This is the 3439th most frequent Polish word.
zapach
"Scent" or "smell".
Here, 'zapach' denotes an odor, this time an undesirable one caused by fumes.
Nieprzyjemny zapach spalin unosi się w powietrzu.
An unpleasant smell of exhaust fumes fills the air.
This usage of 'zapach' conveys the unique scent identifier of a dish, now highlighting its characteristic properties.
Kucharz rozpoznał potrawę po samym zapachu.
The chef recognized the dish just by its smell.
In this sentence, 'zapach' refers to a pleasant aroma perceived by the sense of smell.