olfactory

adjective

ol·fac·to·ry äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē ōl-

: of or relating to the sense of smell

olfactory receptors

olfactory sensations

olfactorily

äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rə-lē

ōl-

adverb

Did you know?

No, olfactory is not a noun meaning “a place that makes scents”; for that, you want perfumery, which makes more sense. Olfactory is instead an adjective used to describe things related to one’s sense of smell, that which lets you detect fruit with your snoot, a leek with your beak, Shiraz with your schnozz. Olfactory comes from the Latin word olfacere (“to smell”), which in turn combines two verbs, olēre (“to give off a smell”) and facere (“to do”). It often appears in scientific contexts (as in “olfactory nerves,” the nerves that pass from the nose to the brain and contain the receptors that make smelling possible), but it is occasionally used in less technical writing and speech. The pleasant smell of hot mulled cider, for example, might be considered an “olfactory delight,” depending on the spices and your own sensibilities, of course. As they say, the nose knows.

Examples of olfactory in a Sentence

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Inspired by the uniquely fragrant atmosphere of bakeries in Muscat and across Oman, Love Delight is an olfactory indulgence that fully embodies a sense of sweetness and decadence. —Danielle James, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025 A number of other mammals have structures inside their noses called the the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and main olfactory epithelium (MOE) designed to detect pheromones. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 The researchers’ olfactory tests — which involve participants peeling and then sniffing odors on a card — assess people’s ability to identify and remember odors. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2025 The new line will include diffusers and roll-on fragrances, blending Sergent’s botanical expertise with the olfactory experience. —Rachel King, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for olfactory