That off smell in papayas was bred out ages ago in all the Hawaiian solo papayas. I think the people complaining about the smell must be eating Mexican type papayas, which not only smell bad but are very bland tasting.
i dont find that really. I think the Mexican types have more flavor than the Hawaiians.
Although ive never had a solo home grown, ive had them from whole food and a couple of other supermarkets here
they seem more bland to me than the Mexicans.
i think it really has a lot to do with weather, and how ripe the fruit is when it is picked.
Wall-Mart's papaya is always sold very green, hard as a rock.(i hate hard papaya)
1/2 the time it gets rotten before it gets ripe. But they are Mexicans, and when they are ripe they are really good.
I am in New Orleans, so we dont get a lot of fresh fruit here.
when i eat one from my tree, i let it ripen fully.
The flesh is softer and sweeter. The flavor seems to transform as well. it goes from what i describe as a petrol, or medicinal smell,
to a more fragrant, rosy aroma.
i am thinking the age of the tree also may have something to do with it.