Celebrating different notes in the perfumery | thescentbase.com

The Olfactory Library

Welcome to the building blocks of the invisible art. If a perfume is a symphony, then these are the individual notes on the sheet music—the singular elements that the perfumer arranges to create a melody that lingers on your skin.


Whether you are here to understand why you adore Vetiver but detest Patchouli, or simply to find out what "Iso E Super" actually is, this library is your guide.

Florals

The undisputed heart of perfumery, ranging from the innocent whisper of a spring muguet to the narcotic, carnal shout of a tuberose. These notes provide the romance and the texture, proving that flowers are far too complex to be considered merely 'pretty'.

Ashoka Flower note image

Ashoka Flower

A sacred Indian flower with a soft, orange-like floral scent. It is culturally significant and smells gently exotic.

Hoya Carnosa Wax Plant note image

Hoya Carnosa Wax Plant

A waxy flower that drips nectar. Smells intensely sweet and chocolatey at night.

Creamy Flowers note image

Creamy Flowers

A general description for white florals like gardenia or tuberose that have a buttery texture.

Leatherwood note image

Leatherwood

Tasmanian honey source. It smells uniquely spicy, floral, and musky.

Great Burnet note image

Great Burnet

A medicinal herb with a cucumber-like freshness.

Dandelion note image

Dandelion

Bitter, green, and sappy with a hint of pollen. It captures the essence of pulling weeds in a sunlit garden.

Calla Lily note image

Calla Lily

Elegant and architectural, smelling faintly green and floral. It is more about the visual fantasy than a strong scent.

Dove Tree note image

Dove Tree

The Handkerchief Tree. It has a light, incense-like floral aroma.

Fig Blossom note image

Fig Blossom

Green and floral, lighter than the fruit. It smells fresh and unopened.

Rose Japanese (Hamanasu) note image

Rose Japanese (Hamanasu)

Rosa rugosa. Spicy and clove-like.

Fire Lily note image

Fire Lily

A vibrant floral scent, spicy and warm.

Queen of the Night Flower note image

Queen of the Night Flower

Selenicereus. Vanilla-scented cactus flower that blooms once.

Camellia note image

Camellia

A flower with very little natural scent, represented in perfume as a fresh, tea-like floral. It feels wet and elegant.

Clover note image

Clover

Sweet, grassy, and hay-like. It evokes open fields and country air.

Cistus Incanus note image

Cistus Incanus

Rockrose. It smells resinous, herbal, and sweet, related to Labdanum.

Sandalwood Flower note image

Sandalwood Flower

A faint floral scent from the tree.

Bellflower note image

Bellflower

A delicate, blue floral scent that is light and airy. It smells like a meadow in a fairy tale.

Taif Rose note image

Taif Rose

A rich, tea-like rose from Saudi Arabia. Spicy and deep.

Snakeroot note image

Snakeroot

Herbal root.

Prunella note image

Prunella

Self-heal herb. Mildly minty and herbal.

View All Florals Notes

Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes

This is the scent of the orchard and the vegetable patch rather than the patisserie, capturing the crisp snap of an apple or the earthy grit of a carrot. These notes add a mouth-watering texture and vitality, bringing a sense of abundance and natural realism that prevents a fragrance from feeling too abstract.

Pea note image

Pea

Green, sweet, and snappy. It smells exactly like cracking open a fresh pod in the garden.

Cogumelo Porcino note image

Cogumelo Porcino

Porcini mushroom in Portuguese. Earthy and savory.

Green Pear note image

Green Pear

Juicy and grainy. It adds a transparent sweetness.

Green Grape note image

Green Grape

Tart and crisp. Less sugary than purple grapes.

Hazelnut note image

Hazelnut

Woody, milky, and rich. Roasted, it becomes a gourmand praline note.

Dewberry note image

Dewberry

A 90s icon, smelling like a sweet, jammy blackberry. It is dark fruity and nostalgic.

