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    Descriptive Words For Scents-List of Smell Adjectives

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    Arzu Farshi
    The document provides a comprehensive list of descriptive words that can be used to convey different scents when writing. It includes adjectives for natural scents from the outdoors, food-related scents, the depth and strength of scents, unpleasant scents, and synonyms for the word "scent". The list aims to give writers more options for vividly describing smells and enhancing the sensory elements of their writing.

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    Descriptive Words For Scents-List of Smell Adjectives

    Uploaded by

    Arzu Farshi
    245 views4 pages
    The document provides a comprehensive list of descriptive words that can be used to convey different scents when writing. It includes adjectives for natural scents from the outdoors, food-related scents, the depth and strength of scents, unpleasant scents, and synonyms for the word "scent". The list aims to give writers more options for vividly describing smells and enhancing the sensory elements of their writing.

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    Descriptive Words for Scents-List of Smell Adjectives

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    The document provides a comprehensive list of descriptive words that can be used to convey different scents when writing. It includes adjectives for natural scents from the outdoors, food-related scents, the depth and strength of scents, unpleasant scents, and synonyms for the word "scent". The list aims to give writers more options for vividly describing smells and enhancing the sensory elements of their writing.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    245 views4 pages

    Descriptive Words For Scents-List of Smell Adjectives

    Uploaded by

    Arzu Farshi
    The document provides a comprehensive list of descriptive words that can be used to convey different scents when writing. It includes adjectives for natural scents from the outdoors, food-related scents, the depth and strength of scents, unpleasant scents, and synonyms for the word "scent". The list aims to give writers more options for vividly describing smells and enhancing the sensory elements of their writing.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Descriptive Words for Scents: List of Smell Adjectives

    Isn't it amazing how words can take shape and materialize into depictions of real-world encounters,
    including scents? The more descriptive the word, the greater the chance that the imagination will
    recreate the scent. That's why it's vital for writers 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. Use these smell adjectives to enhance the sensory appeal of your writing.

    Describing a Scent

    Some descriptive words for scents refer to what made the smell or explain what it smells like. Review
    words and meanings here or download a printable list of scent words.

    Scent Smell Adjectives

    Outdoorsy or Natural Adjectives for Smell

    The great outdoors is filled with fragrances that most people can relate to, so nature words are often
    used to describe or explain scent.

    • airy - natural smelling, like clean, fresh air

    • clean - very light scent, clean and natural

    • crisp - fresh and natural

    • earthy - recently dug or tilled soil

    • fresh - natural smelling, rather than artificial


    • loamy - fragrance with an earthy note

    • feminine - floral fragrances

    • floral - scents associated with flowers

    • flowery - fragrance similar to flowers

    • masculine - earthy fragrances

    • pine - crisp, refreshing evergreen smell

    • lilac - rich floral scent combining rose with vanilla

    • moist - smell of dew or rainfall

    • rose - spicy yet sweet fragrance

    • smoky - scent of burning wood

    • woodsy - forest-like smell

    Food-Related Words to Describe Smell

    There can be a close association between the senses of taste and smell, so it makes sense that
    fragrances are often described in terms of foods.

    • citrusy - crisp notes of any citrus fruit

    • fishy - smelling of fish; pungent, strong, unpleasant

    • lemony - tart, piquant citrus notes

    • lime - refreshing and zesty citrus smell

    • minty - menthol-like smell, think mint tea or peppermint candy

    • savory - spicy, salty scent that has no elements of sweetness

    • spicy - sharp, heady, can sting or tickle the nose

    • sour - rancid, sickly sweet smell

    • sweet - sugary smell

    • tart - sharp fragrance

    Adjectives to Describe the Depth of Scent

    Some scents are very light while others are extremely strong with a lot of variation in between.

    • billowy - scent that surges and wanes

    • biting - pungent, sharp or harsh fragrance

    • faint - very light or mild fragrance; can barely be detected


    • heady - very strong aroma

    • misty - mild fragrance, not overpowering

    • overpowering - too strong of a smell

    • pungent - strong fragrance

    • redolent - having a strong, permeating odor

    • rich - a strong, resounding smell that is appealing to the senses

    • sharp - pungent fragrance that permeates the air

    • wispy - hint of fragrance in the air

    • perfumed - artificial fragrance, not natural-smelling

    Descriptive Terms for Unpleasant Scents

    Simply saying that something smells bad isn’t very descriptive. Use appropriate adjectives to convey
    what an unpleasant odor smells like.

    • acid - sour, burnt odor; vinegary smell

    • acrid - strong, biting smell, such as something that’s on fire

    • dirty - nasty, unpleasant odor; unwashed and in need of washing

    • doggy - odor like an unbathed or wet canine

    • fetid - decaying or rotting smell

    • mildewed - soaked in wetness that has gone stale

    • moldy - damp, fungus-like odor

    • musty - old smell; stale and probably moldy

    • nauseating - odor that makes one sick to one’s stomach

    • plastic - artificial chemical polymer odor

    • putrid - stench of decay

    • rancid - spoiled; food that has gone bad

    • repulsive - off-putting odor

    • rotten - spoiled, rancid, unpalatable

    • skunky - noxious smell that lingers; sulfuric (like rotten eggs) odor

    • stale - old, dusty, stagnant odor

    • spoiled - rotten; something that has “gone bad”


    • stinking - unpleasant, foul smell

    • sweaty - perspiration odor

    Scent Synonyms

    The word scent can refer to a lovely perfume or a strong odor. There are many synonyms you can use
    instead to avoid repetition. While each of these words can be used to mean the same thing as scent in
    certain contexts, 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.

    • aroma - strong, yet pleasant scent

    • aura - smell surrounding something

    • balm - soothing scent

    • bouquet - blend of floral scents

    • essence - basic, natural scent

    • fragrance - pleasant smell

    • incense - strong scent

    • odorize - changing the scent

    • perfume - added scent

    • pheromone - natural scents

    • smell - odor, smell, scent

    • trace - a tiny amount of fragrance

    • whiff - a fleeting scent

    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 of a negative connotation to them, like how you might talk about the
    stench of a dumpster in a back alley.

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