aroma

American  

[uh-roh-muh] / əˈroʊ mə /

noun

• aromas
  plural

1. an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., especially an agreeable odor; fragrance.

2. (of wines and spirits) the odor or bouquet.

3. a pervasive characteristic or quality.

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aroma British  

/ əˈrəʊmə /

noun

1. a distinctive usually pleasant smell, esp of spices, wines, and plants

2. a subtle pervasive quality or atmosphere

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Synonym Usage

See perfume.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aromas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of aroma

First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin, from Greek: “spice”; replacing Middle English aromat, from Old French, from Latin arōmat- (stem of arōma )

Explanation

Aroma is the word for a fragrant scent, one that pleases the nose in a way that makes you lick your lips. Unlike its foul-smelling cousin the odor, an aroma smells but never stinks. Want to know what aromas smell like? Brew a fresh pot of coffee, grill some onions, and fry up a few strips of bacon. Aromas make you drool. You can also use the word to describe things that don't literally smell, yet somehow seem to linger smell-like in the air, like the oppressive aroma of a brutal dictatorship.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aroma aromas

On his recent flight to Fresno, Franks was tasked with evaluating how altitude affects taste, aroma and mouth feel for each of his blends.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Even if insurance did not cover business losses linked to a change in taste, he would not sell his wine if its aroma was burnt.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Researchers observed changes in polyphenols, catechins, and volatile compounds that contribute to flavor and aroma.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

Pedestrians crossing the bridge pass through a fabricated interior, a cavern-like space printed in 3D realism and enhanced with a specially designed scent to evoke the dank, earthy aroma of humankind’s early habitations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026

“Maybe I don’t—” The aroma of the pepperoni pizza hits me and I don’t even remember what I was saying.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

“The Rhône is a land of olive oil,” he writes, “the Rhine a pasture full of butter, the Po alive with the aromas of Parmesan and prosciutto.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Fresh and elegant, with serious tannins, aromas of violets and roses and flavors including pomegranate and big, ripe red berries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Sodha says that limiting each plant to 750ml of water a day produces "rich, highly concentrated sugars and aromas instead of water-logged, bland fruits".

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Kombuchas made from black tea and pu-erh, meanwhile, displayed richer, earthier aromas with more pronounced fermentation characteristics.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

Before the aromas of the delicacies were captured in our most ornate box, they floated in the air, causing all the neighborhood animals to whine at our door.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin

Related Words

• bouquet
• odor
• perfume
• scent
• spice