How to say "scent" in Japanese

• 香りかおりJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'scent' in the pleasant sense: a fragrance or aroma given off by flowers, food, or perfume. Choose this when the smell is appealing rather than neutral or offensive.
  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.
• 匂いにおいJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a smell of any kind, pleasant or unpleasant. Use it for 'scent' when no pleasing quality is implied — the scent of smoke, of food cooking, or of an animal.
  あの花はなはにおいが強つよいな。↗

  That flower has a powerful smell.
• 香水こうすいJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounMatches 'scent' only when the word means perfume itself — a bottled fragrance you wear or buy. It is never the word for a smell in the air; for that use 香り or 匂い.
  彼女かのじょはいつも香水こうすいのにおいがきつすぎる。↗

  She always wears too much scent.
• 手がかりてがかりJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounReally means 'clue' or 'lead'; it fits 'scent' only in the figurative sense of a trail to follow, as when an investigation picks up a scent. It never denotes an actual smell.
  その殺人者さつじんしゃの正体しょうたいは手掛てがかりがまったくなかった。↗

  There was no clue as to the identity of the murderer.

Use 「香り」 for a pleasant fragrance, 「匂い」 for smell in general including unpleasant odours, 香水 when 'scent' means a bottled perfume, and 「手がかり」 only for the figurative scent of a trail or clue.

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

• 香りかおりaroma
• 匂いにおいsmell
• 香水こうすいperfume
• 手がかりてがかりclue
• 香かsmell (esp. a good smell)
• 遺臭いしゅうscent (of an animal while hunting)
• 臭跡しゅうせきscent
• オイニーsmell
• 薫くんpleasant smell