fragrance

USAGE SUMMARY

"fragrance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "fragrance" to refer to a pleasant smell, either from a natural source or a manufactured product like perfume or cologne. For example: "The room was filled with the fragrance of jasmine flowers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can't taste the former, much as I love it in other dishes, but some of the fragrance of the latter, which is also found in other recipes, does come through at the end.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Events take a sinister turn when the friends spot a dead goat in the pool: "Decomposition; the new fragrance by John Paul Goatier Glenisterr's character jokes as Beesley's Woody manfully digs a hole to bury it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Let me tell you, they just lapped up my understated fragrance I Am King, which I dedicated to Barack Obama, Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

thegannet.com GG Sichuan pepper, commonly known in Chinese as "flower pepper", is one of the signature spices of Sichuanese cooking, prized not for its heat but for its cool, lip-tingling sensation and citrussy fragrance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The in-store theatre it offers is outstanding, and its recent skate-park and fragrance lab are a few of the installations that make them a standout retail destination.

The Guardian

They found that those who had been given the commercial fragrance showed an increase in self-confidence.

The Economist

That this results in changes in behaviour has not, however, been clearly demonstrated.Terri Molnar, a spokeswoman for the Sense of Smell Institute, a research organisation in New York tied to the fragrance industry, says of human pheromones, "I think we believe they exist but they do not function as an attractant.

The Economist

Aficionados relish the girth, firmness and fragrance of their cigars.

The Economist

(Indeed, things have been so good that perfume-makers face a new product-liability problem in Russia, where oligarchs' girlfriends buy dozens of bottles in order to bathe in a fragrance, unaware that this can be deadly).

The Economist

The notoriously irascible artist was so impressed by the young Italian's tenacity that he allowed him to buy two, and a lasting relationship was born.Mr Bilotti moved to New York in the 1960s and married the heiress to the Old Spice fragrance fortune.

The Economist

But for flavour and fragrance companies with global sales of flavours accounting for more than a third of the $35 billion-a-year food ingredients market acceptable tastes bear directly on the bottom line.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing scents, be specific about the source and qualities of the "fragrance". For example, instead of saying "a pleasant fragrance", specify "the fragrance of blooming jasmine" or "a citrusy fragrance".

Common error

Avoid using "fragrance" as a generic term for all pleasant smells. Be descriptive; instead of just saying something has "fragrance", specify what the scent is reminiscent of or what notes it contains (e.g., floral, woody, spicy).

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fragrance" is as a noun, denoting a pleasant smell or scent. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, such as describing the scent of flowers, perfumes, or food.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academic Sources

5%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fragrance" is a grammatically sound and versatile noun used to describe pleasant smells across various contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions primarily to evoke sensory experiences related to scent. With a neutral register, as seen in its frequent appearance in news media and encyclopedias, it is suitable for both formal and informal writing. To enhance your writing, be specific when describing a "fragrance" and use alternative terms like "aroma" or "scent" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Aroma

Focuses on the scent, especially of food or drink.

Scent

A general term for a distinctive smell.

Perfume

Refers specifically to a manufactured scent, often a liquid.

Bouquet

Describes a complex scent, often used in the context of wine or flowers.

Odor

A neutral term for a smell, which can be pleasant or unpleasant.

Essence

Suggests the fundamental nature or quality of a scent.

Redolence

Implies a sweet or pleasant odor.

Aromatic

Describes something having a noticeable and pleasant smell.

Sweet smell

Directly indicates a pleasant olfactory experience.

Olfactory sensation

A scientific term emphasizing the sensory experience of smell.

FAQs

How can I describe a "fragrance" in more detail?

Consider using descriptive adjectives that specify the type of scent, such as "floral", "woody", "citrusy", or "musky". You can also mention the source of the "fragrance", like "the fragrance of lavender" or "the fragrance of freshly baked bread".

What are some synonyms for "fragrance"?

Depending on the context, you could use "aroma", "scent", "perfume", or "bouquet". Each of these words carries slightly different connotations.

Is "fragrance" only used for pleasant smells?

While "fragrance" generally implies a pleasant smell, it can technically refer to any distinctive scent. However, it's more common to use words like "odor" or "smell" for neutral or unpleasant scents.

How does "fragrance" differ from "odor"?

"Fragrance" typically refers to a pleasant smell, often associated with flowers, perfumes, or spices. "Odor", on the other hand, is a more neutral term for any smell, which can be either pleasant or unpleasant.