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'.

Spanish Broom note image

Spanish Broom

Spartium. Honeyed, orange-blossom-like, and hay.

Nectarine Blossom note image

Nectarine Blossom

Delicate fruity floral. Smells like spring orchards.

Nigella note image

Nigella

Love-in-a-mist. The seeds smell of strawberry and oregano.

Melissa Flower note image

Melissa Flower

Lemon balm flower. Mildly citrusy.

Peach Blossom note image

Peach Blossom

A delicate, airy floral scent with a whisper of fruitiness. It smells pink and spring-like.

Orchard Blossom note image

Orchard Blossom

Mixed fruit tree flowers. Spring-like and fresh.

Longoza note image

Longoza

A Madagascan ginger flower. Spicy and floral.

Dried Rose note image

Dried Rose

Potpourri-like, dusty, and nostalgic. It smells darker and more muted than a fresh bloom.

Bergamot Blossom note image

Bergamot Blossom

The flower of the bergamot tree, smelling of citrus and white petals. It is softer and more romantic than the fruit zest.

Honeydew Blossom note image

Honeydew Blossom

Light and watery floral.

Kudzu note image

Kudzu

The vine that ate the South. The flowers smell remarkably like grape soda.

Nasturtium note image

Nasturtium

Peppery flower. Smells green and spicy, like cress.

Liatris note image

Liatris

Deer's Tongue. It smells heavily of coumarin (hay/vanilla) and tobacco.

Dahlia note image

Dahlia

A subtle, slightly bitter floral scent. It lacks the sweetness of a rose, smelling more like fresh garden greenery and stems.

Fuchsia note image

Fuchsia

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

Lysylang note image

Lysylang

A lily-ylang ylang hybrid note. Clean white floral.

Daisy note image

Daisy

Green, herbaceous, and mild. It doesn't smell 'floral' in the traditional sense, but rather like a wild, grassy meadow.

Narcissus note image

Narcissus

Daffodil. Smells of hay, manure, jasmine, and green stems. Intense and animalic.

Paramela note image

Paramela

A plant from Patagonia. Smells honeyed and herbal.

Gladiolus note image

Gladiolus

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

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.

Coconut Water note image

Coconut Water

Fresh, transparent, and lightly sweet. It adds a quenching hydration.

Pea note image

Pea

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

Breadnut note image

Breadnut

Similar to chestnut, smelling starchy and nutty. It provides a savory, food-like base.

Genipapo note image

Genipapo

A Brazilian fruit. It smells funky, fruity, and fermented.

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.

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.

Carrot note image

Carrot

Sweet, rooty, and earthy. It smells remarkably like iris root (orris) and is used to enhance it.

Corn note image

Corn

Sweet, starchy, and milky. Unusual in perfume, savory-sweet.

Green Plum note image

Green Plum

Unripe plum. Sour, firm, and tart.

Honeydew Melon note image

Honeydew Melon

Sweet, green, and aquatic. A staple of 90s freshwater scents.

Argan note image

Argan

Nutty, oily, and rich, recalling luxurious hair treatments. It adds a smooth, fatty depth to the base of a fragrance.

Cashew note image

Cashew

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

Dried Apricot note image

Dried Apricot

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

Frosted Berries note image

Frosted Berries

Berries with a cold, icy aspect. Sugary and sharp.

Apple note image

Apple

Crisp, juicy, and refreshingly innocent. It brings a bright, shampoo-fresh crunch that cuts through heavier notes.

Hazelnut note image

Hazelnut

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

Ground Cherry note image

Ground Cherry

Physalis/Cape Gooseberry. Tart, tomato-like, and sweet.

Cupuaçu, Cupuassu, Copoasu note image

Cupuaçu, Cupuassu, Copoasu

Amazonian fruit related to cacao. Smells like chocolate and pineapple.

Dried Apple Crisp note image

Dried Apple Crisp

Concentrated apple sweetness with a dusty, dehydrated quality. Less juicy, more intensely fruity.

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.

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.

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.

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

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

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

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.

Tolu Balsam note image

Tolu Balsam

Sweet resin. Cinnamon and vanilla scent.

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.

Milk note image

Milk

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

Genet note image

Genet

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

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

A synthetic wood note smelling of warm amber, tobacco, and old wood.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

Amber Xtreme note image

Amber Xtreme

An incredibly powerful woody-amber note that projects for miles. It can be sharp and dry, cutting through even the heaviest compositions.

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.

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.

