fragrance

noun

fra·​grance ˈfrā-grən(t)s How to pronounce fragrance (audio)
1
a
: a sweet or delicate odor (as of fresh flowers, pine trees, or perfume)
b
: something (such as a perfume) compounded to give off a sweet or pleasant odor
2
: the quality or state of having a sweet odor
Choose the Right Synonym for fragrance

fragrance, perfume, scent, redolence mean a sweet or pleasant odor.

fragrance suggests the odors of flowers or other growing things.

the fragrance of pine

perfume may suggest a stronger or heavier odor.

the perfume of lilacs

scent is very close to perfume but of wider application because more neutral in connotation.

scent-free soaps

redolence implies a mixture of fragrant or pungent odors.

the redolence of a forest after a rain

Examples of fragrance in a Sentence

a flower with a lovely fragrance the fragrance of lilac trees in full bloom
Recent Examples on the Web Their latest fragrance, Ouranon, exists between both aromas and balances herbals with dry woody notes. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Nov. 2023 Contact Dermatitis Contact dermatitis is a reaction to an allergen or irritant, such as fragrances, hair dyes, and shampoos. Anthea Levi, Health, 14 Nov. 2023 Juniper Get fragrance, beautiful blueberries, and hardy greenery all in one. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023 Kush Perfume is for noses that have an aversion to overly sweet or floral fragrances; this perfume has notes of rhubarb and tulip against a base note of powdered musk and amber, resulting in a subtle scent that feels like a traipse through the woods and lasts all day. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 9 Nov. 2023 The fragrance was created by Dior Perfume’s creative director, Francis Kurkdjian, while the bottle design comes from Baby Dior’s artistic director, Cordélia de Castellane. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2023 Think about where your garden could use height, color or fragrance to greatest effect. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 From there, the P.F. Candle Co. team took their home fragrance expertise into the wild and evaluated the aromas. Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 Fresh wreaths have the shortest lifespan, and for the most part, the difference between types of greenery is fragrance (Kloner recommends cedar or Norfolk pine). Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fragrance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fragrance was in 1667

Dictionary Entries Near fragrance

Cite this Entry

“Fragrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fragrance. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

fragrance

noun
fra·​grance ˈfrā-grən(t)s How to pronounce fragrance (audio)
: a sweet, pleasant, and often flowery or fruity smell

More from Merriam-Webster on fragrance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!