sachet

American  

[sa-shey, sash-ey] / sæˈʃeɪ, ˈsæʃ eɪ /

noun

1. a small bag, case, or pad containing perfuming powder or the like, placed among handkerchiefs, lingerie, etc., to impart a pleasant scent.

2. Also sachet powder. the powder contained in such a case.

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sachet British  

/ ˈsæʃeɪ /

noun

1. a small sealed envelope, usually made of plastic or paper, for containing sugar, salt, shampoo, etc

2. 1. a small soft bag containing perfumed powder, placed in drawers to scent clothing

   2. the powder contained in such a bag

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Etymology

Origin of sachet

1475–85; < Middle French, equivalent to sach- (combining form of sac sack ¹ ) + -et -et

Explanation

A sachet is a small cloth bag containing something that smells good. You might use a sachet to keep the tube socks and undies in your drawer smelling nice. In Britain, people tend to use the word sachet for any small bag or packet, like a sachet of sugar or a sachet of cat food. In North America, a sachet is a more specific kind of small bag, one that's filled with something scented, like lavender or balsam. In either case, sachet is pronounced like the French word it comes from — the second syllable sounds like shay.

Example Sentences

Subjects took a sachet of granules once a day for three days.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

And for us, it is easily achievable by reaching for a sachet or popping to a cafe.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2023

There’s a sachet of herbs with lavender, rose petals and Himalayan salt hanging in my shower to bring peace and abundance.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2023

But Hazel’s real breakthrough is a sachet the size of a sugar packet that can slowly release 1-MCP into a box of produce.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2022

After a brief silence and another series of small nods, the man handed Comrade Pillai the sachet of photographs.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy