Waft

Wafte is a term meaning to carry along gently as through the air. The term is commonly used to describe scents that have diffused in to other parts of a room, or to describe smoke as being seen moving through the air.

In chemistry and other sciences the term is used to describe a method that a person may safely determine what a particular substance smells like. In "wafting" a person takes an open hand with the palm towards the body and moves their arm in a rapid circular manner over the substance so as to lift vapors of the substance towards the nose. This method allows for a lower concentration of vapors to be inhaled and is particularly useful in safely smelling Ammonia, hydrochloric acid and other unpleasant or dangerous chemicals.