PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water absorbent that prevents a user from sensing an unpleasant odor when gel gets bulky in absorbing liquid and the clearance between gel particles is increased.SOLUTION: A water absorbent has surface-crosslinked polyacrylic acid (salt) water-absorbing resin and aromatic material; the water-absorbing resin is 90 mass% or more relative to the total amount of the water absorbent; the aromatic material is present on the surface of the water-absorbing resin; and the water absorbent has a gel bulk density of 0.50 g/cmor more and 1.00 g/cmor less.SELECTED DRAWING: None【課題】液体を吸収した際にゲルが嵩高くなって、ゲル粒子間の隙間が増えても不快臭を感知しにくい吸水剤を提供する。【解決手段】吸水剤は、表面架橋されたポリアクリル酸(塩)系吸水性樹脂及び芳香性物質を含み、前記吸水性樹脂が吸水剤全量に対して90質量%以上であり、前記芳香性物質が吸水性樹脂の表面に存在しており、前記吸水剤のゲル嵩密度が0.50g/cm3以上、1.00g/cm3以下である。【選択図】なし