Scent

Scent, an odour or smell, particularly a fragrant liquid distilled from flowers, &c., used as a perfume (see Perfumery). The word should be properly spelled "sent," and is derived from the Mid. Eng. verb senten, to scent, to perceive by the sense of smell, Fr. sentir, Lat. sentire, perceive by the senses. The intrusive c appears in the 17th century, and is paralleled by the same in "scythe" for sythe. For the physical causes of the sensation caused by a scent see Smell, and for the anatomy of the organs concerned see Olfactory System.