early 15c., "sweet scent, fragrance," also figurative, from Old French redolence, redolens, which is related to redolent "emitting an odor" (see redolent) or from Medieval Latin redolentia.
Entries linking to redolence
redolent adj.
c. 1400, of flowers, food, etc., "having or diffusing a fresh and sweet scent," from Old French redolent "emitting an odor" and directly from Latin redolentem (nominative redolens), present participle of redolere "emit a scent, diffuse odor," from red-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + olere "give off a smell" (see odor). The meaning "odorous or smelling" of (or with) something is by 1700; figurative use of this is by 1828. Related: Redolently.