Are you writing a scene in your novel that is set in a garden? Let us give you some tips! Below, we’ve included 10 words to describe the smell of a garden.
1. Acrid
Definition
A smell so bitter or unpleasant that it causes irritation to the eyes or nose.
Examples
“The acrid smell of the dying flowers in the garden was so overpowering that it actually brought tears to visitors’ eyes.”
“I don’t know what kind of flowers she planted but the smell was so acrid that I couldn’t stop coughing.”
How it Adds Description
Not all flowers give off a lovely smell. Some of the more beautiful flowers can actually give off a tangy, sour smell when blossoming. If you have a garden full of these flowers, describing the smell as acrid shows how overpowering it is and the physical effect it has on anyone who visits.
2. Woodsy
Definition
Characteristic of woodlands or areas covered in trees and wood.
Examples
“As soon as I entered the garden, I could smell the woodsy scent of the apple trees and mulberry bushes.”
“Pruning the branches of the lime trees and shrubs filled the garden with that woodsy scent of a forest in springtime.”
How it Adds Description
If you are describing a garden during fall or winter, then you want to highlight the lack of flowers by focusing on the fallen leaves and exposed branches and stems. Using woodsy evokes for the reader not just the smell of broken and bare branches and dried-out crunchy leaves but how they sound and look, as well.
3. Earthy
Definition
Containing characteristics associated with earth, such as dirt, flowers, insects, etc.
Examples
“She loved the earthy smells of gardening: the upturned dirt, the newborn worms, the broken-down compost.”
“He always knew when the gardener was around as the earthy smells of mown grass and pruned flowers filled the house.”
How it Adds Description
Earthy calls to mind images of freshly plowed dirt and new flowers. Using earthy to describe the smell of a garden shows that the garden is in transition or being tended to. There are new flowers and smells to be found soon, but right now, the garden is mostly just moist dirt and compost.
4. Cloying
Definition
So sweet that it’s almost sickening.
Examples
“The cloying smell of the sweet flowers overpowered their visual beauty.”
“The garden, when in full bloom, was cloyingly sweet; I couldn’t bear to visit until the flowers began to drop.”
How it Adds Description
Too much sweetness makes us feel sick. This goes for sweet smells, as well. If you have a small or enclosed garden with lots of sweet flowers blossoming, use cloying to show the reader how unpleasant the sickly-sweet smell can be.
5. Fresh
Definition
- Without corruption or impurities.
- New or recently renewed.
Examples
“She took a deep breath and inhaled the fresh air of the garden.”
“You knew it was spring when the freshness of newly grown flowers filled the air.”
How it Adds Description
Springtime often brings new plants and flowers. Describing the smell as fresh shows how new these plants are and emphasizes that the flowers haven’t started blossoming yet; they’re still growing but should have their own aromas soon.
6. Perfumed
Definition
Filled with a sweet, pleasant smell.
Examples
“The perfumed aroma of the roses and lilacs in the garden lulled her into her happy place.”
“The garden smelled of perfume and rose petals.”
How it Adds Description
Perfumes often use flowers such as lilac, lavender, and roses to create their signature smells. Use perfumed to describe the smell of a garden shows that these flowers are likely planted there and creating a similar aroma, like walking through the perfume section of a department store.
7. Wispy
Definition
Thin, almost nonexistent.
Examples
“The wispy smell of the few blossoming flowers greeted her at her back door.”
“We knew it was nearly spring time when we could detect the wispy aromas of lavender and mint in the garden.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes, gardens don’t have an overpowering smell to them. Wispy suggests that there is only a hint of something in the air. Use wispy to show that the garden has only a few flowers or that the flowers it has don’t have a lot of smell.
8. Fruity
Definition
Characteristics of fruit, particularly with regarding citrus or grapes.
Examples
“The fruity smells from the garden made my mouth water.”
“Whenever the garden smelled of ripening fruit, she remembered collecting fallen oranges from her grandmother’s backyard as a child.”
How it Adds Description
If the garden has more fruit trees or vines than they have flowers, then you might want to use fruity to describe its smell. Fruity is also a good word to describe a garden where the fruit has overripened and been left to rot in the dirt.
9. Minty
Definition
Having the freshness and sweetness of mint.
Examples
“The minty smell of the herb garden brought a freshness and lightness to the balcony.”
“I knew it was almost Christmas time when my herb garden smelled more of mint than anything else.”
How it Adds Description
Herb gardens are known for their smells as herbs can often have quite powerful aromas. Mint is probably the most powerful smelling of the herbs and is connected to certain types of foods and drinks. Describing the garden has minty taps into both the sense of smell and taste, as the reader can almost immediately recognize what the herb garden smells like while also imagining what the mint will be used to create.
10. Musty
Definition
Having a moldy smell as if from decay or degradation.
Examples
“The years of decaying leaves and flowers gave a musty smell to the abandoned garden.”
“We dug into the musty garden, ripping out dried out vines and piling dead leaves for burning.”
How it Adds Description
If you are describing a garden that has been neglected or abandoned, then you want to emphasize not only how many plants there are but also how dead or rotting they are. Use musty to describe the smell of these overgrown plants to help the reader see how degraded the garden has gotten over the years.