Are there words to describe "smell concepts"?

Question

For visual impressions, we have a rich vocabulary to describe concepts without using concrete objects:

• Color: blue, red, green, bright, dark. Combinations of those.
• Shapes: Round, pointy, straight, curved, concave, convex, flat, rough, ...
• Textures: Striped, dotted, dashed, ...

For auditory impressions I can also name a few:

• Volume: Loud, silent
• Frequency: low, high

For gustatory sensations I would say concepts are:

• Salty
• Bitter
• Sour
• Sweet
• Umami

The tactile concepts are similar to the visual ones:

• Shapes: See above
• Roughness
• Elasticity

Now to my question: Of course, I can say something smells like a flower, like grass, like excrements, like grilling, wet dog, ....

But those are only analogies. And quite vague ones, too. So for example, if I wanted to describe somebody the smell of a specific type of wood, I would have no idea how to do so. Is this only my fault / problem (so: do I simply lack the words, but there are some) or is this a broader phenomenon (and thus could be asked on https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/)?

Answer 1

Wikipedia has an article on "Odor" Odor (as well as one on Olfaction, but it's about the science, not descriptive vocabulary) including this:

Different categorizations of primary odors have been proposed, among others this, which relies on seven primary odors (with examples):[13][14][15]

Musky – perfumes/aftershave

Putrid – rotten eggs

Pungent – vinegar

Camphoraceous – mothballs

Ethereal – dry cleaning fluid

Floral – roses (see also floral scent)

Pepperminty – mint gum

Although recently progress has been made, the idea of primary perceptions is disputed, and more so probably the concept of primary odors.[15]