chilly smell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chilly smell" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a scent that evokes a sense of coldness or freshness, often associated with winter or cool environments. Example: "As I stepped outside, I was greeted by a chilly smell that reminded me of the first frost of the season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But now she had got the door open, and the night air had a chilly smell of dirt and wood smoke that clung like grime to her face and arms.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was still chilly and smelled like raw onions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Outside, the chilly air smelled of eucalyptus and toasted marshmallows.

The New York Times

The smell of chillies and roasted grain meets her nose, and her stomach growls.

Nature

I remember walking from my home in Hob Moor Drive to Nunthorpe school on sharp, chilly autum mornings, the sweet smell of Terrys as we crossed the Knavemire mixed with the heady smells from sugar beet factory.... Great memories.

BBC

Saturday may feel chilly.

The New York Times

Yet the images feel chilly.

The New York Times - Arts

Feeling chilly?

Huffington Post

It was a chilly morning at Hampton Court Palace, with the smell of woodsmoke in the air.

The New Yorker

THE Beverly Road subway station, on the No. 2 line in Flatbush, Brooklyn, didn't smell too bad one chilly recent afternoon.

The New York Times

People in his town in northern Greece — Giannitsa — told me that the rising price of heating oil forced residents to rely on their fireplaces, and for the first time in memory, you regularly smell wood smoke in the chilly air.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chilly smell" to vividly describe environments or situations where coldness and scent are intertwined, creating a sensory experience for the reader. For example, "The abandoned cabin had a "chilly smell" of damp wood and disuse, painting a clear picture of neglect."

Common error

Avoid using "chilly smell" in descriptions of warm or tropical environments, as it creates a contradictory and confusing sensory image for the reader. For instance, instead of saying "The tropical breeze had a "chilly smell", consider alternative descriptions such as "The air was heavy with the sweet scent of jasmine."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chilly smell" functions as a descriptive element, combining an adjective ("chilly") with a noun ("smell") to create a sensory image. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a usable and correct phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "chilly smell" is a grammatically sound and evocative way to describe a scent associated with coldness, as supported by Ludwig AI. Though not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys a sensory experience, particularly in descriptive writing within news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the described environment to avoid creating confusing imagery. Alternatives like "cool scent" or "frosty aroma" can provide similar descriptive power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cool scent

Replaces "chilly" with "cool", maintaining the sense of coldness but with a slightly different connotation.

frosty aroma

Substitutes both words with synonyms that evoke a stronger sense of winter or frost.

cold fragrance

Emphasizes the cold aspect and replaces "smell" with a more refined term, "fragrance".

icy odor

Uses "icy" to amplify the feeling of coldness associated with the smell.

crisp scent

Focuses on the refreshing and clean aspect of the smell, related to coldness.

wintery scent

Directly connects the smell to the season of winter.

brisk aroma

Highlights the invigorating quality of a cold-related smell.

refreshing chill

Shifts the focus to the sensation of chill, describing it as refreshing.

frost-tinged scent

Indicates that the scent has a hint or touch of frostiness.

air with a bite

Describes the air itself as having a sharp, cold quality that can be smelled.

FAQs

How can I use "chilly smell" in a sentence?

You can use "chilly smell" to describe a scent that evokes coldness or freshness. For example, "The forest in the morning had a "chilly smell" of pine and damp earth."

What can I say instead of "chilly smell"?

You can use alternatives like "cool scent", "frosty aroma", or "icy odor" depending on the context.

Is "chilly smell" a commonly used phrase?

While grammatically correct, "chilly smell" is not as common as other descriptive phrases. Alternatives like "cool breeze" or "fresh scent" might be more frequently encountered.

What kind of places would typically have a "chilly smell"?

Places like forests in the early morning, old houses, or rooms that haven't been aired out in a while might have a "chilly smell". It's often associated with dampness and coldness.