Dried Apricot note image

Dried Apricot

A dense, chewy orange fruit scent. It smells like concentrated sunshine and leather.

Apple Sherbet note image

Apple Sherbet

A frozen, sweet apple treat that is icy and refreshing. It adds a cool, sugary fruit blast to the top notes.

Acai Berry note image

Acai Berry

A sharp, tart berry scent with a hint of dark chocolate bitterness. It smells vibrant and healthy, like a morning smoothie for the nose.

Black Currant note image

Black Currant

Tart, jammy, and slightly ammoniac—some say 'catty,' I say characterful. It adds a dark, purple richness that is utterly distinctive.

Greengage note image

Greengage

A green plum. Tart, sweet, and honeyed.

Japanese Loquat note image

Japanese Loquat

A fruit smelling like a mix of peach, citrus, and mango. It is mild and juicy.

Guava note image

Guava

Pungent tropical fruit. It smells musky, sweet, and faintly of cat pee (in a characteristic way).

Blueberry note image

Blueberry

Sweet, tart, and slightly spicy. It adds a dark blue fruitiness that isn't as jammy as blackberry.

Elderberry note image

Elderberry

Tart, juicy, and dark purple. It lacks the sweetness of other berries.

Fig note image

Fig

Milky, green, and sweet. It evokes the shade of a tree in the Mediterranean sun.

Black Walnut note image

Black Walnut

Distinctive, earthy, and oily nut scent. It smells darker and more tannic than regular walnuts.

Goji Berries note image

Goji Berries

Tart, herbal, and slightly tomato-like red berry. It smells 'healthy' and tangy.

Cashew note image

Cashew

Creamy, fatty, and soft nut scent. It adds a buttery texture.

Chinese Magnolia note image

Chinese Magnolia

Magnolia fruit rather than flower. It smells spicy and fruity.

View All Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes Notes

Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells

These are the sensual heavyweights that linger on the skin long after the citrus has fled, providing warmth, depth, and a certain human intimacy. From the cozy, golden glow of amber to the primitive, purring growl of civet, these notes transform a simple scent into a living, breathing entity.

Meat note image

Meat

Raw or cooked flesh. Iron-like, savory, and primal.

Ambrocenide (Symrise) note image

Ambrocenide (Symrise)

A powerhouse woody-amber synthetic that is extremely long-lasting. It provides a sharp, agarwood-like dryness to the base.

Skatole note image

Skatole

Fecal in high concentration, floral (white flower) in low. Essential for realistic jasmine.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

A refined, elegant musk. It adds a subtle animalic radiance and polish.

Animal Notes note image

Animal Notes

A catch-all for smells that are furry, warm, and slightly dirty. They add a carnal, living breath to a perfume that makes it sexy.

Genet note image

Genet

Broom flower. It smells honeyed, hay-like, and slightly tobacco-ish.

Saffiano Leather note image

Saffiano Leather

A specific textured leather print (Prada). Smells clean, synthetic, and expensive.

Cheese note image

Cheese

Salty, fatty, and funky. In tiny doses, it adds richness to gourmands or oud.

Ambroxan note image

Ambroxan

A synthetic marvel that mimics ambergris but with a drier, woodier crispness. It’s incredibly diffusive and seems to float around the wearer like a transparent veil.

Daim note image

Daim

The French term for suede; it smells softer and more velvety than full leather. It evokes the inside of a luxury handbag.

Ambrette (Musk Mallow) note image

Ambrette (Musk Mallow)

A vegetal musk derived from seeds, smelling of pear brandy and clean skin. It is one of the few natural musks and feels incredibly sophisticated.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

A vegan musk molecule with fruity, floral undertones. It brings a soft, soapy cleanliness and exceptional longevity.

Muscone note image

Muscone

The main component of natural deer musk. Smells warm, erotic, and radiant.

