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'.

Opium note image

Opium

A fantasy accord of spices, resins, and carnation. It smells heavy and narcotic (like the YSL perfume).

Banksia Australian note image

Banksia Australian

An Australian wildflower with a nectar-rich, honeyed scent. It evokes the rugged beauty of the bush.

Black Currant Blossom note image

Black Currant Blossom

The floral aspect of the cassis plant, less fruity and more spicy-floral. It has a unique, wild charm.

Blackberry Blossom note image

Blackberry Blossom

A light floral scent with a whisper of fruit. It is delicate and often used to lighten berry compositions.

Laurel Blossom note image

Laurel Blossom

The flower of the bay tree. It smells floral with a spicy herbal edge.

Delonix note image

Delonix

The Flame Tree, offering a subtle tropical floral note. It smells vaguely of orchids and ferns.

Celosia note image

Celosia

Also known as Cockscomb. It has a mild, grassy floral scent.

Hyssop note image

Hyssop

An ancient herb. Smells camphorous, minty, and spicy.

Azteca Lily note image

Azteca Lily

A striking red flower with a scent that is fresh and slightly spicy. It feels vibrant and Central American.

Dyer's Greenweed note image

Dyer's Greenweed

A yellow flowering shrub. It smells grassy and mildly floral.

Christmas Tree or Flame Tree note image

Christmas Tree or Flame Tree

Nuytsia floribunda. It has a honeyed, rooty scent.

Bromelia note image

Bromelia

Tropical plants (like pineapple) with sweet, watery floral scents. They feel exotic and lush.

Daphne note image

Daphne

A winter bloom with an intoxicating scent of lemon soap and spicy carnation. It is clean yet heady.

Gladiolus note image

Gladiolus

A faint floral scent. Usually just freshness and green stems.

Grapeflower note image

Grapeflower

The flower of the grape vine. It smells intensely sweet and powdery.

Coffee Blossom note image

Coffee Blossom

A white flower that smells like jasmine with a coffee nuance. Rare and beautiful.

Cyclamen note image

Cyclamen

A clean, mysterious floral scent. It smells fresh, slightly soapy, and cool.

Fire Lily note image

Fire Lily

A vibrant floral scent, spicy and warm.

Fuchsia note image

Fuchsia

A mostly scentless flower, represented as a green, slightly fruity floral.

Bird cherry note image

Bird cherry

A flowering tree with a scent that is sweet, almond-like, and heady. It smells intense and slightly balsamic.

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.

Olive note image

Olive

Oily, green, and savory. Distinctly Mediterranean.

Dried Apricot note image

Dried Apricot

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

Acerola note image

Acerola

A bright, zesty cherry-like fruit that is more sour than sweet. It adds a high-pitched Vitamin C freshness to fruity fragrances.

Kiwi note image

Kiwi

Sweet, watery, and slightly berry-like. It adds a neon-green fruitiness.

Grape Seed note image

Grape Seed

Oily and mild. Mostly adds texture.

Rambutan note image

Rambutan

Hairy fruit related to lychee. Sweet, woody, and floral.

Rhubarb note image

Rhubarb

Sharp, vegetal, and acidic stems. It needs sugar to make it edible, but shines raw in perfume.

Mamey note image

Mamey

Sapote. Creamy, pumpkin-like, and almondy fruit.

Black Sapote note image

Black Sapote

Also called the 'chocolate pudding fruit,' it smells creamy, sweet, and mild. It adds an exotic custard texture.

Japanese Loquat note image

Japanese Loquat

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

Fig Leaf note image

Fig Leaf

Bitter, green, and coconutty. It brings a sharp, realistic snap of greenery.

Elderberry note image

Elderberry

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

Guarana note image

Guarana

Amazonian berry. It smells fruity, slightly medicinal, and energizing.

Fruit Salad note image

Fruit Salad

A mix of generic fruity notes. Sweet, watery, and indistinguishable.

Pineapple note image

Pineapple

Juicy, acidic, and sweet. A key component of Aventus, adding a bright yellow burst.

Mahonia note image

Mahonia

Oregon Grape. The flowers smell like honey and lily of the valley.

Apricot note image

Apricot

Fuzzy, sweet, and soft-skinned, differing from peach by being slightly more tart. It has a velvety texture that blends beautifully with osmanthus.

Squash note image

Squash

Vegetal melon. Mild and green.

Silverberry note image

Silverberry

Elaeagnus. Tart fruit.

Shea Butter note image

Shea Butter

Nutty fat. Creamy and earthy.

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.

