri.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/his-coat-smelled-like-irish-spring-and-a-little-bit-like-potpourri/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [It smelled like aging wood and creosote, plastic book covers, and old paper. Old paper, which my mom used to say was the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/it-smelled-like-aging-wood-and-creosote-plastic-book-covers-and-old/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“He smelled good. Sweat and motorcycle and wintergreen. No stinking weed smoke. No perfume. No sadness. He smelled like love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryn-greenwood/he-smelled-good-sweat-and-motorcycle-and-wintergreen-no-stinking-weed/) [Bryn Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryn-greenwood/) > [“She wondered if everyone could smell it on her. It smelled like death and coffee, like lilies and dirt, and it permeated her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-griffin/she-wondered-if-everyone-could-smell-it-on-her-it-smelled-like-death/) [R.L. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-griffin/) > [“Vic smelled the vast vault filled with books before she saw it, because her eyes required time to adjust to the cavernous dark. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/vic-smelled-the-vast-vault-filled-with-books-before-she-saw-it/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [It always smelled like it was raining outside, even if it wasn't, and you were in the only nice, dry, cosy place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-always-smelled-like-it-was-raining-outside-even-if-it-wasn-t-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Gee, thanks." I couldn't sound more sarcastic, but I was willing to give it a try. My breathing evened out. "What are you here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/gee-thanks-i-couldn-t-sound-more-sarcastic-but-i-was-willing-to-give/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“I closed my eyes and let out a breath that smelled like I’d eaten an entire wet dog and washed it down with sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/i-closed-my-eyes-and-let-out-a-breath-that-smelled-like-i-d-eaten-an/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [“...he smelled like somebody trying to smell like somebody else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-farrington/he-smelled-like-somebody-trying-to-smell-like-somebody-else/) [Tim Farrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-farrington/) > [“Hatred had invaded her entire being; every cell in her body had hatred in it. She wondered if everyone could smell it on her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-griffin/hatred-had-invaded-her-entire-being-every-cell-in-her-body-had-hatred/) [R.L. Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-griffin/) > [My son smelled like a cinnamon bun, and that smell entered into my biological being, and it became an imperative that I keep him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/my-son-smelled-like-a-cinnamon-bun-and-that-smell-entered-into-my/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) ## More by Rachel Caine > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Please don't go away. You--you matter. To me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/please-don-t-go-away-you-you-matter-to-me/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Did he just say--?" "Yes," Claire said, smiling. "Yes, he did." "Whoa. Guess I'd better stay alive, then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/did-he-just-say-yes-claire-said-smiling-yes-he-did-whoa-guess-i-d/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Hell,' Shane spit in disgust. 'I can't hit a girl. Here, Claire. You hit her.' He tossed her the bat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/hell-shane-spit-in-disgust-i-can-t-hit-a-girl-here-claire-you-hit-her/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“If she were any friendlier, she'd be giving you a lapdance right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/if-she-were-any-friendlier-she-d-be-giving-you-a-lapdance-right-now/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I get maudlin. Some people drink; some get depressed; some run around having sex with anyone with a pulse. Me, I get philosophical. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-get-maudlin-some-people-drink-some-get-depressed-some-run-around/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“I felt I should repeat it for the other slipper, in case there should be any bad feelings between the two. One should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-felt-i-should-repeat-it-for-the-other-slipper-in-case-there-should/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“As he filled the mug with coffee, Michael waited for Shane to make some sense. Which Shane finally did, holding up the cheaply printed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/as-he-filled-the-mug-with-coffee-michael-waited-for-shane-to-make/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [There is a certain freedom in giving up all hope. One is no longer bound by the cords of dread or fear; you simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/there-is-a-certain-freedom-in-giving-up-all-hope-one-is-no-longer/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Shane talking to Claire - "Hang on - Slow down. I'm not going anywhere. You know that, right? You don't have to put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-talking-to-claire-hang-on-slow-down-i-m-not-going-anywhere-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Oliver laughed - actually laughed."I like this new Claire," he said. "You should work her this hard all the time, Myrnin. She's interesting when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/oliver-laughed-actually-laughed-i-like-this-new-claire-he-said-you/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Here," Myrnin said, his voice still gentle and low. "Amelie said you had to work. No one said you had to work alone." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/here-myrnin-said-his-voice-still-gentle-and-low-amelie-said-you-had/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [shane:you only love me for my abs clair:shut up loser shift off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/shane-you-only-love-me-for-my-abs-clair-shut-up-loser-shift-off/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Maybe I should, I don't know leave? Because this is starting to sound like one of those reality shows I don't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/maybe-i-should-i-don-t-know-leave-because-this-is-starting-to-sound/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) [Explore all 872 Rachel Caine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) ## More Desperation quotes > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Lol, the thirst on SQ is serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maher/lol-the-thirst-on-sq-is-serious/) [Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maher/) > [“Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/who-among-us-does-not-move-through-life-with-the-hidden-sense-maybe/) [Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/) > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The desperation was coming off you in waves. You were all but begging to dance with me. I am doing you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/the-desperation-was-coming-off-you-in-waves-you-were-all-but-begging/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [“Desperation breeds people who are willing to do anything to get what they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/desperation-breeds-people-who-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“If you were mine, I'd never leave you, Prudence. I couldn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-gracie/if-you-were-mine-i-d-never-leave-you-prudence-i-couldn-t/) [Anne Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-gracie/) > [I took Second City out of desperation, and that's what ended up working out. It shows that you should be doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-took-second-city-out-of-desperation-and-that-s-what-ended-up/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [“silent desperation of everything they never said - gaps and absences in every conversation, the past circumscribing the present, the future hemming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/silent-desperation-of-everything-they-never-said-gaps-and-absences-in/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [“The car was on the FDR drive now and, turning her head, she glanced out at the bleak brown buildings of the projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-car-was-on-the-fdr-drive-now-and-turning-her-head-she-glanced-out/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) [Browse all 697 Desperation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It smelled like Lysol and desperation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Caine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desperation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/rachel-caine-217_quote_it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation-20_2089757.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It smelled like Lysol and desperation.” — Rachel Caine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rachel Caine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It smelled like Lysol and desperation.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-smelled-like-lysol-and-desperation/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```