Now, bring that orange to your face and take a deep sniff. A fresh blood orange should smell bright, sweet, and faintly floral—like a garden in winter. It’s a clean, citrusy scent that makes your mouth water.
A bad one, however, will betray itself with a dank, fermented, or almost boozy smell. Think of a musty cellar, or the way a forgotten orange starts to smell like a brewery. If it smells like sour wine or vinegar, do not pass go. That’s the aroma of fermentation, and eating it is a guaranteed trip to Regret Town.