Aldron note image

Aldron

An animalic synthetic that mimics body heat and slight sweat. It adds a lived-in, human sensuality to otherwise sterile scents.

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.

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.

Anthamber™ note image

Anthamber™

A woody, amber-like molecule that adds volume and substance. It provides a sturdy background for other notes to dance upon.

Ambertonic™ (IFF) note image

Ambertonic™ (IFF)

A modern molecule that is deep, musky, and woody with a dry heat. It gives a fragrance a contemporary, vibrating trail.

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.

Sparkling Wine note image

Sparkling Wine

Champagne notes. Yeasty and fizzy.

Cosmopolitan Cocktail note image

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Vodka, cranberry, and lime. Tart, fruity, and energetic.

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.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

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

Campari note image

Campari

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

Buttered Rum note image

Buttered Rum

Hot rum with butter and spices. It is rich, oily, and intoxicatingly warm.

Daiquiri note image

Daiquiri

Lime, rum, and sugar. It creates a zesty, sweet, and boozy accord that smells like a summer holiday.

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.

Champagne Rosé note image

Champagne Rosé

Pink champagne. It smells fizzy like regular champagne but with added berry sweetness.

Cream Soda note image

Cream Soda

Vanilla, fizzy water, and sugar. It smells frothy and sweet.

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

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

Cherry Liqueur note image

Cherry Liqueur

Boozy, sweet cherry. It adds a dark, cocktail vibe.

Cream Liqueur note image

Cream Liqueur

Alcohol and dairy. Sweet, heavy, and warming.

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.

Ice Wine note image

Ice Wine

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

Blue Margarita note image

Blue Margarita

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

Bohea (Wuyi Tea) note image

Bohea (Wuyi Tea)

A smoky, oxidized oolong tea. It smells woody, roasted, and sophisticated.

Martini note image

Martini

Gin and vermouth. Dry, herbal, and alcoholic.

Liquor note image

Liquor

Generic alcohol note. Sharp, volatile, and warming.

Punch note image

Punch

Fruit juice and alcohol mix. Sweet and party-like.

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.

Timberol note image

Timberol

High-impact woody amber synthetic.

Ionones note image

Ionones

The molecules that give violet and iris their scent. They smell powdery, woody, and like berry candy.

Hexyl Acetate note image

Hexyl Acetate

A chemical smelling of pear and apple. Fruity and solvent-like.

Hashish note image

Hashish

Resinous cannabis. Sweet, herbal, and balsamic.

Magnolan note image

Magnolan

A synthetic smelling of magnolia and geranium. Fresh and grapefruit-like.

Fire note image

Fire

Smoky, dry, and hot. It mimics the scent of burning things.

Hivernal® note image

Hivernal®

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

Earthy Notes note image

Earthy Notes

A general term for smells like patchouli, vetiver, or soil. They provide grounding and depth.

Lactones note image

Lactones

A group of creamy, fruity molecules. They smell like peaches, coconut, and milk.

Mineral Notes note image

Mineral Notes

Stone, salt, and flint. Cold and inorganic.

Flint note image

Flint

Gunpowder and stone. The smell of sparks striking rock.

Coranol note image

Coranol

A floral synthetic smelling of coriander and linalool. Fresh and diffusive.

Healingwood note image

Healingwood

A patchouli-based synthetic. It smells woody, lactonic, and clean.

Little Doll Strawberry note image

Little Doll Strawberry

A specific synthetic strawberry note. Plastic and sweet.

Ice note image

Ice

A fantasy note of aldehydes and mint that mimics the sensation of opening a freezer. It smells cold, sharp, and sterile.

Diving Suit note image

Diving Suit

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

Ink note image

Ink

Smells of metallic salts, charcoal, and damp wood. It evokes melancholy letters and calligraphy.

Coal Tar Pitch note image

Coal Tar Pitch

Even denser and darker than coal tar. Deeply industrial.

Coal note image

Coal

Dusty, black, and mineral. It adds a soot-like darkness.

Cetonal® note image

Cetonal®

A synthetic ionone smelling of orris, wood, and leather. It adds volume.

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.

Cherry Syrup note image

Cherry Syrup

Medicinal and sugary. Often smells like cough syrup.

Donut or Doughnut note image

Donut or Doughnut

Fried dough and sugar glaze. It smells oily, sweet, and comforting.

Marzipan note image

Marzipan

Almond paste. Intense bitter almond and sugar.

Dorayaki note image

Dorayaki

A Japanese pancake filled with red bean paste. It smells sweet, cake-like, and slightly earthy.

