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'.

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.

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.

Milk note image

Milk

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

Civettone note image

Civettone

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

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.

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.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

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.

Ambrarome note image

Ambrarome

An absolute that smells leathery, tar-like, and animalic with amber undertones. It adds a vintage, masculine grit to the base.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Skin note image

Skin

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

Oysters note image

Oysters

Salt water and minerals. A raw marine scent.

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

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

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.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Genet note image

Genet

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

Akashic Acord note image

Akashic Acord

A fantasy concept note meant to evoke the ether or spiritual archives. Usually smells airy, mineral, and impossible to pin down.

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.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

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

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

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.

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.

Flour note image

Flour

Dusty, starchy, and white. It evokes baking or makeup powder.

AMBROX® SUPER note image

AMBROX® SUPER

A highly refined version of Ambroxan with greater impact and elegance. It smells of clean skin, mineral salts, and dry woods.

Egg note image

Egg

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

Galaxolide note image

Galaxolide

The quintessential 'clean laundry' musk. It is floral, woody, and intensely soapy.

Hot Iron note image

Hot Iron

The smell of steam and scorching fabric. Metallic and clean.

Hindinol note image

Hindinol

A creamy, woody sandalwood synthetic. Soft and milky.

Lorenox note image

Lorenox

A synthetic woody-amber. It smells leathery and aromatic.

Fire note image

Fire

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

Aldambre note image

Aldambre

A synthetic molecule that feels dry, woody, and intensely hot. It adds a radiant heat to a fragrance, like sun baking on stone.

Blood note image

Blood

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

Damascone note image

Damascone

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

Ambrinol note image

Ambrinol

Earthy, musky, and slightly oily, with a hint of violet. It smells like damp soil and aged ambergris.

Dust note image

Dust

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

Little Doll Strawberry note image

Little Doll Strawberry

A specific synthetic strawberry note. Plastic and sweet.

Cobblestone note image

Cobblestone

A fantasy mineral note. It smells of rain on cold stone streets.

Hair Pomade note image

Hair Pomade

A wax/grease scent. Evokes vintage barbershops and grooming.

Hexyl Acetate note image

Hexyl Acetate

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

Healingwood note image

Healingwood

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

Georgywood note image

Georgywood

A synthetic akin to Iso E Super but woodier and cleaner. It adds a vibrating woody aura.

Clarycet note image

Clarycet

A synthetic smelling of sage and fruit. It is herbal and wine-like.

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.

Candies note image

Candies

A general note for hard, sugary sweets. It brings a playful, artificial fruitiness.

Baklava note image

Baklava

Layers of phyllo pastry, nuts, and honey. It is intensely sweet, nutty, and sticky—a true sugar rush.

Gummy Candies note image

Gummy Candies

Artificial fruit and gelatin. Playful and sweet.

Bubbaloo note image

Bubbaloo

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

Acetyl Furan note image

Acetyl Furan

A powerful synthetic that smells remarkably like balsamic vinegar and burnt sugar. It provides that caramelized, toasted crunch to gourmand scents.

Apple Licor note image

Apple Licor

A synthetic, candy-sweet apple alcohol note. It’s neon-green and playful, reminiscent of teenage cocktails.

Gingerbread note image

Gingerbread

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

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.

Pretzel note image

Pretzel

Baked dough and coarse salt. Savory and distinct.

Fresh Cream note image

Fresh Cream

Pure dairy scent. Cool, milky, and mild.

Fougassette note image

Fougassette

A Provencal bread flavored with orange blossom. Yeasty and floral.

Milk Mousse note image

Milk Mousse

Whipped milk. Airy and sweet.

Madeleine note image

Madeleine

Lemon sponge cake. Buttery, citrusy, and Proustian.

Gianduia note image

Gianduia

Chocolate and hazelnut paste. It is rich, nutty, and sweet (think Nutella).

Nutella note image

Nutella

Hazelnut and chocolate. Rich and fatty.

Custard note image

Custard

Egg yolks, milk, and vanilla. Thick, creamy comfort.

Pancake note image

Pancake

Batter and maple syrup. Warm and breakfast-like.

Bonbon note image

Bonbon

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

Milky Coffee note image

Milky Coffee

Latte. Coffee softened by dairy.

Ice cream note image

Ice cream

Vanilla, sugar, and cold milk. It evokes a creamy, melting sweetness.

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.

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.

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.

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

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.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

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.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

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.

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.

Licorice note image

Licorice

Sweet, black, and anise-like. It adds a dark, polarizing gourmand twist.

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

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

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.

Cloves note image

Cloves

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

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Anise note image

Anise

Sweet, spicy, and licorice-like. It adds a polarizing aromatic sweetness that cuts through warmer notes with a cool edge.

Coffee CO2 note image

Coffee CO2

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

Priprioca note image

Priprioca

A Brazilian root. Smells woody, spicy, and grassy.

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.

Pimento Seeds note image

Pimento Seeds

Peppery and dry.

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

Wasabi note image

Wasabi

Horseradish-like heat. Pungent and green.

Coriander note image

Coriander

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

Chutney note image

Chutney

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

Oriental Notes note image

Oriental Notes

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

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.

Curry note image

Curry

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

Pimento note image

Pimento

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

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

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

Cassia note image

Cassia

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

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 Nakh note image

Choya Nakh

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

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Gurjun Balsam note image

Gurjun Balsam

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

Copaiba Balm note image

Copaiba Balm

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

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

Liquidambar. It smells balsamic, cinnamic, and styrax-like.

Copal note image

Copal

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

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

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

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

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.

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.

Styrax note image

Styrax

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

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

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

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.

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Limetta note image

Limetta

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

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Lemon Verbena note image

Lemon Verbena

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

Tangerine Zest note image

Tangerine Zest

Oily orange peel scent.

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

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

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

May Chang. An shrub that smells intensely like lemon sherbet sweets.

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

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

Neroli note image

Neroli

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

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

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

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.