odorous applies to whatever has a strong distinctive smell whether pleasant or unpleasant.
odorous cheeses should be tightly wrapped
fragrant applies to things (such as flowers or spices) with sweet or agreeable odors.
a fragrant rose
redolent applies usually to a place or thing impregnated with odors.
the kitchen was redolent of garlic and tomatoes
aromatic applies to things emitting pungent often fresh odors.
an aromatic blend of tobaccos
Examples of fragrant in a Sentence
The soup was fragrant with herbs and spices.
the balsam fir is a favorite as a Christmas tree because it is so fragrant
Recent Examples on the WebDecor came to life under the guidance of Save Venice Co-Chair Bronson van Wyck, with verdant foliage and fragrant blooms punctuated by life-sized trees.—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024 The sweet environment is fragrant in a contradictory way — enticing and sickly, indulgent and off-putting, decidedly lovely and vaguely gross.—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024 Get the recipe > Cuban Mojo Sauce Mojo is a fragrant garlic-and-herb sauce that adds zest and spice to many Cuban dishes.—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 11 Apr. 2024 Bake walnuts on a baking sheet in oven for 8 minutes or until fragrant but not dark brown.—Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 Often used for medicinal purposes or in beauty products, Chamomile is a fragrant, sweet-smelling option to plant near walls or as a creeping plant.—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024 With exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark and fragrant white flower clusters, what’s not to love?—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2024 Dave hands me a small tin filled with a fragrant salve.—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024 This creamy soup shuttles the classic carrot-ginger duo into a deeply savory, fragrant direction, with a taste reminiscent of one of my all-time favorite foods: Japanese carrot-ginger dressing.—Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fragrant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin fragrant-, fragrans, from present participle of fragrare to be fragrant
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