odorant
noun
odor·ant ˈō-də-rənt 
: an odorous substance
especially : one added to a dangerous odorless substance to warn of its presence
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Because natural gas does not have a smell, an odorant is added to it, to help alert people if there is a leak. 
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2022 That wouldn’t be possible if each odorant molecule had to be uniquely recognized by its own dedicated receptor. Quanta Magazine, 16 Sep. 2021 Plus, many other natural repellents—unlike pyrethrum—work by activating multiple odorant receptors, and researchers still know very little about how those other receptors work. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 19 July 2021 This tissue becomes inflamed, temporarily disrupting the ability of the olfactory neurons to signal the presence of an odorant. John E. Hayes And Cara Exten, CNN, 24 Dec. 2020 The agency installed a network of chemical detectors at the Speedway—precise sensors linked to high-accuracy wind gauges revealed how chemical odorants travel in plumes through the air. Dan Dubno, Popular Mechanics, 28 Apr. 2019 The agency installed a network of chemical detectors at the Speedway—precise sensors linked to high-accuracy wind gauges revealed how chemical odorants travel in plumes through the air. Dan Dubno, Popular Mechanics, 28 Apr. 2019 Everything that has an odor releases specific chemicals, called odorants, into the air. Svenja Lohner, Scientific American, 7 June 2018 For example, Laska notes, the total number of odorants for which dogs have an established, lowest detectable threshold level is 15. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, 22 May 2017 See More
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2022 That wouldn’t be possible if each odorant molecule had to be uniquely recognized by its own dedicated receptor. Quanta Magazine, 16 Sep. 2021 Plus, many other natural repellents—unlike pyrethrum—work by activating multiple odorant receptors, and researchers still know very little about how those other receptors work. Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 19 July 2021 This tissue becomes inflamed, temporarily disrupting the ability of the olfactory neurons to signal the presence of an odorant. John E. Hayes And Cara Exten, CNN, 24 Dec. 2020 The agency installed a network of chemical detectors at the Speedway—precise sensors linked to high-accuracy wind gauges revealed how chemical odorants travel in plumes through the air. Dan Dubno, Popular Mechanics, 28 Apr. 2019 The agency installed a network of chemical detectors at the Speedway—precise sensors linked to high-accuracy wind gauges revealed how chemical odorants travel in plumes through the air. Dan Dubno, Popular Mechanics, 28 Apr. 2019 Everything that has an odor releases specific chemicals, called odorants, into the air. Svenja Lohner, Scientific American, 7 June 2018 For example, Laska notes, the total number of odorants for which dogs have an established, lowest detectable threshold level is 15. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, 22 May 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
1860, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
odorant
noun
odor·ant ˈōd-ə-rənt
: an odorous substance
especially : one added to a toxic odorless substance to warn of its presence