Depends on who's smelling it as to whether you think it smells horrible or not -certainly, many people do dislike the smell, sometimes described as 'slightly rotten meat', but others don't mind it, even saying its a fragrance. The internet's full of threads about the stench, but the smell of the flowers is certainly attractive to various pollinating insects. Fortunately, they're relatively short lived and the berries which form afterwards don't smell at all...

I like it,my wife hates it.

I don't like the smell of rowans either but it doesn't seem to bother Bulba

Thats right, he likes smelly things!!!!

It is weird that I have never smelled it before. However, we have had unseasonably warm and dry weather here. Normally, it would be cool and wet. Maybe the heat has made the smell worse.

I suppose that it could be described as rotten meat. It does smell like decaying vegetation at least.

You may or may not be aware of this. The rowan is often found in isolation in remote Scottish Highland glens and hillsides. Usually beside an old ruined croft or sheiling. The reason for this is that it was considered good luck and was planted to ward off evil. Probably because it smelled so bad. :)

some years I don't mind it and other years I'm not overly keen. certainly it is more aromatic in the warmer weather as the fragrance particles travel further due to the warmth.

Hi Som... the only 'smelly' rowan around us is the native one Sorbus aucuparia our native rowan the flowers of the other species don't smell at all the revolting!