odorant

American  

[oh-der-uhnt] / ˈoʊ dər ənt /

noun

1. an odorous substance or product.

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Etymology

Origin of odorant

1425–75; late Middle English: fragrant; see odor, -ant

Example Sentences

This ability to “print” the exact molecular structure of the desired odorant does seem like a significant advance in the reproducibility of scent.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

For example, there are sensory neurons in our noses that bear receptors uniquely tuned to detect ethyl vanillin, the main odorant in vanilla, and other cells with receptors for limonene, lemon's signature odorant.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2023

The NTSB’s preliminary investigation also found that workers in both buildings had smelled rotting eggs, an odorant added to normally odorless natural gas, before the explosion.

From Washington Times • Oct. 7, 2023

Differences in the concentrations of an odorant sensed by each tine of a snake’s forked tongue help the snake home in on quarry it can’t see.

From Science Magazine • May 24, 2023

Repeated exposure of an animal to the same odorant, in small doses, leads to great enhancement of acuity, suggesting the possibility that new receptor sites are added to the cells.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas