22 Adjectives to Describe Smell

22 Adjectives to Describe Smell in English (with Clear Meanings & Examples)

Smell is one of the most powerful senses. A single scent can remind us of childhood, make us feel hungry, take us back to a holiday, or warn us that something is very wrong in the fridge. Yet when English learners describe smells, they often use only a few basic words: good, bad, nice, terrible. That’s a pity — because English has wonderfully rich and precise vocabulary for describing smells.

In this lesson, you will learn 22 adjectives to describe smell, with clear meanings and natural example sentences. These words are especially useful for writing stories and descriptions, describing places, food, rooms, and atmosphere and reviews, essays, and Cambridge exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced)

Let’s explore the world of smells — from delicious to dreadful.

Pleasant & attractive smells

Aromatic

Meaning: having a strong, pleasant smell, especially of herbs, spices, or plants.

• The kitchen smelled aromatic because of the fresh herbs.
• The room was infused with aromatic oils.

Fragrant

Meaning: having a sweet, pleasant smell (often used for flowers, perfume, soap).

• The garden was full of fragrant roses.
• Sara uses a fragrant hand cream that leaves her skin soft and lightly scented all day.

Fresh

Meaning: clean, light, and pleasant.

• The air gave off a fresh smell after the rain.
• The sheets smelled fresh and clean, and it was a pleasure to lie down and relax.

Pleasant

Meaning: nice and enjoyable, not strong or unpleasant.

• There was a pleasant smell of coffee in the house.
• The soap has a pleasant, gentle scent that makes washing your hands feel like a small luxury.

Sweet

Meaning: having a soft, pleasant smell, often like flowers or fruit.

• The room smelled sweet with fresh flowers, and the air felt light and welcoming.
• There was a sweet scent of vanilla in the air.

Rich

Meaning: strong, deep, and pleasant (often for food or perfume).

• The cake gave off a rich chocolate smell.
• The soup had a rich, pleasant fragrance, making everyone hungry before it was even served.

Woody

Meaning: smelling like wood, trees, or forests.

• The cabin had a warm, woody smell.
• His perfume has a woody note that makes it feel warm and elegant.

Zesty

Meaning: fresh, sharp, and energetic, usually like citrus.

• The kitchen gave off a zesty smell of lemon and orange.
• She likes zesty, citrus perfumes.

Spicy

Meaning: smelling of spices such as pepper, cinnamon, or ginger.

• The air was full of spicy smells from the market.
• The dish smelled spicy and warm.

Sugary

Meaning: smelling very sweet, like sugar or sweets.

• There was a sugary smell coming from the bakery.
• The shop gave off a sugary and warm smell, like a bakery full of hot baked cakes.

22 adjectives to describe smell

Natural & neutral smells

Earthy

Meaning: smelling like earth, soil, or nature.

• The cellar had an earthy smell that reminded her of forests after rain.
• After the rain, the forest smelled earthy and fresh.

Clean

Meaning: smelling fresh and not dirty.

• The bathroom smelled clean and fresh.
• The towels had a clean, soapy smell and felt wonderfully fresh and soft.

Distinctive

Meaning: easy to recognise because it is different from others.

• The cheese has a very distinctive smell.
• The shop has a distinctive scent you notice immediately.

Strong

Meaning: very noticeable and powerful.

• She was wearing a very strong perfume.
• There was a strong smell of paint in the room, sharp and impossible to ignore.

Odd

Meaning: strange or unusual.

• There’s an odd smell in the fridge.
• Something smells odd in here — did you leave something in the fridge?

Queer (old-fashioned / slightly literary)

Meaning: strange or suspicious.

• There was a queer smell coming from the cupboard.
• This milk smells queer — I wouldn’t drink it.

Unpleasant smells

Pungent

Meaning: very strong and sharp (often unpleasant).

• The kitchen was full of the pungent smell of onions.
• There was a pungent chemical smell in the lab.

Rancid

Meaning: smelling bad because food (especially butter or oil) is old.

• The butter smelled rancid, as if it had been in the fridge for far too long.
• A rancid smell came from the cupboard.

Stale

Meaning: smelling old, not fresh (air, food, smoke).

• The room smelled stale and stuffy.
• His clothes smelled stale with smoke.

Sour

Meaning: smelling sharp and unpleasant, like spoiled food or milk.

• The milk smelled sour, so I knew it had gone bad.
• There was a sour smell in the kitchen.

Sharp

Meaning: very strong and biting, often unpleasant or chemical.

• There was a sharp smell of cleaning products.
• The paint gave off a sharp smell.

Bitter

Meaning: having a harsh, unpleasant smell (often used more for taste, but possible for smell).

• There was a bitter, burnt smell in the kitchen.
• The air had a bitter scent after the fire.

These adjectives help you write better descriptions, describe places, food, houses, cities, nature, improve B2 & C1 writing and speaking and sound more natural and more expressive.

Smell is invisible — but with the right words, your writing won’t be.

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