“Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9” is a saying that has been printed on many images. Colors and numbers have no smell, and there is no “color 9.” The behavior of some people cannot be understood.
   
“Smell the Color 9” (2000) is a song title from the album of the same name by Chris Rice. “I know I’m doin’ fine but sometimes findin’ you (God—ed.) is just like tryin to smell the color nine” is sung in the chorus. “The title track compares trying to nail down God to ‘trying to smell the color 9’” was printed in The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA) on November 11, 2000. “Sometimes, trying to find God is like trying to smell the color nine. Nine’s not a color. And even if it were, you can’t smell a color” was printed in the Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution on April 2, 2001.
     
“Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 9” was posted on Twitter by M Λ T T on September 30, 2011. “Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 5 http://tumblr.com/ZtjZexAo4J0-” was posted on Twitter by DEITY DE YOU on October 17, 2011. “Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the colour 8” was posted on Twitter by Tom Edwards on November 8, 2012. “Some wisdom a mate dropped: ‘Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 8’” was posted on Twitter by Patrick Johnson on November 8, 2012. “Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 9” was posted on Twitter by Men’s Thoughts on December 5, 2012.
 
”#OverheardAtWork: ‘Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9’” was posted on Twitter by Overheard at Work on January 31, 2013. “Trying to understand the behaviour of some people is like trying to smell the colour 9” was posted on Twitter by Finding Nimo on February 21, 2013. “Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9…” was posted on Twitter by haley on February 21, 2013. “TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME PEOPLE IS LIKE TRYING TO SMELL THE COLOR 9” (shown on an image) was posted on iFunny on September 19, 2021. It’s not known who created this variation of the saying.
     
           
Wikipedia: Chris Rice 
Chris Rice is an American singer and songwriter who works in the contemporary Christian music, contemporary folk, adult contemporary and adult album alternative genres. He became a recording artist in 1996 after signing a contract with Rocketown Records and releasing his debut album, Deep Enough to Dream
(...)
Solo artist
With the help of Monroe Jones’ production skills, Chris Rice recorded Deep Enough to Dream for a September 1997 release. Past the Edges followed a year later. Rice’s third album, Smell the Color 9, was issued in late 2000.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Smell the color 9
Author:Chris Rice
Music CD, No Linguistic Content, ℗2000
Publisher:Rocketown Records : Manufactured and distributed by Word Entertainment, Nashville, Tenn., ℗2000
 
YouTube 
Smell the Color 9
Chris Rice
Nov 8, 2014
Provided to YouTube by Rocketown Records
Smell the Color 9 · Chris Rice
Smell The Color 9
℗ 2000 Rocketown Records, LLC
Released on: 2000-10-31
 
Genius (lyrics)
Smell the Color 9
Chris Rice
Track 2 on Smell the Color 9
(...)
Chorus: Cause I can sniff, I can see, and I can
Count up pretty high; but these faculties
Aren’t getting me any closer to the sky
But my heart of faith keeps poundin’ so
I know I’m doin’ fine but sometimes findin
You is just like tryin to smell the color nine
Smell the color nine…
 
Newspapers.com
11 November 2000, The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA), “Music Scene” by Beau Black, pg. D4, col. 4:
Smell the Color 9,” by Chris Rice (Rocketown, 36 minutes). Chris Rice sheds some of his singer-songwriter stylings of his last two discs in favor of a more produced and diverse collection of songs.
 
The title track compares trying to nail down God to “trying to smell the color 9.”
 
Newspapers.com
2 April 2001, Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, “The Vent,” pg. B2, col. 2:
Sometimes, trying to find God is like trying to smell the color nine. Nine’s not a color. And even if it were, you can’t smell a color.
     
