A dear friend of mine read one of my works in progress and had only one comment that stood out. “I want to smell your hero.” Then it hit me, I’d forgotten to describe his scent. I’ve always been told by other authors, agents and publishers you have to get all five senses in a scene to make it really great. Describing a smell is the most difficult of all the senses, but a scent is more memorable to our mind than the others.
When describing your protagonist, or their lover, you should be mindful of your adjectives. The word “oder” evokes a more unpleasant smell as opposed to “scent.” The word “wafted” should be reserved to describe food, unless the leading love is wearing their dinner. “Drifted” or “swirled around the air” would work better in place of wafted. And, for a person, don’t just say; “he smelled of spices.” (Guilty of this) Try using two or three specific spices. Far a male try cinnamon, sage and current. For a female something lighter. Any flower will do. Honey and milk are two of my favorites as well.
Check the back of your favorite cologne or perfume bottle to see individual ingredients. Even wine bottles work. You could also go to http://thesaurus.com/ and enter “spices.” It should give you plenty yummy scents to dig through until you find the perfect one you’re looking for.
Shelley Martin Fiction 
I try to remember to include smells in my work. It is especially important for romance.
I remember when I used to spend the night with my now husband, I didn’t like to wash my pillow because I wanted to keep his scent.