It doesn't smell awful.
In Polish quisine, we have lots of things based on gelatin.
For example, savoury jelly, called "zimne nozki" (cold legs).
Its made of pork legs meat (you can do chicken meat version too).
Then, there is... mmm... (my favourite), salceson, which I just learnt, in english is called headcheese
Piece of polish bread and thick slice of salceson, covered with polish mustard... mmmm.....