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'.

Malva note image

Malva

Mallow. A very mild, musky floral scent.

Gorse note image

Gorse

A yellow shrub that famously smells of coconut and warm skin. It is the scent of British coastlines.

Delonix note image

Delonix

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

Euphorbia note image

Euphorbia

Spurge. It smells green, milky, and slightly acrid.

Honeydew Blossom note image

Honeydew Blossom

Light and watery floral.

Hawthorn note image

Hawthorn

A divisive blossom that can smell sweet and almondy, or distinctly organic and decaying.

Angel's Trumpet note image

Angel's Trumpet

A heady, narcotic floral scent that intensifies at night. It smells sweet and heavy, slightly reminiscent of honeysuckle.

Daylily note image

Daylily

A fleshy floral scent that is slightly melon-like. It feels waxy and sunny.

Hoya Carnosa Wax Plant note image

Hoya Carnosa Wax Plant

A waxy flower that drips nectar. Smells intensely sweet and chocolatey at night.

Geranium note image

Geranium

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

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.

Hyssop note image

Hyssop

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

Hyacinth note image

Hyacinth

A powerhouse spring flower. It smells oily, green, spicy, and intensely floral.

Costus note image

Costus

A root that smells like wet dog, hair, and violet. It is an old-school animalic fixative.

Banksia Australian note image

Banksia Australian

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

Jujube Blossom note image

Jujube Blossom

The flower of the red date. It smells small, honeyed, and fruity.

Diviniris note image

Diviniris

A synthetic iris molecule that is buttery and woody. It provides the elegance of orris root.

Bromelia note image

Bromelia

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

Dyer's Greenweed note image

Dyer's Greenweed

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

Acacia note image

Acacia

Powdery and sweet with a rich, pollen-heavy warmth. It reminds one of golden sunlight filtering through a dusty afternoon.

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.

Lucuma note image

Lucuma

Andean fruit. Smells creamy, like maple and sweet potato.

Serrano Pepper note image

Serrano Pepper

Hot chili. Green and spicy.

Loganberry note image

Loganberry

Raspberry-blackberry hybrid. Tart and juicy.

Nashi Pear note image

Nashi Pear

Asian Pear. Crisp, watery, and very fresh.

Peach note image

Peach

Velvety skin and lactonic flesh. A classic note that ranges from fresh nectar to the iconic Mitsouko chypre style.

Walnut Milk note image

Walnut Milk

Creamy nut scent.

Beetroot note image

Beetroot

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

Elderberry note image

Elderberry

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

Acorn note image

Acorn

A dry, nutty, and woody scent that evokes autumn walks in the forest. It has a subtle earthiness that feels very grounded and natural.

Fig note image

Fig

Milky, green, and sweet. It evokes the shade of a tree in the Mediterranean sun.

Greengage note image

Greengage

A green plum. Tart, sweet, and honeyed.

Pineapple note image

Pineapple

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

Potato note image

Potato

Earthy, starch, and raw skin. A root vegetable scent.

Apple note image

Apple

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

Plantain note image

Plantain

Starchy banana. Less sweet, more vegetable-like.

Mango note image

Mango

Juicy, tropical, and sulfuric. It has a distinct pine/turpentine nuance that makes it interesting.

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.

Ashberry note image

Ashberry

The fruit of the Rowan tree, smelling tart, bitter, and wild. It adds a sharp, foraging vibe to fruity notes.

Grape Seed note image

Grape Seed

Oily and mild. Mostly adds texture.

Pea note image

Pea

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

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.

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

Coral Reef note image

Coral Reef

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

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.

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.

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.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Cheese note image

Cheese

Salty, fatty, and funky. In tiny doses, it adds richness to gourmands or oud.

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Leather note image

Leather

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

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Caviar note image

Caviar

Salty, fishy, and savory. It adds a luxury marine aspect, famously used in Mugler's Womanity.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Musk note image

Musk

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

Fur note image

Fur

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

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.

Skin note image

Skin

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

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.

Plum Wine note image

Plum Wine

Japanese plum wine. Sweet, sour, and almondy.

Ice Wine note image

Ice Wine

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

Beer note image

Beer

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

Cognac note image

Cognac

Aged grape brandy. It smells warm, fruity, woody, and expensive.

