noun
Refers to a coarseness or lack of refinement, often with a nuance of being overly worldly or materialistic. Can describe a person's character, atmosphere, or artistic taste.
彼の作品には俗臭が感じられない。
His works are free from vulgarity.
あの政治家の演説は俗臭に満ちている。
That politician's speech is full of worldliness.
Compound of 俗 (vulgar, worldly) and 臭 (smell, stench), literally 'vulgar smell'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word figuratively denotes an air of coarseness.