Ten balsam pachnie wanilią, ale dezodorant wolę bez zapachu.

Ten means this and agrees with the noun it describes.

Here, balsam is:

• singular
• masculine
• in the nominative case

So the correct form is ten balsam = this lotion / this balm.

Compare:

• ten for masculine nouns
• ta for feminine nouns
• to for neuter nouns

For example:

• ten krem = this cream
• ta szminka = this lipstick
• to mydło = this soap

In this sentence, balsam usually means a body lotion, balm, or a similar cosmetic product.

In Polish, balsam can refer to different kinds of balm-like products depending on context, for example:

• balsam do ciała = body lotion
• balsam do ust = lip balm
• balsam po goleniu = aftershave balm

So here it is best understood as some kind of scented cosmetic product, probably a lotion or balm.

Because the verb pachnieć normally takes the instrumental case when you say what something smells of / smells like.

So:

• wanilia = nominative
• wanilią = instrumental

That is why we get:

• Ten balsam pachnie wanilią = This lotion smells like vanilla

More examples:

• To pachnie kawą = It smells like coffee
• Pokój pachnie kwiatami = The room smells like flowers
• Ona pachnie perfumami = She smells of perfume

This is a very common pattern in Polish:

• pachnieć + instrumental

Mostly yes, but it is often used specifically in the sense of to smell of, to have the scent of, or to smell like something.

So:

• Ten balsam pachnie wanilią literally means This balm smells with vanilla
• but in natural English we say This balm smells like vanilla or smells of vanilla

Also, pachnieć usually has a more neutral or pleasant feel than English smell, which can sometimes be negative.

Compare:

• ładnie pachnie = it smells nice
• brzydko pachnie = it smells bad

Because in Polish, the verb form itself already shows the subject.

Wolę means I prefer.

It comes from woleć = to prefer:

• wolę = I prefer
• wolisz = you prefer
• woli = he/she/it prefers
• wolimy = we prefer
• wolicie = you (plural) prefer
• wolą = they prefer

So Polish often leaves out subject pronouns like ja when they are not needed.

You could say:

• Ja wolę dezodorant bez zapachu

but ja is usually added only for emphasis or contrast:

• Ten balsam pachnie wanilią, ale ja wolę dezodorant bez zapachu.

Yes, Wolę dezodorant bez zapachu is also correct.

Polish word order is more flexible than English, because case endings help show grammatical relationships.

In the original sentence:

• ale dezodorant wolę bez zapachu

the object dezodorant is moved forward for emphasis or contrast. It suggests something like:

• but deodorant, I prefer unscented
• but as for deodorant, I prefer it without a scent

So the sentence highlights a contrast:

• the balm can smell like vanilla,
• but deodorant is something the speaker prefers unscented.

Both versions are grammatical:

• ale dezodorant wolę bez zapachu
• ale wolę dezodorant bez zapachu

The first one sounds more contrastive.

The preposition bez = without requires the genitive case.

So:

• zapach = smell / scent
• zapachu = genitive singular

That is why we say:

• bez zapachu = without a smell / scentless / unscented

More examples with bez:

• bez cukru = without sugar
• bez mleka = without milk
• bez problemu = without a problem
• bez makijażu = without makeup

This is a very useful rule:

• bez + genitive

Yes, very naturally.

Literally, bez zapachu means without a scent/smell, but in good English the most natural translation is often:

• unscented

So:

• dezodorant bez zapachu = unscented deodorant

Depending on context, you might also see:

• bezzapachowy dezodorant = odorless / scent-free deodorant

But bez zapachu is extremely common and natural.

Because woleć takes a direct object, and here that object is in the accusative case.

For masculine inanimate nouns like dezodorant, the accusative singular is the same as the nominative singular.

So:

• nominative: dezodorant
• accusative: dezodorant

That is why the form does not visibly change.

Compare with a feminine noun, where the accusative often looks different:

• ta kawa = this coffee
• wolę tę kawę = I prefer this coffee

So in your sentence, dezodorant is in the accusative, even though it looks the same as the basic dictionary form.

Ale means but and introduces a contrast.

The contrast is:

• This lotion smells like vanilla
• but I prefer deodorant without a scent

So the speaker is saying that scented lotion is fine, but deodorant is different in their opinion.

This is a very common use of ale in Polish, just like English but.

Yes, you may hear structures with jak, but pachnie wanilią is the more standard and idiomatic pattern here.

The usual construction is:

• pachnieć + instrumental
• pachnie wanilią

Using jak can sound more like:

• it smells like vanilla and may appear in spoken language, but learners should first remember the normal pattern:
• pachnieć czymś = to smell of / like something

So the safest version to learn is:

• Ten balsam pachnie wanilią.

Yes, it sounds natural.

A very natural English translation would be:

• This lotion smells like vanilla, but I prefer unscented deodorant.

What makes it natural in Polish:

• ten balsam correctly matches gender
• pachnie wanilią uses the instrumental after pachnieć
• wolę naturally omits I
• bez zapachu is a common way to say unscented
• the word order gives a nice contrastive emphasis

So it is a good example of everyday Polish about personal-care products and preferences.