aromatic
/ˌær.əˈmæt.ɪk/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Having a strong, pleasant smell, especially from spices, herbs, coffee, or flowers. It can also describe food or drinks with a noticeable fragrant taste or smell.
- The kitchen filled with aromatic spices.
- She made an aromatic herbal tea.
- This soap has an aromatic scent.
Adinary Nuance
Aromatic is stronger and more specific than “smelly” or “fragrant.” It often suggests a warm, rich smell, especially in cooking, perfume, or plants. Writers choose it when they want a pleasant smell to feel noticeable and attractive. It is more formal than everyday words like “nice-smelling.”
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thơm
- Spanish
- aromático
- Chinese
- 芳香的
- Japanese
- 芳香の
- Korean
- 향기로운
Etymology
Aromatic comes from Latin and Greek words for spices and fragrance. It entered English in the 16th century, first used for things that smell pleasant.
Common phrases
aromatic herbsaromatic spicesan aromatic scentaromatic compounds
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is aromatic formal or informal?
- It is neutral to slightly formal. It works well in writing, menus, and descriptions.
- What is the difference between aromatic and fragrant?
- Both mean pleasant-smelling, but aromatic often suggests a richer smell, especially in food or herbs.
- Can I use aromatic for food?
- Yes. It is common for herbs, spices, coffee, tea, and cooked dishes.
- Is aromatic used in science?
- Yes. In science, it can also describe certain chemical compounds with ring structures.