odor of sanctity

Noun

odour of sanctity (usually uncountable, plural odours of sanctity)

1. (Middle-Ages, UK, especially, historical, usually) A sweet smell, usually likened to that of flowers, said to be emitted by the bodies of saints during their life, or especially at or after death.
   • Perhaps, too, the opinion that the relics of the holy dead were distinguished by a peculiar fragrance, may have arisen from embalmed bodies: at first, it might honestly have obtained among the Clergy; but when they saw how willingly it was received by the people, whenever a new mine of relics was...1824, Robert Southey, “View of the Papal System”, in The Book of the Church. […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 291
2. (UK, figuratively, usually) A person's reputation for, or state of, holiness.
   • to die in odour of sanctity
3. (UK, figuratively, humorous, ironic, usually) A (supposed) general aura of goodness or virtue.
   • […] Kings and Queens, Princes and Princeſſes, and other Perſons of high Rank and Fortune, being able to build Churches, eaſily attained to Saintſhip, vvhich thoſe of lovver Rank, tho' perhaps much better and holier Perſons, not having vvherevvithal to build them, could not do, but lived and died...1753, John White, “Postscript”, in The Protestant Englishman Guarded against the Arts and Arguments of Romish Priests and Emissaries. […], London: […] C. Davis, […]; and L. Davis, […], →OCLC...