Sometimes, you’ll notice strange smells that seem to come out of nowhere. When I was learning about the law of attraction and experimenting to attract money, I started smelling cinnamon often. In spiritual beliefs, cinnamon represents success and abundance. Other people may smell rotten eggs when they move to a new home. Spiritually, that can mean there’s negative energy around.
Every smell, good or bad, has a spiritual meaning. In this guide, you’ll find out about common scents people experience spiritually. You’ll learn the traditional meanings behind each one and why you may keep smelling certain things.
Spiritual Smells And Their Meanings

Floral Fragrances
- Rose is one of the most popular, symbolizing unconditional love, compassion, and spiritual harmony, often linked to the presence of angels.
- Jasmine has a sweet, intoxicating aroma that is known to elevate one’s spiritual awareness and attract positive energy. If you smell jasmine out of nowhere, it might mean that your vibrations are rising.
- Lavender signifies peace, calm, and relaxation, supporting emotional healing and spiritual purification.
- Lotus is highly revered for its connection to enlightenment and inner peace, symbolizing rebirth and spiritual awakening.
- Lilac carries a nostalgic and transformative quality, believed to connect us to higher realms and aid in spiritual renewal.
- Gardenia represents purity and gentleness, offering a calming influence that supports inner peace.
- Magnolia signifies dignity and nobility, uplifting the spirit and enhancing clarity and self-respect.
- Honeysuckle brings warmth and positivity, believed to attract prosperity and open the heart to love.
- Orchid holds mystical associations with beauty, strength, and spiritual growth.
- Peony is associated with healing, protection, and prosperity, helping to bring blessings and positive energy into one’s life.

Earthy And Natural Odors
Smells from nature like pine, sage or patchouli can mean connecting with nature spirits or ancestors. Scents from the earth provide grounding and can mean wisdom, healing or a need to remember where you come from and the natural world around you.
- Pine is known for its refreshing, resinous scent that promotes strength, purification, and resilience, symbolizing a connection to the enduring power of nature.
- Sage has a potent, cleansing aroma often associated with protection and spiritual purification, helping to clear away negativity and welcome positive, healing energies.
- Patchouli carries an earthy, musky fragrance that symbolizes grounding and abundance, connecting us to our inner wisdom and attracting prosperity.
- Cedar offers a rich, warm aroma that’s linked to protection, stability, and guidance from ancestral spirits.
- Sandalwood has a soft, woody scent that brings calm and clarity, enhancing spiritual awareness and helping to deepen meditation.
- Vetiver, with its earthy, root-like fragrance, embodies grounding and stability, bringing inner peace and a strong connection to the earth.
- Frankincense is both earthy and sweet, representing purification, spiritual awakening, and a bridge to higher consciousness.
- Oakmoss has a forest-like aroma that resonates with growth, renewal, and the balance between strength and flexibility.
- Myrrh is often associated with healing and transformation, encouraging release of old patterns and spiritual rebirth.
- Palo Santo has a unique woody scent that clears energy, bringing blessings and inviting in protective, harmonious vibrations.
- Cinnamon is a symbol of abundance and success. If you keep smelling cinnamon, it might mean money is coming into your life.
- Cloves: Purification, heightened intuition, clairvoyance.

Angelic Smells
Your guardian angels may use smells to let you know they’re there. Here are some of the most common smells they’re associated with:
- Roses: Often associated with Archangel Michael; represents protection, divine love, and the presence of angels providing guidance and support.
- Lilies: Linked to Archangel Gabriel; signifies purity, clarity in communication, and divine messages.
- Frankincense: Associated with Archangel Uriel; represents wisdom, inner peace, and spiritual enlightenment.
- Vanilla: Symbolizes comfort and is linked to Archangel Chamuel; signifies unconditional love, warmth, and emotional healing.
- Lavender: Often connected to Archangel Raphael; represents healing, peace, and emotional balance, bringing a calming presence.
- Cinnamon: Associated with Archangel Ariel; signifies courage, abundance, and strength, especially in times of need.
- Jasmine: Linked to Archangel Haniel; represents harmony, joy, and elevating one’s spiritual awareness.
- Sandalwood: Connected to Archangel Zadkiel; represents transformation, forgiveness, and spiritual purification.
- Honeysuckle: Often associated with Guardian Angels in general; signifies hope, positive energy, and gentle guidance through difficult times.
- Myrrh: Linked to Archangel Metatron; symbolizes spiritual growth, protection, and a reminder of divine presence in daily life.

Foul Odors
Not all smells are good. Some bad smells can mean important things, often as warnings or signs of bad vibes. These yucky smells may happen when you don’t expect them, bringing messages from the spiritual world that shouldn’t be brushed off.
- Rotten Eggs: Smelling rotten eggs signifies a need for spiritual cleansing. The smell is often associated with negative energy or spiritual blockages.
- Sulfur: If you smell sulfur, it might indicate the presence of a low-vibrational entity or unresolved negative energy.
- Decay or Rotting Flesh: Suggests the need to release toxic patterns or people; can also hint at stagnant energy in your environment.
- Burnt Hair: Often signals emotional turmoil or unresolved trauma that needs attention.
- Vinegar: Represents bitterness or anger, possibly an indication to let go of grudges or resentment.
- Mildew or Mold: Signifies neglect, especially in emotional or spiritual aspects, and encourages re-evaluation and cleansing.
- Rotting Garbage: Indicates mental or emotional clutter; a call to clear out negativity and make space for positivity.
- Stagnant Water: Suggests emotional stagnation or a lack of progress, often a reminder to release old feelings and embrace change.
- Sewage or Foul Bathroom Smell: Implies a need to cleanse one’s mind, body, or environment from toxic influences.
- Metallic or Rusty Smell: Represents unresolved past issues, especially around hurt or betrayal, calling for healing and closure.
My Advice
If you often smell something but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, it could be a sign from the spiritual world. When that happens, think about what you were thinking about at that moment. Usually, the answer is within you. For example, if you always smell mold even though there’s no mold in your home, your spirit may be trying to tell you that you’re neglecting your health or some part of your life. Your thoughts and the smells might be connected, so reflecting inward could provide insights.
Read also: Smelling Someone’s Scent When They’re Not Around