Essence vs. Scent — What's the Difference?

Fundamental nature or most important quality.

Apply perfume to;

Essential oil or extract.

Perfume or cologne.

Intrinsic nature.

A trace that is followed by predators or researchers.

A concentrated form of a substance.

A hint or suggestion of something.

Core characteristic.

Quality of smelling.

Essence (Latin: essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. Essence is contrasted with accident: a property that the entity or substance has contingently, without which the substance can still retain its identity.

A distinctive smell, especially one that is pleasant

The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character

A trail indicated by the characteristic smell of an animal and perceptible to hounds or other animals

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter and used for flavouring or scent

The faculty or sense of smell

The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something

Impart a pleasant scent to

(Philosophy) The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence.

Discern by the sense of smell

The most important part or aspect of something

A distinctive, often agreeable odor.

An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.

A perfume

Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.

An odor left by the passing of an animal.

A perfume or scent.

The trail of a hunted animal or fugitive

One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated

The sense of smell

Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.

A hint of something imminent; a suggestion

The inherent nature of a thing or idea.

To perceive or identify by the sense of smell

(philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.

To suspect or detect

Constituent substance.

To fill with a pleasant odor; perfume

A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.

To hunt prey by means of the sense of smell. Used of hounds.

A significant feature of something.

A distinctive smell.

The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.

A smell left by an animal that may be used for tracing.

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter used for flavouring, or as a restorative.

The sense of smell.

Fragrance, a perfume.

A substance (usually liquid) created to provide a pleasant smell.

The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.

(figuratively) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone, such as the paper left behind in a paperchase.

The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.

(obsolete) Sense, perception.

Constituent substance.

(transitive) To detect the scent of; to discern by the sense of smell.

A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.

(ambitransitive) To inhale in order to detect the scent of (something).

The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like.

To have a suspicion of; to detect the possibility of (something).

Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.

(transitive) To impart an odour to, to cause to have a particular smell.

To perfume; to scent.

To have a smell; (figuratively) to give an impression (of something).

The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;

To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

Any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted

To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does.

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

To imbue or fill with odor; to perfume.

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

To have a smell.

To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent of musk.

Specifically, the odor left by an animal on the ground in passing over it; as, dogs find or lose the scent; hence, course of pursuit; track of discovery.

The power of smelling; the sense of smell; as, a hound of nice scent; to divert the scent.

A distinctive odor that is pleasant

An odor left in passing by which a person or animal can be traced

Any property detected by the olfactory system

Cause to smell or be smelly

Catch the scent of; get wind of;

No, essence often refers to abstract qualities rather than just physical attributes.

Yes, scents can trigger emotional responses and memories, affecting mood and feelings.

Scent can be used to create ambiance, evoke memories, and enhance experiences in a setting.

A novelist can describe the scent in a scene to set the atmosphere, using detailed sensory descriptions.

Capturing the essence in writing involves highlighting the core themes or attributes that define the subject.

Yes, concepts or emotions can have an essence without being physically tangible.

Animals can detect scents but detecting the 'essence' in the abstract sense is more a human philosophical concept.

Scent is crucial in marketing as it can influence consumer behavior and brand perception.

The essence of a person refers to their fundamental qualities or attributes that define their true nature.

Yes, essences like vanilla or almond are used in cooking to add concentrated flavors.

'Essence' refers to the intrinsic nature, while 'essential' describes something necessary or indispensable.