Translation guide
How to express that something has a particular smell, or that a smell is coming from something, in natural Japanese.
To say that something smells like a particular thing (e.g., flowers, smoke, fish).
The most common and neutral way to say 'smells of N' or 'has the smell of N'. N is a noun. におい can be used for both pleasant and unpleasant smells, but is slightly more associated with unpleasant ones in some contexts.
This room smells of cigarettes.
She always smells of flowers.
Used for pleasant smells, like flowers, perfume, or food. 香り implies a nice fragrance.
This tea smells of jasmine.
The garden smells of roses.
Specifically for bad smells. The kanji 臭い emphasizes an unpleasant odor. The reading is the same as におい, but the nuance is negative.
The fridge smells of something rotten.
An adjective suffix meaning 'smelling of N', often for strong or unpleasant smells. Attaches directly to nouns. Can also be used metaphorically (e.g., バターくさい 'buttery' or 'reeking of butter').
This milk smells a bit sour.
The dog is wet and smells of dog.
To say that something is releasing a smell into the air.
Literally 'to emit the smell of N'. More literary or dramatic than においがする. Often used in written descriptions.
The flower was giving off a sweet smell.
Means 'the smell of N hangs in the air' or 'drifts'. Used for smells that linger.
The smell of curry drifted from the kitchen.
To express the action of smelling something intentionally or perceiving a smell.
The standard verb for 'to smell something' or 'to sniff'. Use を嗅ぐ with the object being smelled.
He smelled the aroma of the wine.
The dog is smelling the ground.
Idiomatic expression meaning 'the smell of N gets up your nose' or 'is irritatingly noticeable'. Used for strong, often unpleasant smells.
The smell of fish got up my nose and I lost my appetite.
におい is the general word for smell, neutral but often slightly negative. 香り is specifically a pleasant fragrance (flowers, perfume, tea). 臭い (noun) or the suffix ～くさい refers to bad smells. In casual speech, におい is safe for most situations.
This soap smells good.
This soap has a nice fragrance.
English 'smells of N' cannot be directly translated as 'Nのにおい' alone. You need a verb like する. Saying 'この部屋はタバコのにおい' is incomplete; use 'タバコのにおいがする'.
This room smells of cigarettes.