What does aromatised mean?
"Aromatised" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "aromatise," meaning to give something a pleasant, distinctive smell or flavour by adding fragrant ingredients. It is used most often in cooking, winemaking, and perfumery: oils may be aromatised with herbs, rices with spices, and wines with botanicals. The word takes the British -ise spelling, while American English uses "aromatized" for the identical meaning. Its root lies in the Greek word "aroma" (spice or fragrant herb), which also gives us "aromatic" and "aromatherapy." In modern usage it frequently appears attributively — as in "aromatised wine" or "aromatised rice" — where it signals deliberate, often traditional flavouring rather than accidental scent. The word carries a mildly refined, artisanal connotation, evoking careful craft rather than industrial processing, and remains a useful precise term wherever fragrance and flavour are deliberately imparted.
verb (past tense and past participle)Past tense and past participle of the verb "aromatise": to have given a pleasant, distinctive smell or flavour to something, typically by adding herbs, spices, or other fragrant substances.
- To have given a pleasant smell or flavour to food, drink, or another substance by adding aromatic ingredients such as herbs, spices, or essences.
"The chef aromatised the olive oil with rosemary and garlic."
"The rice was delicately aromatised with saffron and cardamom."
"Vintners have long aromatised wines with botanicals such as wormwood and citrus peel."
That bottle of 'aromatised' olive oil on your shelf carries a word whose root traces back to ancient Greek — the spice trade's favourite adjective.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aromatised
The word derives from "aromatise," formed from the noun "aroma," which English borrowed from Latin "aroma," itself taken from Greek "arōma," meaning fragrant spice or herb. The verb formation with the suffix -ise follows the standard pattern for turning nouns into process verbs in British English. Cognates sharing this Greek root include "aromatic" and "aromatherapy," the latter a twentieth-century coinage. The spelling with -ise reflects standard British orthographic convention, while American English uses -ize.
Related word forms
How aromatised is actually used
"Aromatised" is chiefly a British spelling; American usage prefers "aromatized." It appears most often in culinary, winemaking, and perfumery contexts, and is typically used attributively in phrases like "aromatised wine" or "aromatised oil." The register is neutral to slightly formal.
Easily confused with aromatised
"Aromatized" is simply the American spelling of the same word, using -ize instead of the British -ise ending; the meanings are identical.