Savor

"savor; smell; fragrance; aroma." Of the 61 appearances of this word, 43 refer specifically to sacrifices made to God and appear in Genesis-Numbers and Ezekiel.

This word refers to the "scent or smell" of a person or thing: "And he [Jacob] came near,…. and he [Isaac] smelled the smell of his raiment …" (Gen 27:27). In Song 1:12 rêah? signifies the "fragrance" of perfume and in Song 2:3 the "fragrance" of a flower. This word is used of a bad "smell" in Exod 5:21: "… Because ye have made our savor to be abhorred [have made us odious] in the eyes of Pharaoh…." Most frequently rêah? is used of the "odor" of a sacrifice being offered up to God. The sacrifice, or the essence of the thing it represents, ascends to God as a placating "odor": "And the Lord smelled a sweet [nasb, "soothing"] savor …" (Gen 8:21, the first occurrence of the word).

"to perceive, enjoy, smell." Gen 8:21 is the first occurrence: "And the Lord smelled a sweet savor…." The word appears about 14 times.