odorous

/ˈoʊdərəs/

Other forms: odorously

Anything that has a strong scent can be described as odorous. Usually if you say something is odorous you mean that it smells unpleasant — like an odorous blue cheese made from unpasteurized milk.

The adjective odorous comes from the Latin odorus, meaning “fragrant.” Typically, you wouldn’t say, “those roses you sent me are so odorous!” Although that comment could be literally correct, the implication would be insulting to the giver of said roses. More common uses of odorous might include: odorous gym mats, odorous garbage can, odorous gas fumes — you get the picture. Or rather the stench.

Definitions of odorous

1. adjective

   having odor or a characteristic odor
   “odorous jasmine flowers”

   “odorous garbage”

   “fresh odorous bread”

   synonyms:

   alliaceous

   smelling of onions or garlic

   almond-scented

   smelling of almond

   anise-scented

   smelling of anise

   apple-scented

   smelling of apples

   balsam-scented

   smelling of balsam resin

   candy-scented

   smelling of candy

   cedar-scented

   smelling like cedar

   cinnamon-scented

   smelling of cinnamon

   clove-scented

   smelling of clove

   ginger-scented

   smelling of ginger

   honey-scented

   smelling of honey

   lemon-scented

   smelling of lemons

   mint-scented

   smelling of mint

   musk-scented, musky-scented

   smelling of musk

   pleasant-smelling

   having an odor that is pleasing

   redolent, smelling

   (used with `of' or `with') noticeably odorous

   scented

   (used in combination) having the odor of

   spice-scented

   smelling of spices

   strong-scented, strong-smelling

   having a strong odor

   tansy-scented, tansy-smelling

   smelling of tansy

   tea-scented

   smelling of tea

   vanilla-scented

   smelling of vanilla

   violet-scented

   smelling of violets

   antonyms:

   odorless

   having no odor

   non-aromatic

   not aromatic

   scentless

   emitting or holding no odor
2. adjective

   emitting an odor
   “odorous salt pork and weevily hardtack”

   synonyms: odoriferous

   ill-smelling, malodorous, malodourous, stinky, unpleasant-smelling

   having an unpleasant smell
3. adjective

   having a natural fragrance
   “the odorous air of the orchard”

   synonyms: odoriferous, perfumed, scented, sweet, sweet-scented, sweet-smelling

   fragrant

   pleasant-smelling