There are many words to describe smells, but most of us have no training, or little practice, in using them, so we have to relate a wine's smells to something similar. You will hear wines described as "floral", or "fruity" — or even "vegetal".
Floral
Rose, violet, acacia, jasmine, orange blossom.
Spicy
Pepper, clove, licorice, aniseed, cinnamon.
Fruity
Lemon, grapefruit, blackcurrant, cherry, plum, peach, apricot, apple, melon, gooseberry, pineapple, lychee, raspberry.
Vegetal
Straw, undergrowth, greenery, grass, sweet pepper, mint, asparagus, olive, mushrooms.
Animal
Gamey, musky, wet wool/fur, leathery.
Woody
Resin, pine, oak, cedar, vanilla.
Burnt
Singed or roasted notes; tar, toast, coffee, caramel, smoke.
Chemical
Yeast, sulphur, nail varnish, vinegar, plastic.
Mineral
Chalky, volcanic, earthy, oily, petrolly.
Others
Nutty, honeyed, buttery, smoky.
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