Isn't it amazing how words can take shape and materialize into depictions of real-world encounters, including scents and sounds? With a few poetic lines, a reader can visualize precisely how an author was feeling, down to the very smell in the room.
The more descriptive the word, the greater the chance that the imagination will recreate the scent. That's why it's vital to have a few descriptive words for scents ready to go. You never know when you'll want to share the memory of a fine day, right down to the jasmine wafting through the air.
Scent Synonyms and Antonyms
The word "scent" can refer to a lovely perfume or a strong odor. There are many synonyms you can use instead of the word "scent" to avoid repetition, including:
| Aroma | Odorize |
| Aura | Perfume |
| Balm | Pheromone |
| Bouquet | Redolence |
| Essence | Smell |
| Fragrance | Trace |
| Incense | Whiff |
Remember that while each of these words may have the same fundamental meaning as the word "scent," the associated connotation can be quite different. You might talk about how much you love the aroma of freshly baked bread, but it wouldn't make much sense to talk about the pheromone of freshly baked bread.
If you're looking for antonyms of the word "scent" instead, you could use such words as stench, stink, or reek. These have much more a negative connotation to them, like how you might talk about the stench of a dumpster in a back alley.
Describing a Scent
Some descriptive words for scents refer to what made the smell or explain what it smells like. For example, you might try some of these words on for size.
| Doggy | Minty |
| Lemon | Moldy |
| Lemony | Pine |
| Lilac | Plastic |
| Lime | Rose |
| Mildewed | Skunky |
| Mint | Woodsy |
Most descriptive words for scents describe the way something smells or what the smell represents. These include words like the following.
| Acid | Musty |
| Acrid | Nauseating |
| Airy | Perfumed |
| Biting | Pungent |
| Clean | Putrid |
| Crisp | Rancid |
| Dirty | Redolent |
| Earthy | Repulsive |
| Faint | Rotten |
| Feminine | Sharp |
| Fetid | Sour |
| Fishy | Spicy |
| Floral | Spoiled |
| Flowery | Stale |
| Fresh | Stinking |
| Light | Sweaty |
| Loamy | Sweet |
| Masculine | Tart |
| Moist | Wispy |
Descriptive Words Set the Mood
It is said that our sense of smell is our strongest link to memories, even more than our sight or hearing. Indeed, scents can bring back the past or can set the mood for new experiences. So, why wouldn't we want to incorporate some of that into our speech and writing?
As you continue to create various scenes within your writing, you can utilize this list of descriptive words: adjectives, adverbs, and gerunds. Get ready to bring entire universes to life with your words.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"Descriptive Words for Scents." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 March 2019. <https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/descriptive-words-for-scents.html>.
APA Style
Descriptive Words for Scents. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2019, from https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/descriptive-words-for-scents.html
Post a comment.
comments powered by DisqusDescriptive Words for Scents
By YourDictionary
Isn’t it amazing how words can take shape and materialize into depictions of real-world encounters, including scents and sounds? With a few poetic lines, a reader can visualize precisely how an author was feeling, down to the very smell in the room.The more descriptive the word, the greater the chance that the imagination will recreate the scent. That’s why it’s vital to have a few descriptive words for scents ready to go. You never know when you’ll want to share the memory of a fine day, right down to the jasmine wafting through the air.
