harum

Harum is a word in Malay and Indonesian that denotes a pleasant fragrance or aroma. As an adjective, it is used to describe flowers, spices, perfumes, foods, and other scented objects. In everyday speech you might encounter phrases such as bunga harum (fragrant flower) or wangian harum (fragrant perfume). The expression harum semerbak is commonly used to convey a strong, lingering fragrance.

The term is native to the Malay and Indonesian languages and is widely used across the Malay-speaking world. It appears in literary and cultural contexts to evoke pleasant scents and is often paired with other descriptors to emphasize aroma and sensory appeal.

Harum also functions as a personal or family name in Indonesian and Malay communities, reflecting its role as a positive, culturally resonant concept. In popular culture and literature, the word may appear as part of character names, titles, or poetic imagery that emphasize beauty, memory, or atmosphere linked to fragrance.

In commerce and horticulture, harum is used to highlight aroma in product naming. A well-known example is the Harumanis mango, a cultivar from Malaysia celebrated for its distinctive fragrance and sweetness; the name itself underscores the cultural association between the fruit and fragrant impressions.