'carnation-scented' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'carnation' and 'scented', where 'carnation' names the flower and 'scented' is the past-participle adjective from 'scent' meaning 'having a smell'.

'carnation' comes via Middle English from Late Latin 'carnationem' (from Latin 'caro, carnis' meaning 'flesh'), originally referring to a flesh-colored hue and later the flower; 'scented' is formed in English from the noun 'scent' (from Old French/Latin roots of 'sentire', to perceive/smell) plus the -ed adjective-former.

Initially 'carnation' referred to a flesh-color (a pale pink) and later became the name of the flower; combined with 'scented' the compound now specifically means 'having the smell of carnations'.