Suede note image

Suede

Soft leather. Musky, velvety, and skin-like.

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.

Civettone note image

Civettone

A synthetic musk that replicates the warmth of civet without the cruelty or fecal edge. It is velvety and smooth.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

Sweet, animalic, and sticky, with hints of honey and pollen. It adds a natural, waxy richness to the base.

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.

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

Creamy but slightly tart and animalic. A funky milky note.

Ambergris note image

Ambergris

The gold standard of fixatives, smelling of salty skin and warm ocean air. It possesses a magical ability to make a fragrance shimmer and last forever.

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

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.

Meat note image

Meat

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

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.

Fur note image

Fur

Warm, oily, and animalic. It smells like a sleeping cat or a vintage coat.

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Skin note image

Skin

Salty, warm, and musky. The smell of a human being.

Milk note image

Milk

Creamy, lactonic, and comforting. It adds a nursery-soft texture.

Ambrostar note image

Ambrostar

A modern captive molecule that offers a dry, vibrant woody-amber effect. It helps a fragrance lift off the skin and sparkle.

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.

Negroni note image

Negroni

Gin, vermouth, and Campari. Bitter, herbal, and orange.

Ice Wine note image

Ice Wine

Grapes frozen on the vine, producing an intensely sweet, honeyed nectar scent. It smells sticky and golden.

Amarula note image

Amarula

A creamy liqueur note from the Marula fruit, smelling of caramel and fruit. It is milky and exotic, evocative of an African sunset.

Applejack note image

Applejack

A boozy apple brandy scent that is warm and fruity. It smells like spiced cider with a kick, perfect for autumn.

Jasmine Tea note image

Jasmine Tea

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

Bellini note image

Bellini

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

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

A generic term for alcohol-inspired scents like rum, whiskey, or cognac. They add warmth, sweetness, and intoxication.

Hot Chocolate note image

Hot Chocolate

Cocoa and milk. Warm, powdery, and comforting.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

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

Beer note image

Beer

Yeasty, malty, and slightly fizzy. It brings a casual, pub-like atmosphere that is strangely comforting.

Curaçao note image

Curaçao

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

Coca-Cola note image

Coca-Cola

Effervescent and spicy with notes of cinnamon and lime. It brings a playful, nostalgic sweetness that feels decidedly American yet oddly chic.

Cachaça note image

Cachaça

Brazilian sugarcane spirit. It smells sweet, vegetal, and funky, different from rum.

Tonic Water note image

Tonic Water

Quinine water. Bitter and fizzy.

Sauce-aroma Baijiu note image

Sauce-aroma Baijiu

Chinese liquor. Savory, soy-sauce-like, and fermented.

Moonshine note image

Moonshine

Corn whiskey. Raw, harsh alcohol scent.

Tequila note image

Tequila

Agave spirit. Earthy, alcoholic, and weird.

Caipirinha note image

Caipirinha

Lime, sugar, and cachaça. It smells zesty, sweet, and spirited.

Hi-Fi note image

Hi-Fi

Orange and vodka cocktail. Citrusy and spirited.

Campari note image

Campari

Bitter herbal liqueur. It smells medicinal, citrusy, and red.

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.

Mascarpone Cheese note image

Mascarpone Cheese

Creamy, mild cheese. Lactonic and rich.

Hand Cream note image

Hand Cream

A texture note. Smells creamy, cosmetic, and soothing.

Cosmone note image

Cosmone

A rich, powdery musk with a warm, nutty character. It is elegant and modern.

Cashmeran note image

Cashmeran

A complex synthetic smelling of wet concrete, musk, and spicy wood. It feels like wrapping yourself in wool.

Poivrol note image

Poivrol

A synthetic black pepper note. Spicy and woody.

Blood note image

Blood

Metallic, salty, and disturbing. It’s an avant-garde note used to create shock or a primal feeling.

Copper note image

Copper

A metallic smell, warm and slightly sweet/bloody. It smells like loose change.

Fior di Latte note image

Fior di Latte

Milk flower or fresh mozzarella. It smells purely lactonic, creamy, and mild.

Cinnamaldehyde note image

Cinnamaldehyde

The main chemical component of cinnamon. It smells intensely spicy and sweet.

Dodecanal note image

Dodecanal

An aldehyde that smells waxy, citrusy, and like clean pine. It smells intensely 'fresh' and soapy.

Motor Oil note image

Motor Oil

Petroleum and grease. Dirty, mechanical, and heavy.

River Notes note image

River Notes

Fresh water, mud, and weeds. Less salty than the sea.

