Fresh water, but it's said to have a smell (4)
I believe the answer is:
oder
'fresh water' is the definition.
'Oder' can be an answer for 'water' (Oder is an example). I am not certain of the 'fresh' bit.
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oder that I've seen before include "waterway" , "German banker" , "East European river" , "River flowing into the Baltic" , "River on border of Poland and Germany" .)