Honeycomb note image

Honeycomb

Honey plus beeswax. It adds a waxy texture to the sweetness.

Eggnog note image

Eggnog

Nutmeg, cream, and rum. It smells undeniably like Christmas.

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

Warm, soft fruit with caramelized sugars. It lacks the crispness of fresh apple, replacing it with comforting warmth.

Gummy Candies note image

Gummy Candies

Artificial fruit and gelatin. Playful and sweet.

Gingerbread note image

Gingerbread

Warm ginger, molasses, and cinnamon. A cozy holiday gourmand scent.

Agave Nectar note image

Agave Nectar

A warm, honey-like sweetener that is less floral than actual honey. It adds a smooth, golden glaze to a fragrance without being cloying.

Gourmand Accord note image

Gourmand Accord

A blend smelling of edible treats—vanilla, caramel, chocolate. Dessert for the nose.

Bread note image

Bread

The savory, yeasty smell of baked crust. It evokes comfort, bakeries, and simple pleasures.

Bonbon note image

Bonbon

A general term for hard candy. It smells sugary, fruity, and childlike.

Bubbaloo note image

Bubbaloo

A specific brand of liquid-filled gum. Smells intensely synthetic, fruity, and sweet.

Griotte Cherries note image

Griotte Cherries

Morello cherries. Sour, dark, and often used in baking.

Affogato note image

Affogato

The delicious contrast of hot espresso drowning in cold vanilla ice cream. It is roasted, milky, and sweet all at once.

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

Sugar and fat whipped together. It smells like frosting—vanillic, sweet, and heavy.

Frosting [Glacé] note image

Frosting [Glacé]

Pure sugar and fat. Sweet, vanilla-heavy, and dense.

Cereals note image

Cereals

The smell of breakfast grains. Toasty, comforting, and wheaty.

Jelly note image

Jelly

Fruit preserves. Sweet, translucent, and wobbly.

View All Gourmand Notes

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.

Scots pine variant note image

Scots pine variant

Pine needles. Fresh and balsamic.

Cascarilla note image

Cascarilla

A bark that smells spicy, woody, and peppery. It adds a dry heat to compositions.

Canadian Balsam note image

Canadian Balsam

Balsam Fir resin, smelling piney and sweet. It is the scent of deep northern forests.

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.

Ducke note image

Ducke

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

Black Hemlock or Tsuga note image

Black Hemlock or Tsuga

A conifer scent that is piney, woody, and slightly fruity. It evokes deep, dark forests.

Ho Wood note image

Ho Wood

High in linalool. It smells woody, floral, and fresh, often used as a rosewood substitute.

Cottonwood (Poplar) note image

Cottonwood (Poplar)

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

Hinoki Wood note image

Hinoki Wood

Japanese Cypress. It smells lemony, woody, and sacred (used in temples and baths).

Eucalyptus note image

Eucalyptus

Cool, camphorous, and medicinal. It clears the head and smells like a spa steam room.

Buxus note image

Buxus

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

Charred Wood note image

Charred Wood

Burnt timber. Smoky, carbonized, and dark.

Dry Wood note image

Dry Wood

A generic term for non-creamy woods like cedar or cypress. It creates a crisp, structured base.

Incienso note image

Incienso

A desert shrub (Encelia) that smells resinous and pine-like. It is pungent and aromatic.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

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

Belambra Tree note image

Belambra Tree

A synthetic wood note by Givaudan that smells dry, amber-like, and sophisticated. It adds modern radiance.

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.

Bark note image

Bark

The rough, dry outer layer of a tree. It smells earthy and textured, less creamy than the heartwood.

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos note image

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos

Amazonian cinnamon. It smells spicy and floral, distinct from common cinnamon.

Kenya Rosewood note image

Kenya Rosewood

A wood smelling faintly floral and dry.

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.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

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.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Datura note image

Datura

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

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

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.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

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

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.

Green Branches note image

Green Branches

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

Thistle note image

Thistle

Prickly green plant. Honeyed and dusty.

Duck Poo Oolong note image

Duck Poo Oolong

Dan Cong tea (the name is a myth, luckily). It smells floral, honeyed, and distinctly like orchids.

Calamus note image

Calamus

A wetland reed smelling woody, spicy, and warm. It has an ancient, papyrus-like vibe.

Dried Fallen Leaves note image

Dried Fallen Leaves

Crunchy, brown, and earthy. It captures the exact smell of an autumn walk.

