香 料(こうりょう)

こうりょう

noun

spice; flavoring; fragrance

1. spice; flavoring; seasoning

Substances added to food or drink for flavor or aroma. Includes both natural spices and artificial flavorings.

Various spices are used in curry.

No artificial flavorings are used in this food product.

In medieval Europe, Eastern spices were traded at very high prices.

2. fragrance; perfume ingredient

Aromatic substances used in perfumes, cosmetics, incense, and other fragrance products.

It's soap made with natural fragrances.

This perfume blends precious fragrance ingredients.

It's necessary to explain the difference between synthetic and natural fragrances to consumers.

Covers both culinary spices/flavorings and aromatic substances. Context usually makes clear which sense is meant.

天然(てんねん)香料(こうりょう) (natural flavoring/fragrance)
人工(じんこう)香料(こうりょう) / 合成(ごうせい)香料(こうりょう) (artificial/synthetic flavoring or fragrance)
香料(こうりょう)貿易(ぼうえき) (spice trade)

スパイス is the common loanword for culinary spices
調味料(ちょうみりょう) means seasoning/condiment (broader, includes soy sauce, miso, etc.)
香料(こうりょう) is a more formal/technical term that also covers non-food fragrances

Related Words

Compare: お香(こう) (incense)

general

Added 2026.3.2 20:01 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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