Lists: Words Commonly Used to Describe Smells

A growing list of words associated with scents & smells.

acrid, aged, airless, airport, alkaline, aromatic, bacon, baking, banana, barbeque, barnyard, beachy, beery, bitter, bright, bloody, books, bouquet, briney, burnt, camphoric, catbox, cedar, cigar, cinnamon, citrusy, cheesy, chicken soup, chlorine, clean, clove, cloying, coffee, creamy, curry, damp, doggy, earthy, eye-watering, exhaust, fermented, fishy, floury, floral, foul, fumes, funky, fragrant, fresh, fruity, garlicky, garbage, gasoline, ginger, grassy, green, hairspray, herbal, homey, home cooking, horse, jasmine, ink, incense, leafy, lemony, lavender, laundry, lawn, leathery, locker room, meaty, medicinal, metallic, mildewed, minty, moldy, mothball, musky, mushroomy, new car, newspaper, notes, odor, oily, oniony, orangey, paint, peppery, perfumey, piney, pinion, pickled, plasticky, popcorn, powdery, pungent, putrid, rancid, rank, resinous, rose, rotten, rubbery, sandalwood, savory, sawdust, scentless, seaside, skunk, spicy, spoiled, stinky, smoky, sneaker, soapy, sour, stagnant, stale, stench, stinging, stony, stuffy, sulfurous, sweaty, sweet, swimming pool, tangy, tarry, underarm, urine, vanilla, vinegary, vomit, whiff, winey, wooden, woodsy, wooly, zesty, zoo

See also: Words Commonly Used to Describe Sounds