A particular aroma or odor can represent:
- The thing or person emitting the odor
- Something else you associate with the odor (setting, specific memory or event, etc.)
- An idea typically associated with the odor (such as the scent of a rose representing the idea of "coming out smelling like a rose"—or being perceived positively—in a situation)
- An attempt to change, improve, manipulate, etc. a situation, environment or condition
A bad or unpleasant odor can represent something you consider undesirable, such as a certain characteristic of a person or a dishonest action.