How to say "aroma" in Japanese

• 香りかおりJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday, all-purpose word for a literal aroma, covering everything from 'fragrance' and 'scent' down to plain 'smell'. Reach for it when talking about the aroma of coffee, food, or flowers.
  そのバラはよい香かおりを発散はっさんした。↗

  The roses gave off a nice smell.
• 芳香ほうこうCommon
  no-adjectiveA sweet, pleasant fragrance, with a more formal or literary feel than 香り; it fits descriptive prose about perfume-like scents. For everyday smells in casual conversation, 香り is the usual choice.
  蓮れんの花はなはなんとも言いえない芳香ほうこうをはなっていた。↗

  The lotus blossoms diffused an inexpressibly pleasant scent.
• 気品きひんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounNot a smell: this word means elegance or refinement, and matches 'aroma' only figuratively, in the sense of an air of grace. For an actual aroma it is seldom the word you want.

Use 「香り」 as the everyday word for a literal aroma or scent; 芳香 for a sweet, pleasant fragrance in more formal description; 気品 only figuratively, since it really means an air of elegance rather than a smell.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 香りかおりaroma
• 芳香ほうこうperfume
• アロマaroma
• 馨香けいこうfragrance
• 薫くんpleasant smell
• 香かsmell (esp. a good smell)
• 気品きひんaroma
• 気きfragrance