Civet note image

Civet

Pungent and fecal in isolation, but magically warms up florals when used with a light hand. It creates that lived-in, intimate skin scent found in classic perfumery.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

Fossilized Hyrax droppings. Sounds dreadful, smells amazing: leathery, musky, and earthy (and cruelty-free).

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

BBQ note image

BBQ

Smoky, savory, and charred. It evokes open fires and grilled meat—a bold, atmospheric choice.

Habanolide® note image

Habanolide®

A synthetic musk with a metallic, hot-iron undertone. It smells clean and waxy.

Cetalox note image

Cetalox

A sleek, clean ambergris synthetic famously used as a standalone in 'Not A Perfume'. It smells purely of amber and skin.

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

Ancient Egyptian incense recipe. Smells of wine, raisins, honey, and resins.

View All Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells Notes

Beverages

Whether it is the effervescent joy of champagne, the roasted bitterness of espresso, or the warming embrace of a good cognac, these notes add a distinct 'flavour' to the air. They invoke specific moods and social rituals, taking the wearer from a morning café to a dimly lit jazz bar in a single spritz.

Advocaat note image

Advocaat

A rich, creamy liqueur scent smelling of vanilla, brandy, and custard. It is thick and indulgent, adding a boozy sweetness to the mix.

Aperol note image

Aperol

Bittersweet orange, gentian, and rhubarb notes typical of the Italian aperitif. It brings a sunny, spritz-like joy to the opening.

Umeshu note image

Umeshu

Plum wine. Sweet and sour.

Blue Margarita note image

Blue Margarita

Tequila, lime, and blue curaçao. It smells salty, citrusy, and neon-sweet.

Lemon Soda note image

Lemon Soda

Sprite/7-Up scent. Fizzy, lime-lemon, and artificial.

Plum Wine note image

Plum Wine

Japanese plum wine. Sweet, sour, and almondy.

Pear Juice note image

Pear Juice

Sweet nectar. Very sugary and liquid.

Mulled Wine note image

Mulled Wine

Red wine, cloves, and orange peel. Warm, spicy, and festive.

Champagne note image

Champagne

Sparkling and slightly yeasty, capturing the effervescence of a celebration. It adds a dry, fruity fizz that tickles the nose.

Curaçao note image

Curaçao

Orange liqueur. Smells sweet, citrusy, and slightly bitter.

Moscow Mule note image

Moscow Mule

Ginger beer and vodka. Spicy, limey, and cold.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

Italian lemon liqueur. Intense, sweet lemon zest and alcohol.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

Coffee with foamed milk. It smells roasted but creamy and comforting.

Grenadine note image

Grenadine

Pomegranate syrup. Sweet, red, and syrupy.

Sangria note image

Sangria

Red wine and cut fruit. Sweet and summery.

Pisco Sour Cocktail note image

Pisco Sour Cocktail

Grape brandy, lime, and egg white. Tart and boozy.

Bellini note image

Bellini

Peach puree and Prosecco. It smells fizzy, fruity, and sweet, capturing the essence of brunch in Venice.

Sake note image

Sake

Rice wine. Yeasty, fruity (melon-like), and mild.

Jasmine Tea note image

Jasmine Tea

Green tea infused with jasmine blossoms. It smells steamy, floral, and soothing.

Wine must note image

Wine must

Freshly crushed grape juice. Sweet and raw.

View All Beverages Notes

Molecules, Minerals & Curiosities

This is the avant-garde laboratory of the perfumer, featuring everything from the smell of hot rain on asphalt to the invisible radiance of Iso E Super. These notes are often less about a specific 'smell' and more about a texture, a feeling, or an atmospheric vibration that gives modern fragrances their edge.

Sauna note image

Sauna

Hot dry cedar and steam. Relaxing.

Tonquitone™ note image

Tonquitone™

Synthetic deer musk base. Animalic.

Parchment note image

Parchment

Dried skin and dust. An antique, dry smell.

