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'.

Pink Lily note image

Pink Lily

Stargazer lily. Spicy, heady, and sweet.

Chrysanthemum note image

Chrysanthemum

Bitter, green, and herbaceous floral. It smells autumnal and somber.

Creamy Flowers note image

Creamy Flowers

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

Blue Poppy note image

Blue Poppy

A Himalayan flower with a cool, earthy floral scent. It feels rare and mountainous.

Champaca note image

Champaca

A rich orange flower related to magnolia. It smells velvety, spicy, and tea-like.

Coconut Blossom note image

Coconut Blossom

Floral and slightly waxy. It hints at the fruit but is airier.

Kanuka note image

Kanuka

White Tea Tree. It smells herbaceous, earthy, and aromatic.

Iris Butter note image

Iris Butter

Orris butter. Extremely expensive, fatty, and creamy, smelling of violets and dry wood.

Kadam note image

Kadam

Burflower. It smells woody and honeyed, distinct to Indian perfumery.

Iris Pallida note image

Iris Pallida

The finest variety of iris. It is softer, sweeter, and more chocolatey than other types.

Kudzu note image

Kudzu

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

Lamprocapnos note image

Lamprocapnos

Bleeding Heart. A faint, soapy floral scent.

Cherry Blossom note image

Cherry Blossom

Sakura. It smells very faint, fresh, and slightly powdery, symbolizing fleeting beauty.

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.

Jade Flower note image

Jade Flower

A succulent vine with a brilliant turquoise color. It has a faint, grassy scent.

Bluebell note image

Bluebell

A dewy, green floral scent that is notoriously hard to extract. It smells like a damp English forest floor in spring.

Bread Flower note image

Bread Flower

A flower that reputedly smells like baking bread or boiled rice. A rare botanical oddity.

Cistus Incanus note image

Cistus Incanus

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

Elderflower note image

Elderflower

Creamy, floral, and slightly hay-like. It smells like summer cordials and countryside lanes.

Ashoka Flower note image

Ashoka Flower

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

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.

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.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

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.

Amber note image

Amber

A fantasy accord that wraps you up like a cashmere throw. It’s warm, resinous, and vanillic, providing a golden glow to the dry-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.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

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.

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

Animalic, musky, and distinctly barnyard. It adds a feral, rustic warmth.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

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

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.

Genet note image

Genet

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

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.

Musk note image

Musk

The sensual fog that holds a perfume together. Can be clean (laundry) or dirty (skin).

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.

Saffiano Leather note image

Saffiano Leather

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Coral Reef note image

Coral Reef

A fantasy marine note. Salt water, minerals, and life.

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.

Milk note image

Milk

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

Habanolide® note image

Habanolide®

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

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.

Absinthe note image

Absinthe

Aromatic and bitter with that notorious anise kick. It evokes bohemian Paris and adds a dangerous, green edge to any composition.

Blackcurrant Juice note image

Blackcurrant Juice

Sweet, syrupy, and intensely fruity. It smells like Ribena, bringing a nostalgic, thirst-quenching vibe.

Liquor note image

Liquor

Generic alcohol note. Sharp, volatile, and warming.

Macchiato note image

Macchiato

Espresso 'marked' with milk. Strong coffee with a creamy edge.

Calvados Drink note image

Calvados Drink

French apple brandy. It smells of warm, fermented apples and oak barrels.

Hot Chocolate note image

Hot Chocolate

Cocoa and milk. Warm, powdery, and comforting.

Batida note image

Batida

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

Tokaji Wine note image

Tokaji Wine

Hungarian sweet wine. Honeyed apricot scent.

Bellini note image

Bellini

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

Raki note image

Raki

Turkish anise spirit. Smells of licorice and grapes.

Soy Milk note image

Soy Milk

Bean milk. Nutty, vegetal, and creamy.

Umeshu note image

Umeshu

Plum wine. Sweet and sour.

Vermouth note image

Vermouth

Aromatized wine. Herbal (wormwood) and dry.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

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

Baileys Irish Cream note image

Baileys Irish Cream

Cream, cocoa, and whiskey notes blended into a rich liqueur. It creates a smooth, lactonic booziness that is very cozy.

Blue Margarita note image

Blue Margarita

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

Kir Royal note image

Kir Royal

Champagne and crème de cassis. Fizzy, berry-sweet, and chic.

