"Smells Like Teen Spirit" received critical plaudits, including topping the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll and winning two MTV Video Music Awards for its music video, which was in heavy rotation on music television.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" menerima pujian kritis, termasuk memuncaki jajak pendapat Pazz & Jop dari The Village Voice dan memenangkan dua Penghargaan Video Musik MTV untuk video musiknya, yang ditayangkan dengan rotasi tinggi di televisi.