Bay Essence note image

Bay Essence

Spicy, medicinal, and warming. It smells of old-school rum splashes and barbershops.

Chinese Medicinal Herbs note image

Chinese Medicinal Herbs

A complex mix of bitter, earthy, and aromatic roots. It smells of traditional apothecary shops.

Green Notes note image

Green Notes

A category for crushed leaves, grass, and stems. Fresh and vibrant.

Clary Sage note image

Clary Sage

Herbal, sweet, and tea-like with an amber nuance. It is less medicinal than common sage.

Blackberry Leaf note image

Blackberry Leaf

Green, earthy, and slightly tart. It smells like the bush rather than the berry, adding a natural roughness.

Acronychia pedunculata note image

Acronychia pedunculata

A tropical wood smell with distinct citrus and herbal facets. It smells resinous and fruity, like snapping a fresh branch.

Arnica note image

Arnica

Herbal, medicinal, and slightly hay-like. It adds a healing, apothecary vibe to aromatic blends.

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.

Celery Seeds note image

Celery Seeds

Spicy and warm, distinct from the stalk. It adds a unique savory character.

Henna note image

Henna

Earthy, dry, and hay-like. It smells like the powdered dye.

Asparagus note image

Asparagus

Distinctly vegetal and savory, bordering on sulfurous. It’s a brave, avant-garde choice for green fragrances.

Banana Leaf note image

Banana Leaf

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

Bigarane™ note image

Bigarane™

A synthetic that smells like petitgrain and green leaves. It adds a natural, leafy freshness to citrus accords.

Galbanum note image

Galbanum

Intensely bitter green resin. It smells like snapped pea pods and green peppers—sharp and bracing.

Fermented Tea note image

Fermented Tea

Kombucha or Pu-erh. It smells sour, earthy, and yeasty.

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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.

Wan Sao Lhong note image

Wan Sao Lhong

Thai herb. Spicy and aromatic.

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

Dill note image

Dill

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

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

A masala blend of cumin, coriander, and cardamom. Warm, savory, and vibrating with heat.

Cumin note image

Cumin

Spicy, warm, and unapologetically human, bordering on the smell of sweat. It adds a carnal, savory heat that makes a fragrance feel alive.

Carum note image

Carum

Another name for Caraway. Spicy, anise-like, and sharp.

Japanese Pepper note image

Japanese Pepper

Sansho pepper. It smells intensely lemony and creates a numbing effect.

Pepper note image

Pepper

Black pepper. Sharp, hot, and sneezing-dry. It adds a masculine vibration.

Cinnamon Leaf note image

Cinnamon Leaf

Smells like clove and cinnamon combined. It is harsher and greener than the bark.

Wasabi note image

Wasabi

Horseradish-like heat. Pungent and green.

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.

Ginger note image

Ginger

Fresh, spicy, and lemony. It adds a fizzy, energetic heat to the top notes.

Tamarind note image

Tamarind

Sour fruit. Acidic and fruity.

Cinnamon note image

Cinnamon

Warm, spicy, and woody. It evokes baking, holidays, and heat.

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

Dry, herbal, and aromatic, often used in cooking. In perfume, it adds a savory, leafy crispness.

Tonka Bean note image

Tonka Bean

The scent of coumarin—vanilla, almond, hay, and tobacco rolled into one.

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Green Coffee note image

Green Coffee

Unroasted beans. They smell vegetal, pea-like, and grassy.

Coriander note image

Coriander

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

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

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.

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.

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.

Copal note image

Copal

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

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

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

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.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

Rich, sweet, and vanilla-like resin. It acts as a fixative and smooths everything out.

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Incense note image

Incense

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

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

A terpene that smells balsamic, woody, and slightly citrusy. It is often found in myrrh and opoponax.

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

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.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

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.

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

A resin from the Mediterranean. Smells distinctively green, piney, and crisp.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Opoponax note image

Opoponax

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

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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.

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

A synthetic grapefruit. Bitter, fresh, and slightly floral.

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

Tangerine Zest note image

Tangerine Zest

Oily orange peel scent.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

The oil from the peel. Bitter, shiny, and photorealistic.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

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

Lemon Verbena note image

Lemon Verbena

Verveine. Herbal, fresh, and distinctly lemony without the acid.

Neroli note image

Neroli

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

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Blood Orange note image

Blood Orange

Juicier, sweeter, and redder than standard orange, with raspberry nuances. It feels lush and Mediterranean.

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

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.

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

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

Lime note image

Lime

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

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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.