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'.

Guayacan note image

Guayacan

Wood of Life. A hard wood with a balsamic, violet-like scent.

Lamduan Flower note image

Lamduan Flower

White Cheesewood. The flower smells uniquely of baked bread and coconut milk.

Plum Blossom note image

Plum Blossom

Light, powdery, and floral. Fresh spring air.

Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) note image

Flamingo Flower (Anthurium)

Waxy and green with very little scent. Usually a fantasy note of tropical freshness.

Cornflower Sultan Seeds note image

Cornflower Sultan Seeds

A mild floral scent with a powdery muskiness.

Cistus Incanus note image

Cistus Incanus

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

Kangaroo Paw note image

Kangaroo Paw

An Australian flower with a grassy, honey-like scent.

Geranium note image

Geranium

Often called the 'man's rose.' It smells floral but with a sharp, minty, green edge.

Silverthorn Flower note image

Silverthorn Flower

Elaeagnus pungens. Smells of gardenia and plum.

Pitahaya Flower note image

Pitahaya Flower

Huge cactus flower. Smells distinctively of melon.

Longoza note image

Longoza

A Madagascan ginger flower. Spicy and floral.

Opium note image

Opium

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

Poppy note image

Poppy

Mostly scentless. In perfume, it’s earthy, powdery, and slightly narcotic.

Great Burnet note image

Great Burnet

A medicinal herb with a cucumber-like freshness.

Dianthus note image

Dianthus

The botanical name for Carnation and Pinks. It smells spicy (clove-like) and peppery-sweet.

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.

Saucer Magnolia note image

Saucer Magnolia

Lemon and ginger floral.

Magnolia note image

Magnolia

Creamy, lemony, and waxy. It manages to be both heavy and refreshing.

Eglantine Rose note image

Eglantine Rose

Sweet Briar Rose. The foliage smells distinctively of green apples.

Purple Coneflower note image

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea. Honeyed and earthy.

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.

Boysenberry note image

Boysenberry

A cross between a raspberry and blackberry. It smells juicy, jammy, and deep purple.

Black Cherry note image

Black Cherry

Deep, dark, and sweet with an almond-like nuance. It is richer and more mysterious than red cherry.

Carrot note image

Carrot

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

Wild Strawberry note image

Wild Strawberry

Fraises des Bois. Intense, aromatic, and sweet.

Jackfruit note image

Jackfruit

Sweet, fleshy, and slightly bubblegum-like fruit. It has a funky, tropical ripeness.

Cassowary Fruit note image

Cassowary Fruit

A large plum-like fruit. It smells sweet and fleshy.

Chayote note image

Chayote

A mild squash. It smells watery, green, and crisp.

Cloudberry note image

Cloudberry

A Nordic berry that smells tart, juicy, and slightly creamy. It feels rare and arctic.

Corn note image

Corn

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

Beetroot note image

Beetroot

Deeply earthy, sweet, and dirt-like. It smells exactly like damp soil and adds a grounding, rooty quality.

Cogumelo Porcino note image

Cogumelo Porcino

Porcini mushroom in Portuguese. Earthy and savory.

Black Walnut note image

Black Walnut

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

Black Sapote note image

Black Sapote

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

cocoa shell note image

cocoa shell

The outer husk of the bean. It smells like dry, dusty chocolate.

Breadnut note image

Breadnut

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

Green Grape note image

Green Grape

Tart and crisp. Less sugary than purple grapes.

Brazil Nut note image

Brazil Nut

Rich, fatty, and oily nut scent. It adds a buttery, tropical heaviness.

Dried Apple Crisp note image

Dried Apple Crisp

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

Quince note image

Quince

A hard, yellow fruit smelling of rose, pear, and lemon. It is incredibly aromatic and tart.

Cyperus Scariosus note image

Cyperus Scariosus

Nagarmotha/Cypriol. Smells woody, earthy, and spicy.

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.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

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.

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

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.

Leather note image

Leather

Tanned hide, birch tar, and smoke. Whether harsh or soft, it adds a distinct skin-like toughness.

