Synonyms of aroma

aroma

noun

ə-ˈrō-mə 

1

as in scent

a sweet or pleasant smell

I love the aroma of bread baking in the oven

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scent
• fragrance
• fragrancy
• perfume
• incense
• balm
• bouquet
• spice
• attar
• redolence
• essence
• odor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stench
• stink
• reek
• malodor
• fetor

2

as in smell

the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose

the ripe aroma of a sweatshirt that's in dire need of laundering

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scent
• smell
• stench
• fragrance
• sniff
• odor
• redolence
• perfume
• fragrancy
• whiff
• attar
• bouquet
• lusciousness
• funk
• rankness
• spice
• malodor
• musk
• rancidity
• aromaticity
• fetor
• tang
• savoriness
• savor
• incense
• ambrosia
• stink
• foulness
• reek
• gaminess
• acridness
• fetidness
• noisomeness
• odorousness
• odoriferousness

3

as in aura

a special quality or impression associated with something

the aroma of wealth and privilege that pervades the manicured confines of the country club

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aura
• smell
• atmosphere
• air
• flavor
• odor
• ambience
• mood
• sense
• feel
• climate
• feeling
• patina
• halo
• karma
• temper
• vibration(s)
• nimbus
• note
• romance
• characteristic
• mystique
• image
• sensation
• spirit
• aureole
• property
• tone
• trait
• attribute
• illusion
• peculiarity
• overtone
• notion
• genius loci
• color
• semblance
• character
• suggestion
• picture
• mark

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun aroma contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of aroma are odor, scent, and smell. While all these words mean "the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense," aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

How are the words odor and smell related as synonyms of aroma?

Odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

In what contexts can scent take the place of aroma?

Although the words scent and aroma have much in common, scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

When is smell a more appropriate choice than aroma?

While the synonyms smell and aroma are close in meaning, smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of aroma

Cooks tend the iconic grill in full view, sending up smoky aromas and satisfying sizzles that are the restaurant’s heartbeat. —Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026

And there were no off-gassing aromas to speak of. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2026

Baker says using grain milled within 24 hours adds aromas and flavors that would quickly evaporate with older flour. —Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026

People find so much beauty in nature, from the dazzling colors of butterflies to the melodious songs of birds and the aromas of flowers. —Logan S. James, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026