When I cure......I trim as many leaves as possible before downing the plant....then I hang the entire plant (cut of at the base) in the dark 65-70*F until the plants feels dry....usually about a week.

I then get a 33 gallon trash bag and enclose the entire plant inside the bag and tie the top off...I leave the plant hanking up inside the bag for 2 days...it draws the moisture from the stems/stock back into the buds allowing for a slow cure.

After the 2 days I remove the trash bag and let the plant dry until the buds are nice and dry 2-3 days.

Smell has to do with strain...you want some smelly herb get some skunk #1 or a indica strain

Taste normally has to do with strain, flushing and curing....the slower the cure the better the taste