BBQ note image

BBQ

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

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.

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.

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.

Castoreum note image

Castoreum

Intensely leathery and animalic, smelling of ink and musk. It provides a dark, vintage sensuality that is certainly not for the faint of heart.

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

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

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Meat note image

Meat

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Saffiano Leather note image

Saffiano Leather

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

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

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.

Goldwasser note image

Goldwasser

A herbal liqueur with gold flakes. Smells of anise, caraway, and citrus.

Margarita note image

Margarita

Lime and salt. Zesty and savory.

Pisco Sour Cocktail note image

Pisco Sour Cocktail

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

Grenadine note image

Grenadine

Pomegranate syrup. Sweet, red, and syrupy.

Cocktail Fruits note image

Cocktail Fruits

Canned fruit salad. Syrupy, mixed fruitiness.

Martini note image

Martini

Gin and vermouth. Dry, herbal, and alcoholic.

Champagne note image

Champagne

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

Batida note image

Batida

A Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça and fruit juice. It smells sweet, boozy, and tropical—a party in a bottle.

Madeira note image

Madeira

Fortified wine. Smells oxidized, nutty, and caramelized.

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.

Punch note image

Punch

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

Hi-Fi note image

Hi-Fi

Orange and vodka cocktail. Citrusy and spirited.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

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

Cosmopolitan Cocktail note image

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

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

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

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

Prosecco note image

Prosecco

Italian sparkling wine. Fruity, fizzy, and dry.

Eau de Vie note image

Eau de Vie

Clear fruit brandy. It smells volatile, fruity, and sharp.

Mulled Wine note image

Mulled Wine

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

Soju note image

Soju

Korean spirit. Clean alcohol scent.

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.

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.

Larch note image

Larch

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

Cocobolo note image

Cocobolo

A Central American hardwood with a floral, rose-like scent. Rich and spicy.

Ditax wood note image

Ditax wood

A rare wood from Senegal. It smells dry and slightly fruity.

Buxus note image

Buxus

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

Blonde Woods note image

Blonde Woods

A term for soft, light woods like cashmere wood or cedar. They are smooth, creamy, and unobtrusive.

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.

Bark note image

Bark

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

Australian Oud note image

Australian Oud

Sourced from Australian botanicals, this oud is often cleaner and greener. It lacks the barnyard funk of traditional agarwood.

Beech note image

Beech

A light, clean wood scent that is less resinous than pine. It smells like fresh carpentry and forests.

Cedar note image

Cedar

The smell of fresh pencil shavings or a dry sauna. It provides a sturdy, clean woody backbone that grounds flightier notes.

Cabreuva note image

Cabreuva

A South American wood that smells floral, woody, and spicy. It has a delicate, complex character.

Aspen note image

Aspen

A light wood scent that evokes crisp mountain air and trembling leaves. It feels clean and outdoorsy.

Arbutus (Madrona, Bearberry Tree) note image

Arbutus (Madrona, Bearberry Tree)

A woody note with a sweet, berry-like nuance from the fruit. It smells rustic and Mediterranean.

Cottonwood (Poplar) note image

Cottonwood (Poplar)

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

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.

Belambra Tree note image

Belambra Tree

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

Elm note image

Elm

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

Alder note image

Alder

A subtle wood note that is light and slightly sweet. It provides a background hum of nature without dominating the conversation.

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos note image

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos

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

Ducke note image

Ducke

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

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.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Datura note image

Datura

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

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.

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

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.

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

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.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Lily note image

Lily

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

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet 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.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

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.

Matcha Tea note image

Matcha Tea

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

Pear Leaf note image

Pear Leaf

Green and slightly glossy scent.

Wild garlic leaf note image

Wild garlic leaf

Ramsons. Onion-like and green.

Laurissilva Forest note image

Laurissilva Forest

Laurel forest accord. Humid, green, and spicy.

Wild carrot note image

Wild carrot

Queen Anne's Lace. Earthy, rooty, and green.