Cashalox note image

Cashalox

A synthetic musk that smells clean and slightly powdery. It adds softness.

Plastic Bag note image

Plastic Bag

Dry polyethylene. Faint and chemical.

Hedione note image

Hedione

A transparent jasmine note that smells like fresh air. It makes other notes sparkle and project.

Rice Powder note image

Rice Powder

Cosmetic powder. Dry and starchy.

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt note image

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

A mineral note. Savory and dry.

Diving Suit note image

Diving Suit

Neoprene and salt water. A synthetic note for avant-garde marine scents.

Dust note image

Dust

Dry, powdery, and tickling. It adds an atmospheric, attic-like quality.

Priest’s Clothes note image

Priest’s Clothes

Incense, old fabric, and cold stone walls. Atmospheric.

Egg note image

Egg

Sulfurous and savory. An oddity in perfume, usually found in custard accords.

Old House note image

Old House

Dust, damp wood, and history. Atmospheric.

Pencil note image

Pencil

Cedarwood and graphite. The smell of school days.

Mousse de Saxe note image

Mousse de Saxe

A famous vintage base. Smells of leather, geranium, licorice, and iodine. Dark and mossy.

Pharaone® note image

Pharaone®

A synthetic smelling of pineapple and galbanum. Green fruit.

Dew Drop note image

Dew Drop

A fantasy note capturing the smell of wet grass at dawn. It is watery, green, and fleeting.

Aquozone note image

Aquozone

A marine molecule that smells remarkably like sea breeze and ozone. It gives fragrances a wet, rainy-day feeling.

Damascone note image

Damascone

A potent aroma chemical that gives roses their fruity, apple-like jamminess. It smells vibrant and rosy-sweet.

Hivernal® note image

Hivernal®

A fresh, clean aldehyde scent. It evokes cold winter air.

View All Molecules, Minerals & Curiosities Notes

Gourmand

An unapologetically hedonistic category dedicated to the pleasures of the patisserie, featuring dripping caramel, fluffy cotton candy, and rich chocolate. While purists may scoff, there is a profound, primal comfort in these sugary notes that bypasses the brain and goes straight to the stomach—and the heart.

Woods & Earth

The stoic backbone of fragrance, grounding the flightier notes with the scent of ancient trunks, dry bark, and the damp, shadowed floor of the forest. Ranging from the creamy spirituality of sandalwood to the dry, pencil-shaving snap of cedar, these notes provide structure, longevity, and a timeless elegance.

Fir note image

Fir

Balsamic and green. It smells like a winter forest or a Christmas wreath.

Dartanol® note image

Dartanol®

A synthetic sandalwood note that is creamy, spicy, and very persistent. It creates a smooth, woody foundation.

Ducke note image

Ducke

A tropical wood from the Amazon. It smells earthy and dense.

Desert Sagebrush note image

Desert Sagebrush

Dry, dusty, and intensely herbal. It evokes the vast, arid landscapes of the American West.

Dreamwood note image

Dreamwood

A sustainable sandalwood alternative from biotechnology. It smells creamy, milky, and warm.

Elm note image

Elm

A green, watery wood scent. It feels fibrous and natural.

Almond tree note image

Almond tree

Focuses on the wood and bark rather than the nut, smelling dry and slightly milky. It offers a solid, comforting base.

Wood barrel note image

Wood barrel

Oak cask. Alcohol soaked wood.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

The woody trunk scent. Dry, fibrous, and slightly salty.

Lichen note image

Lichen

Dry, crusty, and mineral-smelling. Similar to moss but drier.

Maple note image

Maple

Woody and sweet. It hints at the syrup but retains a bark-like dryness.

Hiba note image

Hiba

A Japanese cypress. It smells intensely woody, cedar-like, and citrusy.

Chinese Oud note image

Chinese Oud

Agarwood from China, often medicinal and spicy. It can be sharper than other ouds.

