it smells sweet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it smells sweet" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a pleasant scent, often related to food, flowers, or other fragrant items. Example: "As I walked through the garden, I noticed that it smells sweet, thanks to the blooming jasmine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The company's Deer Stopper works to offend animals with its scent, but unlike other repellents on the market, it smells sweet rather than putrid.

The New York Times

It smells sweet and fruity and was inspired by cherry blossom.

Independent

Of course, Shakespeare's great line works because everyone knows what a rose is and that it smells sweet.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

If it smells sweet, it's a good peach.

WikiHow

Wear whatever smell works with your body chemistry as long as it smells sweet.

WikiHow

Ethylene glycol is poisonous and it smells sweet so is very enticing.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It smelled sweet.

The Guardian - Books

It smelled sweet and faintly nutty — a lot better than the pork bone.

The New Yorker

It smelled sweet and faintly nutty a lot better than the pork bone.

The New Yorker

"What about it?" We were at a table in the shaded garden of the restaurant where it smelled sweet from some kind heliotrope.

The New Yorker

When I took it out of the fridge on the day of consumption, it smelled sweet and alcoholic, and I had to suppress a dry-heave.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "it smells sweet" to simply and directly describe a pleasant aroma, avoiding overly complex language when a straightforward description suffices.

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple sensory details unnecessarily. While describing the scent as "sweet" is effective, adding redundant descriptors like "delicate" or "sugary" without clear purpose can weaken the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it smells sweet" serves as a descriptive statement. It attributes a characteristic (sweetness) to the smell of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

40%

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it smells sweet" is a simple yet effective way to describe a pleasant aroma. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely understood. While "it smells sweet" is most commonly found in news and media and Wiki contexts, it maintains a neutral register applicable to various scenarios. Alternatives include "it has a sweet scent" or "it gives off a sweet fragrance", offering subtle variations in expression. Remember to avoid redundancy in sensory descriptions for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has a sweet scent

Replaces the verb "smells" with "has" and uses the noun "scent" instead of the adjective "sweet".

it gives off a sweet fragrance

Uses "gives off" and "fragrance" to describe the emission of a pleasant aroma.

it exudes a sugary aroma

Employs "exudes" to imply a strong emanation and specifies "sugary" for sweetness.

it has a sugary fragrance

Substitutes "sweet" with "sugary" while retaining the noun "fragrance".

its scent is sugary

Focuses on the scent itself and describes it as sugary, altering the sentence structure.

a sweet scent emanates from it

Inverts the sentence structure and uses "emanates" to highlight the origin of the scent.

it smells like candy

Compares the smell directly to candy, providing a more specific sweetness reference.

it's redolent of sweetness

Uses "redolent" to suggest a fragrance that evokes sweetness.

its aroma is delightful

Shifts the focus to the overall pleasantness of the aroma, rather than specifically 'sweet'.

a delicate sweetness perfumes the air

More poetic rephrasing emphasizing the air being filled with a sweet scent.

FAQs

How can I use "it smells sweet" in a sentence?

You can use "it smells sweet" to describe pleasant fragrances. For example, "The perfume "it smells sweet" and floral" or "If "it smells sweet", it's a good peach.

What can I say instead of "it smells sweet"?

Alternatives include "it has a sweet scent", "it gives off a sweet fragrance", or "it exudes a sugary aroma", depending on the desired nuance.

Which is correct, "it smells sweet" or "it smells sweetly"?

"It smells sweet" is correct. "Sweet" is an adjective describing the smell, not an adverb modifying the verb "smells". "It smells sweetly" is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

What's the difference between "it smells sweet" and "it tastes sweet"?

"It smells sweet" describes the scent, engaging the olfactory sense. "It tastes sweet" describes the flavor, engaging the gustatory sense. For example, a flower smells sweet, while candy tastes sweet.