odour

Everyday

1. An odour is a smell, often an unpleasant one: "a strange odour came from the bin". tree →
2. Body odour (BO) is the bad smell of sweat on someone's body. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, odour is one of the properties used to describe materials; some gases have no odour, so smell is not a safe test (gas companies add an odour to cooking gas so leaks can be noticed). In health lessons, washing stops body odour. Phrases: body odour, a strong odour, odourless, a faint odour.

Examples

• A nasty odour came from the old fridge. tree →
• Wash with soap to stop body odour. tree →
• Carbon dioxide is a gas with no odour. tree →
• Natural gas is given a strong odour so that people notice leaks. tree →
• The odour of fresh bread filled the kitchen. tree →
• The skunk sprayed a horrible odour. tree →
• The blooming lychnis exhaled sweet odours. tree →

Note

Spelling: odour (UK and others) vs odor (USA). Adjective: odourless (no smell). Odour usually suggests a bad smell; "scent" and "fragrance" are pleasant smells. Safety: if you smell gas, leave and tell an adult — do not switch lights on or off.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, a "sweet odour" is the pleasing smell of an offering, which shows that God accepts it.

Interpretation. In Leviticus 26, God warns He will not accept the offerings when Israel breaks the covenant. Tradition says sacrifices only please God when offered with the right heart.

Examples

• And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. (Torah LEV.26.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odours unto him. (Writings DAN.2.46, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: odour (UK and others) vs odor (USA). Adjective: odourless (no smell). Odour usually suggests a bad smell; "scent" and "fragrance" are pleasant smells. Safety: if you smell gas, leave and tell an adult — do not switch lights on or off.