The title `` Smells Like Teen Spirit '' came from when Cobain 's friend Kathleen Hanna spray painted `` Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit '' on his wall . Cobain came up with the song 's title when his friend Kathleen Hanna , at the time the lead singer of the Riot Grrrl punk band Bikini Kill , spray painted `` Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit '' on his wall .