olfactory

adjective

ol·​fac·​to·​ry äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē  ōl- 

: of or relating to the sense of smell

olfactory receptors

olfactory sensations

olfactorily

äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rə-lē 

ōl-

adverb

Did you know?

No, olfactory is not a noun meaning “a place that makes scents”; for that, you want perfumery, which makes more sense. Olfactory is instead an adjective used to describe things related to one’s sense of smell, that which lets you detect fruit with your snoot, a leek with your beak, Shiraz with your schnozz. Olfactory comes from the Latin word olfacere (“to smell”), which in turn combines two verbs, olēre (“to give off a smell”) and facere (“to do”). It often appears in scientific contexts (as in “olfactory nerves,” the nerves that pass from the nose to the brain and contain the receptors that make smelling possible), but it is occasionally used in less technical writing and speech. The pleasant smell of hot mulled cider, for example, might be considered an “olfactory delight,” depending on the spices and your own sensibilities, of course. As they say, the nose knows.

Examples of olfactory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The group previously worked on other systems for wearable interfaces, such as haptic and olfactory feedback. —IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2024

Sweet vanilla fragrances are a dime a dozen, but each bottle still brings something unique to your olfactory senses—like a spiciness from pink pepper or a fruity feel from orange zest. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 25 Nov. 2024

Woven together by the threads of art, design and olfactory culture, the Bálancing connects brands and products across furniture, home decor, fashion, footwear, fragrance and wash care to tell the story of art merging with life, creating a harmonious union of utility and aesthetics. —WWD, 22 Nov. 2024

Hand-poured in Hollywood by actual struggling actors (including the brand’s founder, Michael Filippone), these candles take their olfactory inspiration from the silver screen. —Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin olfactorius, from olfacere to smell, from olēre to smell + facere to do — more at odor, do

First Known Use

circa 1658, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing olfactory

• olfactory bulb
• olfactory lobe
• olfactory nerve

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Kids Definition

olfactory

adjective

ol·​fac·​to·​ry äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē 

ōl-

: of, relating to, or concerned with the sense of smell

Medical Definition

olfactory

adjective

ol·​fac·​to·​ry äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē  ōl- 

: of, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell