Years ago (early/mid 70's) Texaco Havoline had a distinctive smell that I could recognize from 10 feet away. If memory serves, this was back in the day of SE oil. It had a very tacky feel. Every mechanic and grease-monkey I knew would say the same thing about the way it smelled and felt.
OK, and now I must confess... I really liked the way it smelled. I used it exclusively in my 442.
Ray