In a general sense, aroma refers to a distinctive odor characteristic of a specific liquor, wine or food. In the world of wine, the word "aroma" traditionally refers to the simple fruity smell of the grape variety. In today's broader parlance, many use this term as a synonym for bouquet, the complex fragrance that a wine develops through fermentation and aging, specifically bottle aging. See also nose.
From The Food Lover's Companion, Fourth edition by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst. Copyright © 2007, 2001, 1995, 1990 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc.