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 WebWalking around the fragrant flowers, leafy shrubs, orchid terraces, lily ponds, and fountains feels like stepping inside a movie set for a vacation flick.—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023 These fragrant apples continue to ripen after they are picked and transform into a nearly black hue.—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023 And big, juicy oysters are dressed not with watery mignonette but a sunny quail egg yolk, pearls of seaweed, and fragrant black vinegar.—Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 13 Sep. 2023 Another attractive part of the estate are the park-like grounds, which include a sculpture and meditation garden, exotic trees, and fragrant flower beds.—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2023 Apart from the tasteful fragrant compositions each candle evokes, people can distinguish the collection by its architectural packaging.—Pia Velasco, ELLE, 31 Aug. 2023 This oil is extracted from the Rosemarinus officinalis—or rosemary—plant, a fragrant evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region that sprouts blue or whitish flowers.—Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023 Most folks probably don’t think too much about where those vibrant dahlias, perky coneflowers or fragrant lilies in their bouquets came from, but a group of local flower farmers hope to change that.—Hailey Closson, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2023 The fruit is fragrant and has a distinctly bright, tropical flavor.—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023 See More
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
Share