'cinnamon-smelling' originates as a compound combining 'cinnamon' and the present participle 'smelling'. 'Cinnamon' ultimately comes via Greek 'kinnámōmon' and Latin 'cinnamomum' (the spice), while 'smelling' is formed from the verb 'smell' (Old English 'smellan'), meaning 'to have or perceive an odor'.

'cinnamon' passed into English through Latin 'cinnamomum' and Old French forms (e.g. 'cinnamome'), becoming Middle English 'cinnamon' and the modern English 'cinnamon'. 'Smell' comes from Old English 'smellan' (to have a smell) and evolved phonologically into modern 'smell', with the present participle 'smelling' used to form adjectives like 'cinnamon-smelling'.

Initially, 'cinnamon' designated the spice (the bark), and 'smell' referred to perceiving odors; combined as 'cinnamon-smelling' the compound simply denotes 'having the scent of cinnamon' with little shift from the original component meanings.