odorant

odorant — noun

1. a substance — either natural or artificially made — that produces a particular s

1.名詞C1
釋義

a substance — either natural or artificially made — that produces a particular smell; many types of odorant are added to products such as gas or air fresheners so that people can notice them by their scent.

例句

The gas company adds an odorant to natural gas so that residents can detect leaks.

collocation: add + odorant + to + [substance]

Xiu studied how different odorants in roasted coffee beans create the drink's rich aroma.

同義詞
  • scent

    a more general and less technical word; 'scent' can refer to the smell itself or the substance producing it, while 'odorant' almost always means the substance.

  • aroma compound

    a more precise synonym used in food science and perfumery; narrower than 'odorant'.

  • fragrance

    implies a pleasant smell; 'odorant' can refer to either pleasant or unpleasant smells.

反義詞
  • deodorant

    a substance that removes or masks smells, whereas an odorant produces a smell.

文法句型

odorant + verb (is / produces)

add + odorant + to + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in scientific or industrial contexts (gas safety, perfumery, food chemistry). The everyday equivalent is 'smell' or 'scent'; 'odorant' is preferred when referring to a specific chemical compound or an intentionally added substance.

常見錯誤

❌This rose has a lovely odorant.
✅This rose has a lovely scent.
💡'odorant' refers to a substance that produces a smell, not the smell itself.
❌The chemist added an odor in the gas.
✅The chemist added an odorant to the gas.
💡'odor' is the smell itself; 'odorant' is the substance that creates it.