bouquet
boo-KAY
/buˈkeɪ/
A complex aroma, especially of wine or perfume.
Specifically refers to the layered scents that develop during the aging or fermentation process, rather than the simple smell of the raw ingredients.
The story behind the word. In French, 'bouquet' originally meant a small wood or a bunch of flowers. It was borrowed into English to describe a 'bunch' of different scents that hit the nose simultaneously.
Word relationships
- aroma: Aroma is the primary smell; bouquet is the complex, secondary smell from aging.
Commonly confused with
- aroma: In wine, aroma comes from the grapes; bouquet comes from the winemaking process.
Collocations
- complex bouquet
- floral bouquet
- rich bouquet
- wine bouquet
Example sentences
- "The vintage Bordeaux had a complex bouquet of oak, vanilla, and tobacco." Describing an aged wine.
- "The perfume's bouquet opened with floral notes before settling into a musky base." Describing a fine perfume.
Memory hook
A 'bouquet' of flowers has many different smells; a 'bouquet' of wine has many different notes. Bouquet: A garden in a glass.
When not to use
Don't use it for simple or unpleasant smells.
Fun facts
- The term 'bouquet garni' refers to a bundle of herbs (usually parsley, thyme, and bay leaf) tied together and used to flavor soups and stews.
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