Port Wine note image

Port Wine

Sweet fortified wine. Fruity, heavy, and aged.

Vodka note image

Vodka

Pure alcohol and water. Smells cold and sterile.

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.

Shamama Attar note image

Shamama Attar

Complex Indian blend. Herbal, spicy, and woody.

Jasmone note image

Jasmone

A molecule that smells of jasmine, celery, and herbs. It adds a natural greenness to floral accords.

Earthy Notes note image

Earthy Notes

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

Hand Cream note image

Hand Cream

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

Egg note image

Egg

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

Fior di Latte note image

Fior di Latte

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

Hexenyl Green note image

Hexenyl Green

Cis-3-Hexenol. The exact smell of freshly cut grass.

Iodine note image

Iodine

The sharp, medicinal smell of the sea (or a hospital). It gives marine scents their salty bite.

Black Diamond note image

Black Diamond

A fantasy marketing note implying luxury, hardness, and coldness. Usually smells mineralic or smoky.

Guaiacol note image

Guaiacol

Smoky, spicy, and vanilla-like chemical. It gives smoked meats and whisky their scent.

Jasmolactone note image

Jasmolactone

A synthetic note found in jasmine and tuberose. It smells creamy, fruity (peach-like), and waxy.

Graphite note image

Graphite

Pencil lead. Grey, mineral, and dry wood.

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.

Fish note image

Fish

Marine and amine-like. Rarely used literally, but part of some daring marine accords.

Cyclopidene note image

Cyclopidene

A synthetic note smelling of tuberose and ylang-ylang. It adds floral power.

Lacquered Wood note image

Lacquered Wood

The smell of varnish and glossy surfaces. Chemical, clean, and woody.

Floratta DNA note image

Floratta DNA

A specific accord from the O Boticário brand. Floral and commercial.

Iso E Super note image

Iso E Super

A molecule that smells of cedar and velvet skin. It creates a transparent, woody aura that flickers in and out.

Molasses note image

Molasses

Dark treacle. Smells bitter-sweet, metallic, and deep.

Mugane note image

Mugane

A synthetic muguet molecule. Fresh, floral, and rosy.

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.

Salted Caramel Fudge note image

Salted Caramel Fudge

Buttery, salty sugar. Extremely rich.

Apple Pie note image

Apple Pie

Baked apples, cinnamon, and buttery crust. It is a comforting gourmand scent that smells like home and holidays.

Fougassette note image

Fougassette

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

Banana Bread note image

Banana Bread

Warm, spicy, and yeasty with the sweetness of ripe bananas. It’s pure comfort food for the nose.

Baklava note image

Baklava

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

Cosmofruit™ (IFF) note image

Cosmofruit™ (IFF)

A synthetic fruity note smelling of quince and pear. It is diffusive and sweet.

Dorayaki note image

Dorayaki

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

Chantilly Cream note image

Chantilly Cream

Sweet whipped cream. It adds a fluffy, airy vanilla sweetness.

French Pastries note image

French Pastries

Butter, sugar, and vanity. A generic gourmand richness.

Baba (Italian dessert) note image

Baba (Italian dessert)

A yeast cake soaked in rum syrup, smelling boozy and sugary. It’s a sophisticated gourmand treat for adults.

Marshmallow note image

Marshmallow

Powdery vanilla and sugar. Soft, fluffy, and sweet.

Maraschino Cherry note image

Maraschino Cherry

Bright red, almondy, and artificial. The smell of a cocktail garnish.

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

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

Chamallow note image

Chamallow

French marshmallow. Sweet, powdery, and soft.

Dates note image

Dates

Sticky, honeyed fruit with a dense, sugary profile. It evokes the warmth and richness of the Middle East.

Jiuniang (Sweet Fermented Rice Wine) note image

Jiuniang (Sweet Fermented Rice Wine)

Boozy, sweet, and yeasty. It smells like warm rice pudding with a kick.

Caramel note image

Caramel

Burnt sugar and cream. It is the defining note of the gourmand genre, rich and sticky.

Cacao Butter note image

Cacao Butter

The fatty richness of white chocolate. It smells creamy, oily, and vanilla-like.

Lemon Meringue Pie note image

Lemon Meringue Pie

Tart curd and burnt sugar foam. A balance of sour and sweet.

Milk Mousse note image

Milk Mousse

Whipped milk. Airy and sweet.