Nail Polish note image

Nail Polish

Acetate and solvent. Fruit-like chemical smell.

Pebbles note image

Pebbles

Cold stone. Mineral and dry.

Pizza note image

Pizza

Oregano, tomato, and cheese. A novelty savory gourmand.

Aqual™ note image

Aqual™

A modern aldehyde that smells of fresh water and clean air. It creates a sparkling, lifting effect in the opening.

Earth Tincture note image

Earth Tincture

The smell of freshly turned soil. Rich, dark, and full of geosmin.

Sea Water note image

Sea Water

Brine and algae. The smell of the ocean.

Damascone note image

Damascone

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

Serenolide note image

Serenolide

A white musk. Clean, powdery, and sweet.

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.

Vetiver note image

Vetiver

A complex grass root. Smells earthy, smoky, green, and like grapefruit.

Indian Oud note image

Indian Oud

The wildest of ouds, often smelling barnyard-like, leathery, and deeply animalic. It is intense and not for the shy.

Blackwood note image

Blackwood

Also known as Mpingo, it is dense and dry. It provides a solemn, dark woodiness to the base.

Buddha Wood note image

Buddha Wood

An Australian wood also known as False Sandalwood. It smells woody, smoky, and rose-like.

Birch note image

Birch

Smoky and tar-like, evoking the smell of a campfire or well-worn Russian leather. It’s rugged and uncompromising.

Desert Sagebrush note image

Desert Sagebrush

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

Cherry Tree note image

Cherry Tree

Woody and slightly fruity. It provides a solid base for blossom scents.

Buxus note image

Buxus

Boxwood, smelling green, woody, and slightly urinous (like cat pee). It smells like a formal French garden.

Brazilian Rosewood note image

Brazilian Rosewood

Also known as Bois de Rose, it smells sweet, woody, and floral. It is elegant and highly endangered, so often synthetic now.

Saman note image

Saman

Rain Tree. Sweet and woody.

Elm note image

Elm

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

Indian Sandalwood note image

Indian Sandalwood

Santalum Album. The creamy, milky king of woods that smells impossibly smooth and buttery.

Cottonwood (Poplar) note image

Cottonwood (Poplar)

Sweet, balsamic, and woody. The buds smell like honey and resin.

Rhizoma Atractylodis note image

Rhizoma Atractylodis

Chinese root. Pungent and earthy.

White Oud note image

White Oud

A gentler, cleaner oud accord.

Redwood note image

Redwood

Sequoia. Damp, spicy, and gigantic wood scent.

Vietnamese Oud note image

Vietnamese Oud

Sweet and spicy oud.

Tamboti Wood note image

Tamboti Wood

African Sandalwood. Creamy and spicy.

Mulberry plant note image

Mulberry plant

Green and woody.

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.

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.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

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.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

A rare Australian flower with a complex scent of fruit, wood, and violet. It is expensive and highly prized.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Lily note image

Lily

Spicy, waxy, and heady. It smells regal and sometimes slightly salty/meaty.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

Datura note image

Datura

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

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.

Ivy note image

Ivy

Dark green, bitter, and slightly spicy. It evokes cold stone walls and shaded gardens.

Guao or Maiden Plum note image

Guao or Maiden Plum

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

Avocado note image

Avocado

Creamy, fatty, and green, with a subtle nutty aroma. It adds a smooth, vegetal texture rather than a strong smell.

Woodruff or Galium Odoratum note image

Woodruff or Galium Odoratum

Sweet hay scent. Coumarin-rich.

Banana Leaf note image

Banana Leaf

Large, waxy, and vividly green. It smells of humid rainforests and crushed vegetation, fresh and slightly bitter.

Oolong Tea note image

Oolong Tea

Semi-oxidized tea. Smells floral, woody, and roasted.

Lovage Root note image

Lovage Root

Smells distinctively like celery and Maggi seasoning. Very savory.

Barley note image

Barley

Cereal-like, roasted, and nutty. It adds a savory, grainy warmth that feels wholesome and comforting.

Azolla (Water Fern) note image

Azolla (Water Fern)

A small aquatic fern that smells green, damp, and mossy. It evokes the stillness of a pond covered in duckweed.

Sabah Snake Grass note image

Sabah Snake Grass

Herbal medicine. Green and grassy.

Pu'er Tea note image

Pu'er Tea

Fermented tea. Earthy, fishy (in a good way), and damp.

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves note image

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves

Pure green freshness. It lacks the floral bell note.