Lesser Calamint note image

Lesser Calamint

A mint variety smelling of pennyroyal and oregano. Sharp and herbal.

Naswar note image

Naswar

Dipping tobacco. Pungent, green, and earthy.

Cannabis note image

Cannabis

Dank, green, and herbaceous. It adds a rebellious, skunky edge to fragrances.

Genmaicha note image

Genmaicha

Green tea with roasted brown rice. Smells grassy and toasty/popcorn-like.

Siriuba Tree note image

Siriuba Tree

Amazonian tree. Smells soapy and balsamic.

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.

Clary Sage note image

Clary Sage

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

Chaparral note image

Chaparral

The smell of the desert after rain. Creosote bush releases a distinct tarry, herbal scent.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

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

Jatamansi or Spikenard note image

Jatamansi or Spikenard

A Himalayan root with a heavy, earthy, musky scent. It feels ancient and spiritual.

Thistle note image

Thistle

Prickly green plant. Honeyed and dusty.

White Meranti note image

White Meranti

Tropical wood.

Chicory note image

Chicory

Roasted root often used as a coffee substitute. It smells woody and caramel-like.

Grass note image

Grass

Freshly cut lawn. Green, sweet, and chlorophyll-heavy.

Arnica note image

Arnica

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

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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.

Oily Notes note image

Oily Notes

Fatty, slick, and heavy. Used to mimic mechanics or food.

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.

Green Coffee note image

Green Coffee

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

Curcuma (Turmeric) note image

Curcuma (Turmeric)

Earthy, dusty, and slightly ginger-like. It adds a dry yellow spice note.

Bengal Pepper note image

Bengal Pepper

Also known as Long Pepper, it is hotter and sweeter than black pepper. It has a complex, spicy-sweet aroma.

Carum note image

Carum

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

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Vanilla note image

Vanilla

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

Cassia note image

Cassia

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

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

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

Kaempferia Galanga note image

Kaempferia Galanga

Aromatic ginger. It smells spicy but also dusty and camphorous.

Sumac note image

Sumac

Sour red spice. Lemon-like and earthy.

Cloves note image

Cloves

Intense, hot, and numbing spice. It contains high levels of Eugenol and smells medicinal and warm.

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

The raw bean smell—bitter, dusty, and earthy. It is chocolate before the sugar is added.

Asafoetida note image

Asafoetida

Pungent and sulfurous when raw, but savory like onions when cooked. In perfume, it adds a weird, compelling earthy spice.

Dill note image

Dill

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

Coffee note image

Coffee

Dark, roasted, and energizing, bringing a bitter gourmand edge. It grounds sweetness and adds a restless, urban energy to a scent.

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

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

Coffee CO2 note image

Coffee CO2

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

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

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.

Copaiba Balm note image

Copaiba Balm

A Brazilian resin that is sweet, woody, and slightly peppery. It acts as a fixative.

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

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

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

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.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Coal Tar note image

Coal Tar

Pungent, medicinal, and asphalt-like. It smells like fresh pavement.

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

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

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

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

Copal note image

Copal

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

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

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.

Gurjun Balsam note image

Gurjun Balsam

A resin smelling woody, peppery, and dry. Often used to adulterate patchouli, but lovely on its own.

Incense note image

Incense

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

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

High-grade green frankincense. Smells brighter and more citrusy.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

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.

Rangpur note image

Rangpur

A lemon-mandarin hybrid. Very acidic and floral.

Lemon note image

Lemon

Bright, acidic, and sunny. It can smell like fresh zest or cleaning fluid depending on the quality.

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Citron note image

Citron

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

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Pokan note image

Pokan

Taiwanese mandarin. Sweet and loose-skinned.

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

Distilled twigs of the bitter orange tree. Green, woody, and sharp—a cologne staple.

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

A Japanese citrus hybrid. Smells like sour orange and grapefruit.

Lemon Verbena note image

Lemon Verbena

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

Candied Lemon note image

Candied Lemon

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

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

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.

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

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

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

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

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.

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

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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.