Scent
SCENT, an odour or smell, particularly a fragrant liquid distilled from flowers, etc., used as a perfume (see PERFUMERY). The word should be properly spelled " sent," and is derived from the Mid. Eng. verb senlen, to scent, to perceive by the sense of smell, Fr. sentir, Lat. sentire, perceive by the senses. The intrusive c appears in the i?th 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.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
