'cedar-smelling' originates in Modern English as a compound of 'cedar' + the present-participle form of 'smell' ('smelling'), where 'cedar' ultimately comes from Latin 'cedrus' via Greek 'kédros' and 'smell' descends from Old English 'smellan' (to smell).

'cedar' entered English from Latin/Greek sources (Latin 'cedrus', Greek 'kédros'), and compounds using present participles like '...-smelling' developed in Modern English to describe salient odors; these elements combined to form compounds such as 'cedar-smelling' in recent English usage.

Initially, 'cedar' referred to the specific tree and its wood, and 'smell' simply denoted the sensation; over time the compound came to be used adjectivally to describe objects or spaces that give off a cedar scent ('smelling of cedar').