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Þetta ilmvatn er meira heillandi en hitt.

Þetta ilmvatn er meira heillandi en hitt.
This perfume is more fascinating than the other one.
From Lesson 367:Comparatives and superlatives (meira, mest)·Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Þetta ilmvatn er meira heillandi en hitt.

Why do we use meira heillandi instead of a single comparative word like "heillandari"?
Heillandi (fascinating) is a present participle, recognizable by the -andi ending. In Icelandic, present participles never take the standard comparative or superlative endings (like -ari or -ast). Instead, you must use the analytical method, placing meira (more) or mest (most) before the word.
Does meira change its form to match the neuter noun ilmvatn?
No. When used this way to compare adjectives, meira acts as an adverb of degree. Adverbs do not change their form to match gender, number, or case. It remains meira whether you are talking about a neuter noun like ilmvatn or a masculine noun like maður.
Why does the sentence end with hitt rather than annað for "the other one"?
We use hitt (the neuter form of hinn) when contrasting two specific, known things: "this one" (þetta) versus "that specific other one" (hitt). If you used annað, it would mean "another one" in a general, indefinite sense, rather than pointing directly at a second option on the table.
What dictates the gender of the pronouns þetta and hitt here?
They must agree with ilmvatn (perfume). Ilmvatn is a compound of ilmur (scent) and vatn (water). Because the final root word (vatn) is a neuter noun, the entire compound is neuter. This requires the neuter demonstrative pronouns þetta (this) and hitt (the other).

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