redolent of + smell
Describing scent
This is a traditional and standard use.
The garden was redolent of roses.
Redolent of vs. redolent with
Redolent of is the standard pattern meaning strongly suggestive or scented. Redolent with is rare and literary.
Quick answer
Preferred form
Use redolent of to describe smells, memories, or strong associations. Redolent with appears occasionally in literary writing but is uncommon.
The room was redolent of fresh coffee.
The novel is redolent of childhood nostalgia.
The novel is redolent of childhood nostalgia.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
redolent of + memory/quality
Suggesting associations
The phrase can be figurative.
Her speech was redolent of old political ideals.
redolent with + scent
Literary alternative
With appears in some literary styles but is much less common.
The air was redolent with incense.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
redolent of
The hall was redolent of history.
Strongly suggestive of something.
redolent with
The room was redolent with perfume.
Rare literary variant meaning filled with scent.
full of
The room was full of perfume.
More common everyday alternative.
reminiscent of
The design is reminiscent of the 1920s.
Suggesting or recalling something.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using with in ordinary writing
Of is usually preferred in modern standard English.
✕ The speech was redolent with nostalgia. ✓ The speech was redolent of nostalgia.Using redolent without context
The adjective normally introduces a smell or association.
✓ The kitchen was redolent of spices.Confusing redolent and fragrant
Redolent can be figurative as well as literal.
✓ The story is redolent of loneliness.Using informal nouns after redolent
The word is formal and literary in tone.
✓ The chamber was redolent of cedar.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The old library was redolent ___ dust and leather.
2. Which phrase is more literary and less common?
3. The poem is redolent ___ romantic imagery.
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Frequently asked questions
Is redolent of the standard form?
Yes. It is the normal and preferred pattern.
Can I use redolent with?
Yes, but it sounds literary and uncommon.
What does redolent mean?
It means strongly scented with or suggestive of something.
Related preposition guides
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