Larch note image

Larch

A conifer scent. Resinous, turpentine-like, and fresh.

Amburana Wood note image

Amburana Wood

Similar to the bark but woodier, maintaining that rich tonka-bean sweetness. It feels cozy and exotic, like a tropical cabinet maker's shop.

Nootka note image

Nootka

Nootka Cypress. Smells cedar-like and grapefruit-y.

Fig tree note image

Fig tree

Woody and grey, with hints of the milky sap. A dry, summery wood scent.

Clearwood note image

Clearwood

A transparent patchouli note created by fermentation. It smells woody and clean without the dirt.

Pear Tree note image

Pear Tree

Woody and fruit-bearing.

Patchouli note image

Patchouli

The scent of earth, damp wood, and dark chocolate. It can be hippie-dirty or Chanel-chic.

View All Woods & Earth Notes

White Flowers

A distinct league of floral powerhouses including Tuberose, Jasmine, and Gardenia, known for their creamy, narcotic heaviness that often intensifies as the sun goes down. Unlike their shy daylight cousins, these blooms possess a carnal, indolic undertone—a whisper of animalic warmth amidst the sweetness—that makes them unapologetically sensual and dominating.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

An African flower smelling of jasmine, chocolate, and spices. It is rich and dark.

Arum Lily note image

Arum Lily

A fleshy white floral scent that can be slightly animalic. It smells grand and imposing, like a wedding bouquet.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

A genre (Jasmine, Tuberose, Gardenia). Indolic, creamy, and heady.

Carissa note image

Carissa

Natal Plum blossoms, smelling similar to gardenia and jasmine. A lush, white floral.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

Nectar-heavy, sunny, and sweet. It captures the smell of warm summer evenings perfectly.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

A tree with white flowers that smell intensely sweet and honeyed, similar to orange blossom but heavier.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

Plumeria. Thick, creamy, and tropical, smelling of almonds and fruit. It is the scent of a holiday.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

Waxy white floral with a citrus edge. Fresh and pretty.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

Heady, creamy white floral with a distinct mushroomy or blue cheese undertone. It is lush and narcotic.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

The King of Flowers. It can smell fresh and tea-like or heavy, animalic, and narcotic depending on the variety.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

Carnal, creamy, and loud. It smells of flesh, bubblegum, and green stems.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Belanis note image

Belanis

A synthetic molecule that smells of anise and white florals. It bridges the gap between spice and petal.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

Ipomoea alba. A night-blooming vine smelling sweet and musky.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

Like neroli but sharper. Floral with a bitter citrus edge.

Datura note image

Datura

A poisonous flower with a narcotic, almond-like floral scent. It smells dangerous, heavy, and hypnotic.

View All White Flowers Notes

Botanicals & Aromatics

This is the scent of the apothecary’s garden and the gentleman’s barber, full of crushed leaves, bracing mint, and the calming herbaceousness of lavender. These notes cut through heat and heaviness with a savory, green clarity that feels restorative, intelligent, and famously spirited.

Longjing Tea note image

Longjing Tea

Dragon Well tea. Smells chestnut-like, roasted, and green.

Guao or Maiden Plum note image

Guao or Maiden Plum

A Caribbean shrub with a poisonous sap but a sweet scent.

Bulrush note image

Bulrush

A water reed scent that is green, dry, and slightly vegetative. It evokes ponds and wetlands.

Aromatic Notes note image

Aromatic Notes

A broad family including sage, rosemary, and lavender. These notes are spirited, clean, and bracing—the backbone of men's perfumery.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

High-grade Japanese green tea. Umami-rich, grassy, and marine (seaweed-like).

Saw Palmetto note image

Saw Palmetto

Palm variety. Green and dry.

Portulaca or Pigweed note image

Portulaca or Pigweed

Succulent green weed. Slightly sour.

Peyote note image

Peyote

A cactus scent. Green, watery, and earthy.

