bitter aroma
Sharp unsweet smell
A bitter aroma is a smell suggesting bitterness—the sharp, acrid quality associated with dark coffee, burnt toast, or certain herbs.
The phrase appears in wine and food descriptions where smell anticipates taste: The beer had a bitter aroma of hops.
Aroma itself is neutral, but paired with bitter it typically signals intensity rather than unpleasantness.
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- black coffeeUnadorned brewed beverage
- coffeeBrewed bean beverage
morning brew · hops · burnt · burnt toast · earthy · roasted · herbal · tannic · astringent · wormwood · citrus peel · citrus zest · grapefruit · dark chocolate · medicinal · resinous · pine resin · smoky
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