olfactic

English

Etymology

Noun of action from Latin olfacere (“to smell (trans.)”), from olere (“to emit a smell”) (see odor) + facere (“to make”) (see factitious).

Adjective

olfactic (comparative more olfactic, superlative most olfactic)

1. Referring to the olfactory senses or the sense of smell.

Usage notes

Both "olfactic" and "olfactive" refer to the action of smelling, "olfaction". "Olfactic" refers more to the characteristic of the smell (that is, the smell coming off of the thing smelled); it concerns the product that is smelled. "Olfactive" refers more to the characteristic of the action of smelling; it focuses on the act or process of the smelling. Thus, "an olfactic description of a bouquet of flowers" is opposed to a visual description, whereas "the olfactive impairment of a cold" is the fact your ability to smell is inhibited.