mindmap root((气味)) smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character or source: an odd ~ permeated the room. scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant and stresses the source of the sensation: dogs trained to detect the ~ of narcotics. odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell: a type of cheese with a very pronounced ~. aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating, pervasive, or sometimes pungent, but usually pleasant odor: the ~ of freshly ground coffee.