Ouzo note image

Ouzo

Greek anise liqueur. Smells like licorice and alcohol.

Macchiato note image

Macchiato

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

Tequila note image

Tequila

Agave spirit. Earthy, alcoholic, and weird.

Pistachio Liquer note image

Pistachio Liquer

Sweet, nutty alcohol. Dessert in a glass.

Moonshine note image

Moonshine

Corn whiskey. Raw, harsh alcohol scent.

Jasmine Tea note image

Jasmine Tea

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

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.

Root Beer note image

Root Beer

Sassafras and wintergreen. Medicinal and sweet.

Daiquiri note image

Daiquiri

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

Margarita note image

Margarita

Lime and salt. Zesty and savory.

Curaçao note image

Curaçao

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

Rice Water note image

Rice Water

Starchy water. Mild and skin-soothing.

Eau de Vie note image

Eau de Vie

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

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.

Vinegar note image

Vinegar

Acetic acid. Sour and pungent.

Umeshu note image

Umeshu

Plum wine. Sweet and sour.

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.

Candle Wax note image

Candle Wax

Paraffin or beeswax scent. It smells waxy, fatty, and faintly smoky.

Plastic note image

Plastic

Vinyl, PVC, and Barbie dolls. A modern, artificial scent.

Geosmin note image

Geosmin

The smell of earth after rain. Muddy, beet-like, and profoundly natural.

Holy Water note image

Holy Water

A fantasy accord of mineral water, stone, and incense. Clean and spiritual.

Diving Suit note image

Diving Suit

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

Asphalt note image

Asphalt

The smell of hot tar and city streets in summer. It adds an urban, industrial grit that I find oddly comforting.

Ember note image

Ember

Glowing wood and fading smoke. Warm and dry.

Loam note image

Loam

Rich, fertile soil. Smells organic and damp.

Brown Scotch Tape note image

Brown Scotch Tape

A specific avant-garde note capturing the glue and plastic smell of packing tape. Industrial and weird.

Little Doll Strawberry note image

Little Doll Strawberry

A specific synthetic strawberry note. Plastic and sweet.

Hand Cream note image

Hand Cream

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

Cocaine note image

Cocaine

A fantasy accord of chemicals, gasoline, and medicinal notes. It smells sharp, metallic, and illicit.

Hair Pomade note image

Hair Pomade

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

Instant Film Accord note image

Instant Film Accord

The chemical smell of a developing Polaroid. Acrid, metallic, and nostalgic.

Ozonic Notes note image

Ozonic Notes

The smell of air before a thunderstorm. Sharp, metallic, and clean.

Pearadise® note image

Pearadise®

A sustainable pear synthetic. Intense, fruity, and sparkling.

Tennis Ball note image

Tennis Ball

Rubber and felt. A specific industrial smell.

Cuban Cigar note image

Cuban Cigar

Fine tobacco leaves. Smells earthy, sweet, and luxurious.

Mugane note image

Mugane

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

Neoprene note image

Neoprene

Wetsuit rubber. Chemical and slightly salty.

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.

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

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

Coconut Pie note image

Coconut Pie

Custard, crust, and coconut. Sweet and dessert-like.

Pudding note image

Pudding

Creamy dessert. Vanilla and milk.

Bubble Gum note image

Bubble Gum

The classic pink smell of tutti-frutti and sugar. It’s playful, young, and nostalgic.

Fougassette note image

Fougassette

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

Fresh Cream note image

Fresh Cream

Pure dairy scent. Cool, milky, and mild.

Coconut Powder note image

Coconut Powder

Dry, desiccated coconut. It smells milky but dusty.

Horchata note image

Horchata

Rice milk, cinnamon, and sugar. Creamy and comforting.

Cotton Candy note image

Cotton Candy

Spun sugar. It smells of ethyl maltol—sweet, burnt, and airy.

Cosmofruit™ (IFF) note image

Cosmofruit™ (IFF)

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

Baklava note image

Baklava

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

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

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

Candies note image

Candies

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

Gelatin note image

Gelatin

Faintly animalic and bland. It evokes the texture of jelly sweets.

Burnt Sugar note image

Burnt Sugar

Caramel taken too far—bitter, dark, and smoky. It adds depth to sweet scents.

