芳香性是一种化学性质，有芳香性的分子中，由不饱和键、孤对电子和空轨道组成的共轭系统具有特别的、仅考虑共轭时无法解释的稳定作用。可以将芳香性看作是环状离域和环共振的体现。一般认为在这些体系中的电子，可以自由在由原子组成的环形结构上运动（离域），这些环形结构含有单键和双键相间，离域的结果是环键的键级趋于均化，给予体系稳定作用。

芳香性的理论最初由凯库勒发展出来，是以六元的苯分子为原型创建起来。理论中的苯有两个共振形态，并有单键和双键相间，但理论上的两种苯（环己三烯）衍生物的这类异构体在实际上无法检测或分离出来，苯事实上是这两个异构体的“杂化体”，并且具有不考虑电子离域时无法解释的稳定性。

In organic chemistry, the term aromaticity is used to describe a cyclic (ring-shaped), planar (flat) molecule that exhibits unusual stability as compared to other geometric or connective arrangements of the same set of atoms. As a result of their stability, it is very difficult to cause aromatic molecules to break apart and to react with other substances. Organic compounds that are not aromatic are classified as aliphatic compounds—they might be cyclic, but only aromatic rings have especial stability (low reactivity).