odorants
Nose-detectable chemicals
Odorants are substances that produce a smell—molecules volatile enough to reach the nose and trigger olfactory receptors.
The term appears most often in technical contexts: perfumers work with odorants, and natural gas companies add odorants like mercaptan so leaks can be detected by smell.
The lab analyzed the odorants responsible for the wine's bouquet.
Olfactory perception
- noseOlfactory facial organ
- sniffBrief nasal inhalation
- whiffBrief, faint smell
- nostrilsBreathing holes in face
nasal · inhalation · scented · aromatic · pungent · wafting · lingering · faint
Fragrant liquid for wearing
- cologneLight men's fragrance
- fragrancePleasing olfactory quality
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- floralOf or like blooms
citrus · vanilla · jasmine · lavender · sandalwood · rose · patchouli · musk
Bonded atomic groups
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- receptorsProteins binding specific molecules
- chemoreceptionDetection of chemical stimuli
- pheromonesSpecies-specific chemical messengers
neurons · detection · threshold · concentration · binding · synthetic · compounds · chemical
smell
Olfactory perception
nostrils · nasal · inhalation · scented · aromatic · pungent · wafting · lingering · faint · strong
perfume
Fragrant liquid for wearing
- cologneLight men's fragrance
- fragrancePleasing olfactory quality
- essenceFundamental nature of something
floral · citrus · vanilla · jasmine · lavender · sandalwood · rose · patchouli · musk · amber
molecules
Bonded atomic groups
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- receptorsProteins binding specific molecules
- chemoreceptionDetection of chemical stimuli
pheromones · neurons · detection · threshold · concentration · binding · synthetic · compounds · chemical · diffusion
stench
Powerfully offensive odor
fetid · rank · foul · rotten · noxious · miasma · sulfurous · rancid · acrid · spoiled