Baked Pear note image

Baked Pear

Sweet, grainy, and warm, like pears poached in syrup. It adds a sophisticated fruit dessert vibe.

Dark Chocolate note image

Dark Chocolate

Bitter, roasted, and dusty cocoa beans. It adds a sophisticated gourmand edge without the sugar rush of milk chocolate.

Butter note image

Butter

Rich, fatty, and creamy. It adds a dense, savory mouthfeel to gourmand fragrances.

Butterscotch note image

Butterscotch

Brown sugar and butter. It smells deeper and more molasses-like than caramel.

Honey note image

Honey

Sweet, animalic, and golden. It can smell urinous (like civet) or purely sugary depending on the dosage.

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.

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.

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.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Lily note image

Lily

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

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

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.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

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.

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.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

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.

Posidonia note image

Posidonia

Seagrass. Smells oceanic and green.

Blackberry Leaf note image

Blackberry Leaf

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

Flouve note image

Flouve

Sweet Vernal Grass. Rich in coumarin, smelling of hay and tobacco.

Fern note image

Fern

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

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.

Dried Fallen Leaves note image

Dried Fallen Leaves

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

Celery note image

Celery

Green, watery, and slightly spicy. It adds a savory vegetable freshness.

Bigarane™ note image

Bigarane™

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

Cedar Roots note image

Cedar Roots

Earthy and woody. It smells dirtier and deeper than the trunk wood.

Clary Sage note image

Clary Sage

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

Hops note image

Hops

Bitter, green, and resinous. It smells like IPA beer and cannabis.

Horseweed note image

Horseweed

Erigeron canadensis. Smells herbal and distinctively weedy.

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz) note image

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz)

Bulgarian geranium. It smells more woody, herbal, and spicy than the floral variety.

Bulrush note image

Bulrush

A water reed scent that is green, dry, and slightly vegetative. It evokes ponds and wetlands.

Borneol note image

Borneol

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

Grass note image

Grass

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

Betel Leaf note image

Betel Leaf

Peppery, green, and slightly medicinal. It has a stimulating aroma popular in Southeast Asia.

Angelica Root note image

Angelica Root

Earthier and muskier than the plant, with a damp soil quality. It serves as a fantastic natural fixative with a dark green character.

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.

Immortelle note image

Immortelle

A polarizing Mediterranean flower that smells of maple syrup, curry powder, and burnt sugar. It is dry, spicy, and unforgettable.

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.

Ginger note image

Ginger

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

Galanga note image

Galanga

Galangal (Thai Ginger). Smells like ginger but more citrusy, piney, and medicinal.

Cinnamon Leaf note image

Cinnamon Leaf

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

Ultravanil™ note image

Ultravanil™

High-impact vanilla synthetic. Non-edible vanilla.

Spiked Pepper note image

Spiked Pepper

Piper aduncum. Spicy and woody.

Saffron note image

Saffron

Red gold. It smells leathery, metallic, and medicinal. The most expensive spice in the world.

Star Anise note image

Star Anise

Licorice spice. Sweet, medicinal, and herbal.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

Dry, spicy, and woody. It adds a warm, dusty heat.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Anise note image

Anise

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

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

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

West Indian Bay note image

West Indian Bay

Pimenta racemosa. Clove-like and spicy (Bay Rum).

Cassia note image

Cassia

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

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Kaempferia Galanga note image

Kaempferia Galanga

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

Sesame note image

Sesame

Toasted seeds. Nutty, oily, and savory.

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.

Mustard Seed note image

Mustard Seed

Pungent and sharp. Adds a biting heat.

Priprioca note image

Priprioca

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

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.

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

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.

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Incense note image

Incense

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Opoponax note image

Opoponax

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

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Copahu Balm note image

Copahu Balm

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

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.

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.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Amberwood note image

Amberwood

A sturdy blend of amber warmth and dry cedar-like woodiness. It acts as a strong pillar holding up the rest of the scent structure.

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.

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.

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

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

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.

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Citron note image

Citron

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

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Rind Bergamot note image

Rind Bergamot

The zest. Bitter and aromatic.

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

Melissa. It smells like lemon mixed with mint and herbs.

Citruses note image

Citruses

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

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

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

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

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

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

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.

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

Lime note image

Lime

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

Candied Lemon note image

Candied Lemon

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

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

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

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.