Pesto note image

Pesto

Basil, pine nuts, and garlic. Very savory and Italian.

Earl Grey Tea note image

Earl Grey Tea

Black tea infused with bergamot oil. It is citrusy, tannic, and utterly civilized.

Grape Leaves note image

Grape Leaves

Green and slightly tannic. It evokes vineyards and dolmas.

Melilot or Sweet Clover note image

Melilot or Sweet Clover

Hay-like and vanillic (coumarin). Sweet and grassy.

Olive Leaf note image

Olive Leaf

Green and soapy. It evokes the dry heat of an olive grove.

Mistletoe note image

Mistletoe

Green and woody. Not very fragrant, mostly symbolic.

Pear Leaf note image

Pear Leaf

Green and slightly glossy scent.

Davana note image

Davana

A chameleon herb that smells of dried fruit, wine, and tea. It shifts on every skin, sometimes smelling balsamic, sometimes herbal.

Blue Bugle note image

Blue Bugle

A wildflower scent that is mild and herbaceous. It adds a touch of wild meadow to a scent.

Matcha Tea note image

Matcha Tea

Powdered green tea. Smells grassy, umami, and slightly chalky.

Borneol note image

Borneol

A terpene that smells minty, camphoraceous, and woody. It feels medicinal and cooling.

Catnip note image

Catnip

An aromatic mint-family herb. It smells herbal, woody, and slightly skunky.

View All Botanicals & Aromatics Notes

Spices

These ingredients bring the heat and the vibration, adding a three-dimensional hum to a composition that tickles the nose and wakes up the palate. From the cooling, camphorous touch of cardamom to the fiery crackle of black pepper, spices prevent a fragrance from ever feeling flat or boring.

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

A duality of cool camphor and warm spice. It’s sophisticated and aromatic, often making a fragrance feel effortlessly expensive.

Coffee Tincture note image

Coffee Tincture

Alcohol infusion of coffee. Smells lighter and boozier than the absolute.

Coriander note image

Coriander

The seed, not the leaf. It smells woody, spicy, citrusy, and warm.

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

Dry, spicy, and woody. It adds a warm, dusty heat.

Cassia note image

Cassia

Chinese cinnamon. It smells hotter, sharper, and woodier than true cinnamon.

Coffee CO2 note image

Coffee CO2

A photorealistic roasted coffee bean extract. It smells exactly like an espresso bar.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Sichuan Pepper note image

Sichuan Pepper

Citrusy and tingling. Unlike black pepper, it smells of lemon and metal.

Allspice note image

Allspice

A warm spice rack in a single note, smelling of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg combined. It feels festive and warming, perfect for winter.

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

Ultravanil™ note image

Ultravanil™

High-impact vanilla synthetic. Non-edible vanilla.

Vanilla note image

Vanilla

The real bean is woody, boozy, and spicy. Not just simple sugar.

Dill note image

Dill

Aromatic, green, and savory—yes, it smells like pickles. It adds a surprising culinary freshness.

Mustard Seed note image

Mustard Seed

Pungent and sharp. Adds a biting heat.

Clove Leaf note image

Clove Leaf

Smells like cloves but woodier and greener. It is drier than the bud.

Fennel note image

Fennel

Sweet, green anise flavor. It adds a cool, herbal licorice note.

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

A pepper variety with a camphorous, allspice-like scent. Cooler than black pepper.

Fenugreek note image

Fenugreek

Maple syrup and curry powder. It is spicy, sweet, and savory all at once.

View All Spices Notes

Resins And Balsams

The ancient tears of trees, these materials have been burned in rituals for millennia and bring a sacred, meditative smoke to perfumery. They are thick, sticky, and profoundly complex, offering a sweet, leathery darkness that feels like a protective cloak against the cold.

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Blue Amber note image

Blue Amber

A variant of amber found in the Dominican Republic. In perfume, it usually means an amber accord with aromatic or marine touches.

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

Smoky, leathery, and dark. Smells of campfires and ships.

