noun, taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
stinking; reeking; foul-smelling
Describes a strong, unpleasant odor permeating the air. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts. Can function as a noun, taru-adjective, or adverb with と.
The room was filled with a foul odor.
We passed by a stinking sewer ditch.
臭い is the everyday adjective for 'smelly'; 臭気芬々 is a formal, written-style description of an overwhelming foul odor.
Standard kanji spelling; 芬々 is a reduplicated kanji compound meaning 'strong-smelling'.
Variant spelling using the non-reduplicated form of 芬; less common but still seen.
Compound of 臭気 (shūki, 'bad smell') and 芬々 (funpun, 'strong-smelling'). 芬々 is a reduplication of 芬, a kanji associated with fragrance or strong odor, here used in a negative sense.