Describing Tastes and Smells: English Vocabulary List

‌a taste that is not sour, bitter, salty, or sweet, found in some foods such as meat, etc.

"Umami is the fifth basic taste."

"Umami is the savory fifth taste found in foods like mushrooms aged cheese and soy sauce."

describing food that has no flavor or taste

"The soup is insipid."

"The insipid soup had no salt pepper or any other seasoning and tasted like plain hot water with vegetables."

having a deliciously sweet and pleasant taste

"The juice is nectarous."

"The nectarous juice of the ripe mango was so sweet and delicious that she drank three glasses of it in a row."

having a strong, pungent smell, often likened to the scent of a skunk

"The beer smells skunky."

"The skunky smell of the beer indicated that it had gone bad and was no longer safe to drink at all."

having a distinct and often pleasant natural scent

"Flowers are odoriferous."

"The odoriferous cheese was so strong that the delivery man could smell it through the cardboard box and the plastic wrapping."

describing food or aromas that are divine or heavenly

"The dessert is ambrosial."

"The ambrosial dessert was the best thing she had ever tasted and she asked the chef for the recipe immediately."

having a stale, moldy, or damp odor, often associated with a lack of freshness and proper ventilation

"The old book smells musty."

"The musty smell of the old bookstore reminded him of his grandfather's library where he spent many happy hours reading as a child."

having a strong and distinctive scent, often associated with musk or similar natural fragrances

"His cologne is musky."

"The musky cologne that he wore was too strong and gave her a headache every time she sat next to him."

describing food that does not have a pleasant taste

"The meal is unpalatable."

"The unpalatable meal was so bad that he could not finish it even though he was very hungry and had not eaten all day."