odiferous

Odiferous is an adjective meaning bearing or emitting an odor; capable of being smelled. It is used to describe substances, plants, or environments that release a scent. The term does not inherently indicate whether the odor is pleasant or unpleasant; the tone is determined by context.

Etymology: Odiferous derives from Latin odiferus, from odor meaning smell, with the suffix -ferus meaning bearing or carrying. The more common spelling is odoriferous; odiferous is a less common variant or older form, found mainly in specialized or historical texts.

Usage: Odiferous appears primarily in formal or scientific writing, including botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and natural history. In botanical descriptions, you might read about odiferous flowers or odiferous glands. In everyday English, speakers often substitute fragrant, aromatic, or malodorous depending on the odor’s character.

Relation to other terms: Odiferous/odoriferous exists on a spectrum with related terms. Fragrant and aromatic generally imply pleasant odors, malodorous and putrid imply unpleasant smells, and odiferous is neutral or context-dependent. Modern usage tends to favor odoriferous in formal writing, while odiferous is more common in older texts or specialized vocabulary.