Pungent
Etymology
From Latin "pungent-," the stem of "pungens," the present participle of "pungere" ("to prick, pierce, sting") — the same root behind "puncture" and "point." First used for things that were "sharp" or "piercing" in a general way, it came to describe smells and tastes sharp enough to seem to prick the nose or tongue.
adjective · /PUN-junt/
Having a sharp, strong taste or smell.
What it names
The word for a smell or flavor sharp enough to sting the nose — garlic, vinegar, ripe cheese.
Example
The kitchen filled with the pungent aroma of frying onions and chili.
Related idea
Acrid smells are sharp in an unpleasant, often burnt or bitter way; pungent can be sharp yet still appetizing.