Smell vs. Scent |
What’s The Difference?

What’s the difference between “smell” and “scent”? Here are some simple definitions with examples:

Smell:

Smell (noun):The quality of something that can be noticed/sensed by the organs inside human and animal noses.

• Something was causing a bad smell in the factory.
• The smell of rain is so refreshing.
• What’s that smell? Is something burning?

  Smell (verb):To use your nose to sense/notice a smell.

• That hand soap you bought this morning smells amazing.
• I can’t smell anything because I have a cold.
• Bears can smell dead animals from 20 miles away.

Scent:

Scent(noun):A pleasant (good) smell that something has or produces (makes).

• • They smelled the scent of lavender.
  • Vanilla has a sweet scent.
  • She chose the roses because of their scent.

 A smell that a human or animal leaves behind, that can be noticed and followed by some animals such as dogs. 

• • Some experts say that scents can be picked up (noticed) by dogs even after five days.
  • The police dogs lost the scent of the escapee near the river.
  • The dog had left its scent on the sidewalk.

 (UK) A liquid that smells good, that people wear (put/spray) on their skin (perfume). 

• • I bought her a bottle of scent.

  Scent (verb):To notice something because of its smell. 

• • The dog scented something in the box.

  To give something a pleasant (good smell). 

• • The freshly baked cookies scented the kitchen.
  • I recommend scenting the room with one of these products.
  • The flower shop was scented by all the flowers.

Conclusion

As a noun, “smell” and “scent” are very similar, but “scent” is more commonly associated with pleasant smells. As a verb, “smell” means to notice something because of its smell. As a verb, “scent” is less commonly used to say that you notice something because of its smell and is more commonly used to say that an animal notices something because of its smell. Scent as a verb also means that something gives something else a pleasant smell.