Empyreume

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The acrid, scorched smell or flavor that results when oily or organic substances are heated past their normal point
2. A burnt, tarry odor given off by materials such as oil, sugar, or wood when they are charred by intense heat
3. The distinctive smell of scorching that clings to something overheated, often a bitter, smoky aroma from distillation or roasting

Etymology: Ancient Greek "empyreuma" came from "empyreuein," meaning "to set on fire" or "to kindle," built from "en" (in) and "pyr" (fire). The noun named the scorched smell or taste that food, wood, or oil picks up when it burns or is heated too strongly. Its sense was narrow and sensory from the start. The English form keeps that meaning. Chemists and distillers use it for the harsh, smoky odor produced when organic matter is overheated, and the related adjective "empyreumatic" describes such smells in oils and spirits. The word's root also appears in "empyrean," the lofty heavens, which comes from a Greek adjective meaning "fiery." The two words share a root but have drifted far apart: one names a smell of scorching, the other a realm of pure, bright air.