Twitter
M Λ T T
@MyKindOfJokes
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 9.
12:01 AM · Sep 30, 2011
     
Twitter
RAFA
@itzrafa
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 9
1:02 AM · Sep 30, 2011
 
Twitter
DEITY DE YOU
@Deity_Xane
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 5 http://tumblr.com/ZtjZexAo4J0-
2:34 PM · Oct 17, 2011
   
Twitter
JMcDrunkenIrishCurse
@JMcDrunkenIrish
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 5 http://tumblr.com/ZAFxpwAuOcvH
12:15 AM · Oct 20, 2011
   
Twitter
Tigh
@T_Dope14
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 7. #PissMeOfSoBad
7:17 PM · Apr 11, 2012
   
Twitter
Tom Edwards
@TheTomEdo
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the colour 8.
12:08 PM · Nov 8, 2012
   
Twitter
Patrick Johnson
@jediofthecode
Some wisdom a mate dropped: “Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 8”
7:16 PM · Nov 8, 2012
   
Twitter
Men’s Thoughts
@Males_Thoughts
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 9.
1:36 PM · Dec 5, 2012
 
Twitter
Overheard at Work
@OverheardAtWurk
#OverheardAtWork: “Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.”
7:30 PM · Jan 31, 2013
     
Twitter
Finding Nimo 🇸🇩
@FindingNimo__
Trying to understand the behaviour of some people is like trying to smell the colour 9.
2:25 AM · Feb 21, 2013
 
Twitter
haley
@unnie_d
Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9…
10:48 AM · Feb 21, 2013
   
Twitter
Deanna Bobbi
@PrettyGrlGuide
This shit smh #realtalk RT ‏@KashiJohnson
Understanding the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the number 9.
8:39 PM · Feb 21, 2013
   
Twitter
drujokat
@drujokat
Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the number 9.
8:11 AM · Feb 22, 2013
   
Twitter
leighanne alvis
@harleigh67
Trying to figure out the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color nine!
9:10 AM · Feb 22, 2013
   
Twitter
Krysta Turner
@KrysDuh16
Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9!
11:09 AM · Feb 22, 2013
           
Boldomatic
Heppy
17.7.2013 at 23:02
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
Trying to
understand
women is
like trying to
smell the
color 9.
 
Twitter 
Mountain Poet
@mtnpoet
Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.  - Sesame Street
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME
PEOPLE IS LIKE TRYING
TO SMELL THE COLOR 9.
1:42 PM · Jul 22, 2013
 
Twitter
Ayisha A
@Ayooshaa
Very true: Trying to understand the behaviour of some people is like…
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME
PEOPLE IS LIKE TRYING
TO SMELL THE COLOR 9.
1:54 PM · Aug 14, 2013
         
Twitter
Mr Dubes
@Mr_Dubes95
”@GuyCodes: Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 5.”
1:02 AM · Mar 16, 2015
 
Facebook
Sickipedia
May 20, 2015 at 9:22 AM
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
Trying to
understand
women is
like trying to
smell the
color 9.
   
Twitter
Because I’m a Guy
@CauseWereGuys
Trying to understand women is like trying to smell the color 8.
10:06 PM · Jun 24, 2015
 
Boldomatic
Boldomatic
13.3.2017 at 12:21
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
Trying to
understand
the behaviour
of some
people is like
trying to smell
the colour 9.
 
Inciting Sparks
SMELLING THE COLOUR NINE
February 26, 2018 · by IncitingSparks · in Art, Inciting Sparks Articles, Inciting Sparks Authors, June Laurenson, Literature, Music, Reading and Writing, Wellbeing. ·
June L. Laurenson | February 24, 2018
There is a phrase in the English language that is often used to express confusion and bafflement: ‘Understanding you is like smelling the colour nine’. You can’t smell a colour, let alone a number; and nine isn’t a colour. For most people, this chaotic multisensory phrase effectively conveys a deep incomprehension about a thing or a person. But to me the number nine does have a colour (although not a smell), and I am not alone in experiencing this; I am in very good company.
   
iFunny
thiccrandom1
16 sep 2021
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME PEOPLE IS LIKE TRYING TO SMELL THE COLOR 9.
   
Reddit—Pnsd
Posted by u/pimms_pup1993 September 17, 2022
“Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.”
     
Facebook
British Military Humour Too
September 25, 2022 at 10:19 AM ·
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
Trying to
understand
women is
like trying
to smell
the
colour 7.
 
Facebook
Poetry Matters
July 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM ·
Chris Rice
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
Trying to understand the
behavior of some people
is like trying to smell
the color 9.
Unknown