Green Branches note image

Green Branches

The smell of snapped twigs. Green, woody, and sappy.

Ginkgo note image

Ginkgo

Green and herbal. The fruit can smell rancid, but the leaves are mild and distinct.

Trees note image

Trees

Generic forest scent. Bark and leaves.

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu) note image

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu)

A Chinese medicinal root. Earthy, bittersweet, and herbaceous.

Aloe Vera note image

Aloe Vera

Green, watery, and cool, with a slight vegetative bitterness. It creates a soothing, spa-like atmosphere in a scent.

Angelica note image

Angelica

Green, musky, and peppery with a unique herbal bite. It adds a crisp, natural sophistication that feels botanical and fresh.

Silk Vine or Milk Broom note image

Silk Vine or Milk Broom

Periploca. Smells powdery and green.

Vine note image

Vine

Grape vine wood. Dry and twisted.

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.

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

Not a true pepper, but a berry. It smells rosy, sparkling, and like gin.

Wasabi note image

Wasabi

Horseradish-like heat. Pungent and green.

Kopi Luwak Coffee note image

Kopi Luwak Coffee

Civet coffee. It smells roasted but with a distinctive animalic, musky undertone.

Vanilla note image

Vanilla

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

Oriental Notes note image

Oriental Notes

A genre of resins, spices, and vanilla. Warm, sensual, and heavy.

Pimento note image

Pimento

Allspice berry. Clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg rolled into one.

Tamarind note image

Tamarind

Sour fruit. Acidic and fruity.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Sumac note image

Sumac

Sour red spice. Lemon-like and earthy.

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

Sichuan Pepper note image

Sichuan Pepper

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

Fenugreek note image

Fenugreek

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

Curry note image

Curry

A blend of spices (cumin, fenugreek). It smells savory and warm.

Chutney note image

Chutney

Spiced fruit relish. It smells savory, sweet, and vinegary.

Coriander note image

Coriander

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

Biryani note image

Biryani

A complex mix of savory spices including saffron, cardamom, and rice. It is a gourmand scent, but savory and dinner-like.

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

The leaves used in Indian cooking. They smell citrusy, herbal, and distinct.

Caraway note image

Caraway

Spicy, anise-like seeds often found in rye bread. It adds a savory, sharp aromatic quality.

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

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.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

Incense wood. It smells peppery, resinous, and spiritual, inspired by church incense.

Balsamic Vinegar note image

Balsamic Vinegar

Acidic, fruity, and aged, with a dark sweetness. It adds a sharp, gourmet counterpoint to sweet notes like strawberry.

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

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

Choya Nakh note image

Choya Nakh

Roasted seashells. It smells smoky, mineral, and oceanic.

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

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

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.

Copal note image

Copal

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

Opoponax note image

Opoponax

Sweet Myrrh. Smells like toffee, balsam, and mushrooms.

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

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

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

The concentrated essence of smoke and leather derived from birch. It is intensely phenolic, smelling like a bonfire.

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

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

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Styrax note image

Styrax

Sweet, spicy, and leather-like resin. Smells of plastic and balsam.

Andiroba note image

Andiroba

An oil from the Amazon that smells woody, nutty, and slightly bitter. It adds a wild, unpolished texture to a fragrance.

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

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.

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

Zesty and sharp, lacking the sugar of sweet oranges. It provides a refreshing, adult citrus note.

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

The oil from the rind. It contains the sulfurous, sparkly character of the fruit.

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

A citrus used in Bengal. The thick rind smells incredibly oily and zest-heavy.

Candied Lemon note image

Candied Lemon

Lemon peel boiled in syrup. It is sweet and tart, without the sharp bitterness of fresh rind.

Citron note image

Citron

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

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

Another name for Bitter Orange. It is sharp, zesty, and less sweet than regular orange, adding a sophisticated tartness.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

Unripe tangerine. It smells more zesty and bitter than the ripe fruit.

Limetta note image

Limetta

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

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

Green and petitgrain-like. It adds a leafy bitterness.

Lime note image

Lime

Sharper, drier, and more tropical than lemon. It has a distinct 'cola' nuance.

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

Sweeter and less acidic than orange. It smells candy-like and joyous.

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

A giant grapefruit. Mild, thick-rinded, and sweet-tart.

Kumquat note image

Kumquat

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

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

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

Kaffir Lime note image

Kaffir Lime

Makrut lime. The leaves smell intensely sharp, green, and uniquely Thai cuisine-like.

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Rind Bergamot note image

Rind Bergamot

The zest. Bitter and aromatic.

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

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.