yes...all purple strains have a distinct smell...whether it be a green "purple" strain or actually have the color purple...my buddy grows outdoor purple in arcata, not one shade of purple in the 60 lbs he pulled...but it had that very distinct grape smell to it.
This is what I've been after, to me I'm unable to identify a uniquely "purple" smell that encompasses all purple varieties. But I'm glad to hear that you were able to identify a common characteristic. Most people I talk to seem to assign some mystic, unquantifiable trait to all purple, it almost sounds like cult rhetoric. Thank you for claryfing what you feel makes "purple" a true purple, the smell.
All people need to say is that it is purple this or kush that and everyone seems to eat it up... I will have buddies that will be like "try out this kush" or "check out my purple..." Nine times out of 10 it is not kush or purple anything, people will believe whatever you tell them. Certain true purple strains do have a purpley? taste to them, but not all.
I tend to agree, the average smoker buys into the self promotion of the dealer or seller. Advertising and marketing seem to play an ever increasing roll in what people feel, or assume is or should be high quality bud. Purple seems to be used as a selling tool more than a legitimate denotation of quality, despite its true roots having genuine connections to such, as the case may be.