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

Roasted Sal tree resin. It smells leathery, smoky, and woody.

Copal note image

Copal

A resin used in incense in Mexico. It smells bright, lemony, and piney.

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

Wood chips soaked in perfume oil and burned, creating a smoky, fragrant cloud. It smells traditional, Middle Eastern, and welcoming.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

A resin that smells of mushrooms, licorice, and earth. It is darker and stranger than frankincense.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

Clean, low-smoke incense usually based on sandalwood and aloeswood. It is meditative and dry.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

The cornerstone of amber accords. It smells leathery, sweet, dirty, and warm all at once.

Myrica note image

Myrica

Bayberry. Smells spicy, waxy, and balsamic.

Elemi note image

Elemi

A resin that smells surprisingly like lemon, pine, and pepper. It is bright and balsamic.

Benzoin note image

Benzoin

A comforting balsamic resin that smells of vanilla and cinnamon. It gives fragrances a cozy, almost edible warmth without being overly sugary.

Dragon Blood Resin note image

Dragon Blood Resin

A bright red resin that smells sweet, spicy, and slightly woody. It is lighter and cleaner than frankincense.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

Oil from prickly juniper, smelling intensely smoky and tarry. It creates the campfire effect.

Incense note image

Incense

Smoke, resin, and ritual. It captures the cold, spiritual air of a cathedral or a temple.

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

An Amazonian resin smelling of wood, spice, and eucalyptus. It is fresh yet balsamic.

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

A desert plant with a waxy bark that burns brightly. It smells resinous, incense-like, and sweet.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

Lemony, piney, and cold. It smells of high church mass and ancient rituals.

Balsamic Notes note image

Balsamic Notes

A group of resinous materials like benzoin and myrrh that smell warm, sweet, and thick. They wrap a fragrance in a cozy amber blanket.

View All Resins And Balsams Notes

Citrus

The sunshine of the fragrance world, these volatile oils provide the sparkling opening act that greets you the moment the mist hits the air. While they are fleeting by nature, their zesty, sour-sweet optimism is essential for lifting the heavier materials and preventing a perfume from feeling like a lead weight.

Buddha's hand note image

Buddha's hand

A strange citrus fruit smelling of lemon zest and flowers without the juice. It is dry and aromatic.

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

Caviar lime. It smells incredibly sharp, zesty, and exploding with sourness.

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

Diluted citrus scent. It smells faint, clean, and splashy.

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

An Australian leaf that smells 'more lemon than lemon.' Clean and sweet.

Clementine note image

Clementine

Sweet, juicy, and seedless citrus. It smells happier and less acidic than orange.

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Neroli note image

Neroli

Steam-distilled orange blossom. It smells green, soapy, bitter, and exquisitely fresh.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

Sun-dried tangerine peel. It smells citrusy but aged and slightly medicinal.

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

Japanese grapefruit. A complex mix of lime, mandarin, and pine. Bitter and aromatic.

Kumquat note image

Kumquat

Sour orange. It smells sharper and more bitter than a sweet orange.

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

Woody and leafy notes of the tree, plus the fruit. A full orchard smell.

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

Bitter, zesty, and slightly sulfurous. It is uplifting and distinctly modern.

Citron note image

Citron

A large, ancient citrus fruit. It smells dry, zesty, and less sweet than lemon.

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Limetta note image

Limetta

Sweet Lime. Less acidic than regular lime, more floral.

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Bergamot note image

Bergamot

The finest of citruses, famous for giving Earl Grey tea its distinct aroma. It’s bitter, tart, and floral all at once—the perfect opening act.

View All Citrus Notes

Assorted

A curated cabinet of curiosities for the notes that defy our desire for neat little boxes, yet remain absolutely essential to the perfumer's palette. Here you will find the outliers and the individualists, ingredients that possess a character so distinct they refuse to sit quietly with the flowers or the fruits.