Stench, reek - any difference in connotation / denotation?
Is there a qualitative difference to what the words stench and reek describe?
Reek seems to be more often used with fumes, while stench I would expect with rotten food or a person putting off his shower for too long. Is the intuition correct?
Stench is a noun and reek is a verb. Both have to do with a strong odor. Reek is simply very strong: He reeked of aftershave. Aftershave isn’t necessarily disgusting. Reek suggests that it is too much of some odor or aroma. A stench is always something disgusting or foul.