The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ODOUR
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
O
D
O
U
R
More clues leading to the result ODOUR
- Offensive at first, grim smell
- Hum overture from Offenbach without jollity
- Smell is nothing grim
- Sullen following of leader creates a stink
- Smell nothing grim
- Opera originally forbidding perfume
- Stink is offensive at first, and grim
- . Smell that makes you open up door
- Fragrance preceding 18, by the sound of it?
- Old and sullen by repute
Buddy explains!
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ODOUR mean?
ODOUR noun- Any smell, whether fragrant or offensive.
- A strong, pervasive quality.
- Esteem.
- Something which produces a scent; incense, a perfume.