匂い (nioi) means “smell” | MotiTan Japanese Dictionary

More examples

この花は匂いがいいです。ko no hana wa nio i ga i i de su

This flower has a nice smell.

焼きたてのパンから匂いが漂っています。ya ki ta te no pa n ka ra nio i ga tadayo tte i ma su

The smell of freshly baked bread is wafting through the air.

Describes a noticeable quality carried through the air that the nose detects, whether pleasant or unpleasant.

悪臭akushū: A very unpleasant smell that is difficult to ignore.
香りkaori: A pleasant smell, often from food, flowers, or another source.

空気や物などから鼻で感じ取る、特有の感覚。kū ki ya mono na do ka ra hana de kan ji to ru toku yū no kan kaku

匂い (nioi, "smell") is a native Japanese noun derived from 匂う (niō, "to give off a scent") by using its continuative form as a noun.

In everyday Japanese, 匂い (nioi) can be neutral or pleasant, while 臭い (kusai) more clearly points to an unpleasant smell.