Inklingo

How to Say "scent" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “scent” is “olor” — use 'olor' for any kind of smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant, often referring to the general quality of a smell. It's a very common and versatile word..

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olor

oh-LOHR/oˈlor/

nounA1
Use 'olor' for any kind of smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant, often referring to the general quality of a smell. It's a very common and versatile word.
A close-up illustration of a pink rose emitting visible wavy scent lines that curve upwards, representing the sensation of smell.

Examples

¡Qué buen olor tiene este café!

What a great smell this coffee has!

El olor a gasolina me da dolor de cabeza.

The smell of gasoline gives me a headache.

Ese olor extraño viene de la cocina.

That strange odor is coming from the kitchen.

Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in -r, 'olor' is always masculine: 'el olor', 'un olor'.

Describing Smells

To say something 'smells like' something else, use 'tener olor a...': 'La casa tiene olor a flores' (The house smells like flowers).

Using 'La' instead of 'El'

Mistake: “La olor es horrible.”

Correction: El olor es horrible. ('Olor' is masculine, even though it ends in 'r'.)

aroma

/ah-ROH-mah//aˈɾoma/

nounA2
Use 'aroma' specifically for a pleasant, often distinctive or appealing smell, commonly associated with food, drinks, or flowers.
A steaming cup of coffee with swirling steam rising into the air, representing a pleasant scent.

Examples

Me encanta el aroma del café por la mañana.

I love the scent of coffee in the morning.

Las flores del jardín desprenden un aroma dulce.

The flowers in the garden give off a sweet fragrance.

El vino tiene un aroma frutal muy intenso.

The wine has a very intense fruity aroma.

The 'Masculine -a' Rule

Even though this word ends in '-a,' it is masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un' instead of 'la' or 'una.' This often happens with words that come from Greek.

Using 'la' instead of 'el'

Mistake: “La aroma es dulce.”

Correction: El aroma es dulce. Because the word is masculine, the words describing it (like 'the' or 'sweet') must match its masculine gender.

perfume

per-FOO-meh/peɾˈfume/

nounA1
Use 'perfume' to refer to a pleasant scent that comes from a specific fragrant substance, like cologne or a scented product, or the product itself.
A high quality storybook illustration of an ornate, clear glass perfume bottle with a decorative stopper, sitting on a surface. A soft, fragrant mist is depicted rising from the atomizer.

Examples

Compré un nuevo perfume para la fiesta.

I bought a new perfume for the party.

El perfume de las flores llenó toda la habitación.

The fragrance of the flowers filled the whole room.

¿Qué perfume usas? Huele delicioso.

What perfume do you wear? It smells delicious.

Masculine Gender Rule

Even though 'perfume' ends in '-e', it is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el perfume'.

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “La perfume es muy fuerte.”

Correction: El perfume es muy fuerte. (Remember, it's masculine, so use 'el'.)

rastro

/RRAH-stroh//ˈras.tɾo/

nounB1
Use 'rastro' when referring to the scent or trail left behind by an animal, often used in the context of tracking.
A cartoon bloodhound with its nose to the ground, intently sniffing an invisible winding scent trail over green grass.

Examples

El perro olfateó el rastro del conejo.

The dog sniffed the rabbit's scent.

Aún queda un rastro de humo en la habitación.

There is still a trace/smell of smoke left in the room.

Olor vs. Aroma

Learners often confuse 'olor' and 'aroma'. Remember that 'olor' is neutral and can be any smell, good or bad. 'Aroma' is specifically for pleasant and often enticing smells, like those from food or coffee.

Related Translations

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