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.

Eucalyptus note image

Eucalyptus

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

Red Willow note image

Red Willow

Bark scent. Woody and bitter.

Blonde Woods note image

Blonde Woods

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

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.

Hiba note image

Hiba

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

Transparent Woods note image

Transparent Woods

Iso E Super type woods. Sheer and clean.

Guaiac Wood note image

Guaiac Wood

An exotic wood that smells smoky, rubbery, and rose-like. It adds a luxurious depth often described as 'bacon-y'.

Thailand Oud note image

Thailand Oud

Often sweeter and softer oud.

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.

Chypre Notes note image

Chypre Notes

The classic accord of bergamot, labdanum, and oakmoss. It smells elegant, mossy, and abstract.

Buddha Wood note image

Buddha Wood

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

Ironwood note image

Ironwood

An incredibly hard wood with a metallic, dry scent. It feels dense and impenetrable.

Sassafras note image

Sassafras

The root bark. Spicy and root-beer-like.

Wolfwood note image

Wolfwood

A Firmenich synthetic. Woody and leathery.

Selaginella tamariscina note image

Selaginella tamariscina

Spikemoss. Earthy and dry.

Birch note image

Birch

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

Clearwood note image

Clearwood

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

Indian Woods note image

Indian Woods

A generic woody accord inspired by the subcontinent. Usually creamy and spicy.

Araucaria note image

Araucaria

Also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree, its wood smells resinous and piney. It is a rare note that adds an ancient, coniferous feel.

Sycamore note image

Sycamore

Woody and leafy.

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.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

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.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

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

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.

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.

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.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

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.

Black Currant Leaf note image

Black Currant Leaf

Green, tart, and sulfurous. It gives the fruit note a realistic, bush-like context.

Fern note image

Fern

A fantasy scent of green forest floors. Soapy, shady, and cool.

Ginseng note image

Ginseng

Bitter, earthy root scent. It smells medicinal and vital.

Grass note image

Grass

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

Algae note image

Algae

A slimy, green, oceanic scent that is iodine-heavy and salty. It brings the true, funky smell of the seaside rather than the sanitized version.

Grape Leaves note image

Grape Leaves

Green and slightly tannic. It evokes vineyards and dolmas.

Behini Tree note image

Behini Tree

A rare Malagasy tree with a green, woody aroma. It smells exotic and unfamiliar to Western noses.

Coleus note image

Coleus

A plant with colorful leaves and an herbal, camphorous scent. It smells like a greenhouse.

Buckwheat note image

Buckwheat

Earthy, nutty, and slightly bitter grain scent. It evokes rustic breads and soba noodles.

Borneol note image

Borneol

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

Angelica note image

Angelica

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

Guao or Maiden Plum note image

Guao or Maiden Plum

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

Tansy note image

Tansy

Herbal and bitter. Camphorous.

Bran note image

Bran

The scent of grain husks, smelling dry, nutty, and cereal-like. It adds a rustic texture.

Green Sap note image

Green Sap

The liquid lifeblood of a plant. Sticky, green, and slightly bitter.

Peyote note image

Peyote

A cactus scent. Green, watery, and earthy.

Garlic note image

Garlic

Pungent and sulfurous. A daring, savory note rarely used in fine fragrance.

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves note image

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves

Pure green freshness. It lacks the floral bell note.

Burdock note image

Burdock

Earthy, woody, and slightly bitter root scent. It feels medicinal and grounding.

Pennyroyal note image

Pennyroyal

A pungent mint relative. Herbal, sharp, and medicinal.

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.

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.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Copal note image

Copal

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

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

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.

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

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

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

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.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

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

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

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

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.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

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

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

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

Copahu Balm note image

Copahu Balm

Copaiba balsam. It smells woody, spicy, and mild.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

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.

Calamansi note image

Calamansi

A Philippine lime that is tart, tangerine-like, and floral. It is a complex and exotic citrus.

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

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

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

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.

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Citron note image

Citron

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

Lemongrass note image

Lemongrass

Citronella-like and grassy. It smells sharp, herbal, and Thai.

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

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

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

Citruses note image

Citruses

A general category for Hesperidic notes (lemon, orange, etc.). They are volatile, fresh, and uplifting.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Tangerine Zest note image

Tangerine Zest

Oily orange peel scent.

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

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.