You just helped me realize that I have never personally cooked anything with garlic in it, ever. So I actually have no idea how "gross" it is supposed to smell, during its cooking?
I personally love the smell of fish as it cooks, though I have been told that I am disowned now from my family as a result:-P.
Howwww? I always found garlic to be pretty much a standard ingredient of cooking, and although it's not as common as an onion (literally in almost everything), it's right behind it.
BTW, fresh minced garlic sautéed in a pan for 1 minute smells absolutely delicious.