Bonnes odeurs
The English phrase "good smells" is Bonnes odeurs in French.
Bonnes odeurs is used to describe pleasant scents perceived by the nose. While the word odeur is a neutral term for a scent, it is frequently used in the context of bonnes odeurs to denote something pleasant, whereas mauvaises odeurs is used for bad smells. For a more specific or elevated term for fragrance, you can use Senteur. Other related expressions include Un parfum divin for a divine smell and Une odeur irrésistible for an irresistible smell. If you wish to describe something as being perfumed, use the adjective Parfumé or parfumée.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine plural adjective bonnes (good) and the feminine plural noun odeurs (smells).
Which one should you use?
In more sophisticated or commercial settings, such as the industry of perfumery, one might use Parfums to mean perfumes or scents instead of odeurs.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the singular form Bonne odeur when referring to a single pleasant scent.
Did you know?
- In professional perfumery, the term nez (nose) is a formal job title. A nez is a person with a highly trained sense of smell capable of identifying thousands of different bonnes odeurs.
- While odeur is used for general smells, the word parfum describes both a commercial bottle of scent and the natural bonnes odeurs of a flower.
- The word senteur is almost exclusively used in writing or marketing to evoke a poetic mood, whereas odeur is the standard word used in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- Les roses dégagent un parfum agréable.The roses give off a pleasant smell.
- Ton thé à la menthe a une bonne odeur.Your mint tea has a good smell.
- La cuisine chez grand-mère, ça sent toujours bon.Grandma's kitchen always smells good.
- J'aime ces bonnes odeurs de fleurs.I love these good smells of flowers.
- Il y a de bonnes odeurs dans la cuisine.There are good smells in the kitchen.
- Les bonnes odeurs de la forêt sont apaisantes.The good smells of the forest are soothing.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel enter a bakery.
- EmmaOh, je sens de bonnes odeurs !Oh, I smell good smells!
- GabrielOui, le pain sort du four.Yes, the bread is coming out of the oven.
- EmmaC'est vraiment agréable, Gabriel.It's really pleasant, Gabriel.
- GabrielOn achète un croissant ?Shall we buy a croissant?
