Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
that smells nice
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "that smells nice" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has a pleasant scent, often in reference to food, flowers, or fragrances. Example: "The freshly baked cookies that smells nice filled the entire house with a warm aroma."
✓ Grammatically correct
Wiki
News & Media
Lifestyle
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
19 human-written examples
What you need Paper Pencil Pins Felt Needle Embroidery thread Ribbon Stuffing and perfume/essential oils OR petals, herbs or anything that smells nice Embellishments (eg buttons, sequins, fabric) What to do 1.
News & Media
Scout bees probably travel in a direction and stop when they find something that smells nice, as opposed to bee-lining to a distant hive directly (pun intended).
News & Media
I love him wearing an aftershave that smells nice and the scent of his T-shirt when it's washed with lavender.
News & Media
Men can enhance their sex appeal by investing in an aftershave that smells nice or shower gel, so I guess smell comes into play to at least some extent.
News & Media
Use a pretty, girly scented body butter that smells nice.
Wiki
Bake something that smells nice just before you need the sleeping person to awake; the aromas should wake them up.
Wiki
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
41 human-written examples
But they stole another minute, and when they left off kissing again she backtracked, saying it could never work out between them, because he was used to an apartment that smelled nice, where you could read the paper on a Sunday morning, and not a pigsty, where toys were scattered everywhere.
News & Media
Use products that smell nice and that you enjoy.
Wiki
Get the ones that smell nice and work well!
Wiki
"You want a nice healthy sea that looks nice, smells nice and is good to swim in.
News & Media
If you know that someone you like will be coming over solo later and that there's a good chance you'll be making out later, then you can make sure your room is neat and tidy, that there's no chance a parent or roommate will interrupt, and that everything smells nice and is conducive to making out.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing a particular environment, use "that smells nice" to immediately create a positive impression. For instance, "Walking into the bakery, the aroma of fresh bread was the first thing I noticed; that smells nice immediately made me feel welcome."
Common error
Avoid using "that smells nice" in highly formal or scientific writing. Opt for more precise and descriptive terms like "that emits a pleasant fragrance" or "that possesses an agreeable aroma" to maintain a professional tone.
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "that smells nice" primarily functions as an expressive statement, conveying a subjective sensory experience. It serves to communicate a positive olfactory perception, similar to the examples found in Ludwig.
Frequent in
Wiki
31%
News & Media
27%
Lifestyle
8%
Less common in
Sport
2%
Books
2%
Environment
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "that smells nice" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express a positive reaction to a scent. While versatile, it's best suited for informal contexts. For formal settings, alternatives like "that has a pleasant aroma" might be more appropriate. Ludwig examples show diverse contexts from lifestyle articles to wikis, indicating broad applicability, and, as Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
that's a pleasant smell
Simplifies the structure while maintaining the same core meaning.
that's a good smell
Uses simpler vocabulary for a more direct and casual expression.
that smells delightful
Interchanges "nice" with "delightful" to express greater pleasure in the scent.
that smells wonderful
Replaces "nice" with "wonderful", increasing the intensity of the positive olfactory experience.
that has a pleasant aroma
Replaces the general term "smells nice" with a more sophisticated term, "aroma", indicating a more delicate or complex scent.
that has a lovely fragrance
Substitutes "smells nice" with "lovely fragrance", emphasizing the appealing and often floral nature of the scent.
that smells divine
Emphasizes the exceptional pleasantness of the smell, suggesting a transcendent or heavenly quality.
that emits a delightful scent
Uses more formal language to describe the emission of a pleasant smell, suitable for descriptive writing.
that's an agreeable scent
Replaces "smell" with "scent" and "nice" with "agreeable", offering a slightly more formal tone.
that has an appealing odor
Uses "appealing odor" instead of "smells nice", but "odor" can sometimes have negative connotations, so context is important.
FAQs
What does "that smells nice" mean?
The phrase "that smells nice" is used to express that something has a pleasant or agreeable scent. It is a common and straightforward way to compliment or describe something's odor.
What can I say instead of "that smells nice"?
You can use alternatives like "that has a pleasant aroma", "that smells wonderful", or "that has a lovely fragrance" depending on the context and desired level of formality.
Is "that smells nice" grammatically correct?
Yes, "that smells nice" is grammatically correct. "That" functions as a pronoun, "smells" is the verb, and "nice" is an adjective describing the smell.
When is it appropriate to use "that smells nice"?
It is appropriate to use "that smells nice" in casual conversation, informal settings, and when you want to express a simple, positive reaction to a scent. However, more formal settings might require more descriptive or sophisticated language.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested