fragrance
gb/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/ us/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
B1
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
a pleasant or sweet smell
A nice, sweet smell in the air, often from flowers, perfume, or food.
Usage pattern:
the fragrance of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "fragrance" for any kind of smell, even bad ones. In modern English, "fragrance" almost always means a pleasant smell. For a bad smell, use words like "smell" (with context), "bad odor", or "stench". Learners also confuse it with "perfume": "fragrance" can be the smell in the air, not only the bottled product.
Synonyms
scent (Very close in meaning; can be neutral or pleasant, and slightly broader in use.)
|
aroma (Often used for pleasant food or drink smells, or warm, rich smells.)
|
perfume (Can mean the smell itself, but more often the bottled liquid that produces the smell.)
Antonyms
stench (A very strong, unpleasant smell; strongly negative opposite of a pleasant fragrance.)
|
bad odor (General term for an unpleasant smell, opposite in emotional tone to a fragrance.)
Collocations
delicate fragrance
|light fragrance
|subtle fragrance
|lingering fragrance
|floral fragrance
|the fragrance of flowers
Themes
daily life
|senses
|nature
|food
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The soft fragrance of jasmine filled the evening air.
- She paused to enjoy the fragrance of the roses in the garden.
- The bakery’s warm fragrance drifted out onto the street.
- This candle releases a gentle vanilla fragrance when you light it.
- After the rain, there was a fresh, clean fragrance in the forest.
Learner examples
- I love the fragrance of fresh coffee in the morning.
- The room had a light fragrance of flowers.
- The soap has a strong lemon fragrance.
- The fragrance of the sea made me feel calm.
- We opened the window to let in the fragrance of the garden.
Noun
B1
entity
2
a perfume or scented product
A liquid perfume or similar product that you put on your body, clothes, or in a room to give a nice smell.
Usage pattern:
wear [a/the] fragrance
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "I put a fragrance" instead of "I wear a fragrance" or "I put on perfume". Also, "fragrance" is usually countable in this sense ("a new fragrance", "two fragrances"), while in the smell sense it can be either countable or uncountable.
Synonyms
perfume (The most common everyday word for a scented liquid people wear; slightly more specific and familiar than "fragrance".)
|
scent (Informal and common in advertising; often used the same way as "fragrance" for a personal perfume.)
|
cologne (Usually refers to lighter fragrances, often marketed to men.)
Antonyms
fragrance-free product (A product made without added perfume or scent, the opposite of a scented or perfumed product.)
|
unscented (Describes products with no added smell, contrasting with products that are sold as a fragrance.)
Collocations
wear a fragrance
|signature fragrance
|new fragrance
|launch a fragrance
|fragrance line
|fragrance brand
Themes
daily life
|fashion
|personal care
|daily_life
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She always wears the same light citrus fragrance to work.
- The company has just launched a new unisex fragrance for summer.
- I’m looking for a signature fragrance that really suits my personality.
- This brand’s latest fragrance comes in a simple glass bottle.
- Many people are sensitive to strong fragrances in the office.
Learner examples
- He bought an expensive fragrance for his wife.
- I do not like heavy fragrances on hot days.
- This store sells many different fragrances for men and women.
- She changed her fragrance because the old one was too strong.
- Please do not wear strong fragrances to the meeting.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
scent ingredient in products
In things like soap, cream, or detergent, the group of chemicals that are added to give the product a nice smell.
Usage pattern:
[product] contains [fragrance]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that on product labels, "fragrance" means a whole group of scent chemicals, not just a simple smell. They also sometimes confuse "fragrance-free" (no added scent) with "unscented" (may still have masking chemicals).
Synonyms
perfume (In ingredient lists, sometimes used in the same way to mean added scent substances.)
|
fragrance additives (More explicitly refers to the substances added to a product to create a smell.)
Antonyms
fragrance-free (Describes a product made without added scent chemicals, the direct opposite of containing fragrance as an ingredient.)
|
unscented (Indicates a product with no noticeable added smell, contrasting with products that include fragrance mixtures.)
Collocations
fragrance ingredients
|synthetic fragrance
|added fragrance
|fragrance allergens
|fragrance blend
|fragrance chemicals
Themes
science
|health
|personal care
|daily_life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This lotion is labeled as having no added fragrance, which is better for sensitive skin.
- Some people are allergic to certain fragrance ingredients in cosmetics.
- The company decided to remove synthetic fragrance from its cleaning products.
- By law, manufacturers do not have to list the individual chemicals inside the term "fragrance."
- Customers are asking for fewer fragrance chemicals in household products.
Learner examples
- This shampoo has too much fragrance for me.
- My skin reacts to strong fragrance in creams.
- The label says the soap has no fragrance.
- Some people avoid products with synthetic fragrance.
- I buy detergent without fragrance for my baby’s clothes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fragrance
IPA
GB/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
US/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
Syllables & stress
fra - grance (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fra)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fragrance
- Plural: fragrance, fragrances
Word family
Forms
fragrances
noun
Core family
fragrant
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
fragrance-free
adjective
Advanced or less common
fragrantly
adverb
Expressions
a hint of fragrance
1/ə hˈɪnt əv fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
fixed phrase
a very light pleasant smell
A very small and light amount of pleasant smell.
Examples
- The cream has just a hint of fragrance, so it’s not overpowering.
- There was a hint of fragrance from the lilies in the hallway.
add fragrance to
1/ˈæd fɹˈeɪɡɹəns tə/
fixed phrase
put scent into something
To put perfume or scent chemicals into a product so it smells nice.
Examples
- Manufacturers often add fragrance to cleaning products to make them more appealing.
- They add fragrance to the candles after the wax cools slightly.
capture the fragrance of
1/kˈæpt͡ʃɚ ðə fɹˈeɪɡɹəns əv/
fixed phrase
literary
preserve or copy a specific smell
To keep or copy the special smell of something, usually in a perfume or product.
Examples
- The perfumer tried to capture the fragrance of fresh rain on dry earth.
- This candle captures the fragrance of a summer garden.
fragrance notes
1/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns nˈoʊts/
fixed phrase
technical
components of a perfume’s smell
The different smells, like lemon, rose, or vanilla, that together make one perfume.
Examples
- The main fragrance notes in this perfume are jasmine and sandalwood.
- I prefer warm fragrance notes like amber and vanilla.
fragrance-free
1/fɹˈeɪɡɹəns fɹˈi/
fixed phrase
without added fragrance chemicals
Describes a product that has no added perfume or smell chemicals.
Examples
- If you have sensitive skin, choose a fragrance-free moisturizer.
- The office asks employees to use fragrance-free products to avoid allergies.
signature fragrance
1/sˈɪɡnət͡ʃɚ fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
fixed phrase
a person’s usual perfume
A perfume or scent that someone uses all the time and is strongly connected with that person.
Examples
- Chanel No. 5 has been her signature fragrance for years.
- He is still searching for a signature fragrance that feels like him.
wear a fragrance
1/wˈɛɹ ə fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
fixed phrase
have perfume on your body
To put on and have perfume or a similar scent on your body or clothes.
Examples
- Please don’t wear a strong fragrance to the interview.
- She rarely wears a fragrance because her partner is sensitive to smells.