For decades, the French traditional Noël “Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable?” has been a staple of the sacred choral repertoire thanks to its 1942 setting for SATB voices and organ by Healey Willan, with lyrics translated to English by Ysobel. This new setting (“What Is This Fragrance So Appealing?”) for SAB choir and keyboard, with lyrics newly paraphrased from the French text, now makes this lovely carol accessible to smaller choirs as well, with accompaniment equally effective on piano or organ.
“What Is This Fragrance So Appealing?” recounts signs revealed to the shepherds at the Nativity of Jesus Christ: in verse 1, a fragrance that delights the senses, compared to the scent of spring flowers; in verse 2, a radiant heavenly light (Luke 2:9) and choir of angels praising God (Luke 2:13). Verse 3 is a call for all to worship the newborn Savior in awe and with reverence, recalling the shepherds’ journey to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child promised by the angel (Luke 2:15-16, 20).
Like the lyrics, the tune of “What Is This Fragrance So Appealing?” is traditional, dating to the 17th century.
Ideal for use in a service of Lessons and Carols, for a Christmas Eve/Nativity service, or for use at any time through the Christmas season, this arrangement features women’s voices, harmonized simply, in verse 1; men’s unison voices (or optional solo) in verse 2; and all voices, harmonized, in verse 3, with a short coda.
Lyrics and music ©2026 Todd Marchand / Con Spirito Music (ASCAP).
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