What does aromatize mean?
To aromatize is to give something a pleasant, distinctive smell — to fill it with fragrance. The cook aromatizes a dish by adding herbs and spices; the perfumer aromatizes a room; in chemistry, to aromatize is to convert a compound into an aromatic one, such as transforming a hydrocarbon into benzene. The verb derives from 'aroma', which traces back through Latin to the Greek 'arōma', meaning spice or sweet herb, combined with the verb-forming suffix '-ize'. Though understandable to any reader, it is a formal and fairly uncommon word in daily conversation, where simpler alternatives like 'scent' or 'perfume' usually take its place. It is found chiefly in cooking, winemaking, perfumery, and technical chemistry contexts, and its derived noun 'aromatization' names the process itself.
To give a pleasing smell to something; to perfume, scent, or season.
"Cardamom pods aromatize the rice as it steams."
Most common in culinary and perfumery writing.
In chemistry, to convert a compound into an aromatic compound.
"The catalyst serves to aromatize the cyclohexane into benzene."
Specialist sense used in organic chemistry; the corresponding noun is aromatization.
Every time you simmer spices in oil, you're doing chemistry's aromatize — turning plain ingredients into fragrant ones.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aromatize
Aromatize combines 'aroma' — from Latin 'arōma', borrowed from Greek 'arōma', meaning spice or fragrant herb — with the suffix '-ize'. It entered English around the early 17th century, when '-ize' verbs were being formed freely from Latin and Greek roots. It shares this root with 'aromatic', 'aromatherapy', and the enzyme name 'aromatase'.
Related word forms
How aromatize is actually used
The word is somewhat formal and relatively rare in everyday speech, where speakers more often say 'scent' or 'perfume'. It appears most often in culinary, perfumery, and technical chemical writing.
Easily confused with aromatize
Aromatic is an adjective describing something that has a pleasant smell (or, in chemistry, a ring-shaped compound), whereas aromatize is the verb meaning to give such a smell to something.