Distinctive smells, especially pleasant ones like perfumes or natural aromas. Odors that can be detected by the sense of smell.
From Old French sentir (to feel, smell), from Latin sentire (to perceive, feel). The word entered English in the 14th century, initially meaning any kind of perception before narrowing to olfactory sensation.
English uniquely has three homophones - scents, sense, and cents - that all trace back to Latin sentire, showing how one root concept of 'perceiving' branched into smell, general perception, and monetary counting. This makes for delightful wordplay possibilities.
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