whiff noun

ADJ. faint | strong | unmistakable (often figurative) detecting the unmistakable whiff of electoral blackmail

VERB + WHIFF catch, get, detect I caught the whiff of whisky on his breath. (figurative) Journalists caught a whiff of scandal and pursued the actress relentlessly.

PREP. ~ of a whiff of perfume

PHRASES at the faintest/first/merest whiff of sth (figurative) He always retreated emotionally at the first whiff of conflict.