aroma

noun

aro·​ma ə-ˈrō-mə 

1

a

: a distinctive, pervasive, and usually pleasant or savory smell

the aroma of freshly-baked bread

broadly : odor

b

: the odor of a wine imparted by the grapes from which it is made

The wine has a fruity aroma.

2

: a distinctive quality or atmosphere : flavor

the sweet aroma of success

Synonyms

• scent
• fragrance
• fragrancy

Choose the Right Synonym for aroma

smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense.

smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

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

a cheese with a strong odor

aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Examples of aroma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bright, medium purple; rich aromas of black currant, black licorice, peppercorn, mocha and graphite. —Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

The citrus notes are powerful and sharp; Joseph tasted calamansi and lemon zest, Kelsey tasted zingy lime, editorial operations manager Kate Kassin mentioned aromas of orange peel. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 July 2025

Hand-selected by Distiller David Bock, this latest release was aged a minimum of ten years and boasts the rich aromas of leather, plums, and a hint of apple. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 July 2025

Infused with vitamin E and notes of the hearty meal, the spherical lip products emit the unmistakable aroma, as if the food itself had touched the lips. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aromat "fragrant substance, as a spice or ointment," borrowed from Anglo-French aromat, aromant "balm," borrowed from Latin arōmat-, arōma "fragrant substance, spice," borrowed from Greek arōmat-, árōma, of obscure origin

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for aroma

• diploma
• fibroma
• glaucoma
• glioma
• lipoma
• lymphoma
• myoma
• myxoma
• neuroma
• paloma
• schwannoma
• scotoma

Kids Definition

aroma

noun

aro·​ma ə-ˈrō-mə 

: a noticeable and usually pleasant smell

the aroma of coffee