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'.

Liatrix note image

Liatrix

Same as Liatris. A tobacco-like fougère element.

Green Tea Flower note image

Green Tea Flower

The blossom of the tea bush. Delicate and slightly tannic.

Gustavia Flower note image

Gustavia Flower

Amazonian Heaven Lotus. It has a sweet, fleshy floral scent.

Black Currant Blossom note image

Black Currant Blossom

The floral aspect of the cassis plant, less fruity and more spicy-floral. It has a unique, wild charm.

Fragonia note image

Fragonia

An Australian oil smelling of citrus, florals, and tea tree. It is complex and balanced.

Abelia note image

Abelia

A delicate and honeyed floral note that feels like a summer garden party. It has a soft, white-flower sweetness without being terribly shouting about it.

Cacao Blossom note image

Cacao Blossom

The flower of the cocoa tree, smelling subtly floral with a hint of chocolate. It is delicate and rare.

Acacia note image

Acacia

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

Jacaranda note image

Jacaranda

A tree with purple blooms smelling honeyed and green. It feels breezy and exotic.

Dandelion note image

Dandelion

Bitter, green, and sappy with a hint of pollen. It captures the essence of pulling weeds in a sunlit garden.

Blue Lilies note image

Blue Lilies

Also known as Blue Lotus, it smells floral, aquatic, and slightly spicy. It has a sacred, tranquil quality.

Dried Rose note image

Dried Rose

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

Kudzu note image

Kudzu

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

Chrysanthemum note image

Chrysanthemum

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

Honeydew Blossom note image

Honeydew Blossom

Light and watery floral.

Jarana Flower note image

Jarana Flower

A citrusy floral scent from South America.

Hoary Stock note image

Hoary Stock

Matthiola incana. It smells spicy, clove-like, and sweet.

Gladiolus note image

Gladiolus

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

Daisy note image

Daisy

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

Coconut Blossom note image

Coconut Blossom

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

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.

Genet note image

Genet

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

Bacon note image

Bacon

Smoky, salty, and meaty—a novelty note for the brave. It adds a savory, breakfast-time shock to a composition.

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

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

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.

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

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

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

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.

Civettone note image

Civettone

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

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

Musk note image

Musk

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

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

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.

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.

Habanolide® note image

Habanolide®

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

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.

Ambretone note image

Ambretone

A sweet, musky amber note that is very diffusive. It creates a soft, radiant aura around the wearer.

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.

Sea Shells note image

Sea Shells

Calcium and salt. Dry mineral scent.

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

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.

Champagne note image

Champagne

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

Bellini note image

Bellini

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

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.

Bohea (Wuyi Tea) note image

Bohea (Wuyi Tea)

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

Curaçao note image

Curaçao

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

Plum Wine note image

Plum Wine

Japanese plum wine. Sweet, sour, and almondy.

Pistachio Liquer note image

Pistachio Liquer

Sweet, nutty alcohol. Dessert in a glass.

Plum Liquor note image

Plum Liquor

Sweet, boozy fruit. Like Umeshu.

Mai Tai Cocktail note image

Mai Tai Cocktail

Rum, lime, and orgeat (almond). Tropical, boozy, and sweet.

Sparkling Wine note image

Sparkling Wine

Champagne notes. Yeasty and fizzy.

Madeira note image

Madeira

Fortified wine. Smells oxidized, nutty, and caramelized.

Daiquiri note image

Daiquiri

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

Beer note image

Beer

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

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.

Bourbon Whiskey note image

Bourbon Whiskey

Sweet, oaky, and vanilla-rich alcohol. It brings a warm, masculine depth to gourmand and woody scents.

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.

Punch note image

Punch

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

Sake note image

Sake

Rice wine. Yeasty, fruity (melon-like), and mild.

Wine must note image

Wine must

Freshly crushed grape juice. Sweet and raw.

Tequila note image

Tequila

Agave spirit. Earthy, alcoholic, and weird.

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.

Instant Film Accord note image

Instant Film Accord

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

Accord Eudora® note image

Accord Eudora®

A proprietary fantasy accord that usually leans sweet and amber-like. It functions as a warm, signature backdrop for modern compositions.

Sisal Rope note image

Sisal Rope

Agave fiber. Dry, grassy, and woody.

Porcelain note image

Porcelain

Cold, smooth mineral note. Evokes fine china.

Play-Doh note image

Play-Doh

Salty wheat dough and vanilla. Pure childhood nostalgia.

Poivrol note image

Poivrol

A synthetic black pepper note. Spicy and woody.

Prunol note image

Prunol

A famous base smelling of dried plums, cardamom, and aldehydes. Vintage funk.

Sand note image

Sand

Hot silica. Dry, mineral, and solar.

Salicylic Acid note image

Salicylic Acid

Odorless itself, but salicylates smell like wintergreen and aspirin.

Evernyl note image

Evernyl

A synthetic oakmoss substitute. It smells mossy, dry, and mineral, essential for modern chypres.

Rose Oxide note image

Rose Oxide

Metallic rose molecule. Sharp, green, and bloody.

Powdery Notes note image

Powdery Notes

The sensation of talc or makeup. Dry, soft, and comforting.

Satin note image

Satin

A fantasy texture. Smooth, cool, and glossy.

Red Bean Paste note image

Red Bean Paste

Azuki bean. Sweet, earthy, and starchy.

Plastic note image

Plastic

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

Mugane note image

Mugane

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

Earth Tincture note image

Earth Tincture

The smell of freshly turned soil. Rich, dark, and full of geosmin.

Pink Crystal note image

Pink Crystal

A fantasy marketing note. Probably smells like sugar and fruit.

Lava note image

Lava

Hot stone and sulfur. A fantasy mineral note of extreme heat.

Para-Cresyl Phenyl Acetate note image

Para-Cresyl Phenyl Acetate

A chemical smelling of narcissus, horse manure, and honey. Animalic floral.

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.

Churros note image

Churros

Fried dough and cinnamon sugar. It is greasy, sweet, and comforting.

Puff Pastry note image

Puff Pastry

Butter layers and flour. Savory-sweet and airy.

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.

Dates note image

Dates

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

Biscuit note image

Biscuit

The smell of baked flour, butter, and sugar. It creates a warm, comforting aura of tea-time treats.

Brioche note image

Brioche

Sweet, buttery bread with a distinct egginess. It is rich, fluffy, and gourmand.

Honeycomb note image

Honeycomb

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

Griotte Cherries note image

Griotte Cherries

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

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

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

Cupcake note image

Cupcake

Vanilla cake and frosting. Sweet, young, and fun.

Bubble Gum note image

Bubble Gum

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

Agave Nectar note image

Agave Nectar

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

Cone Waffle note image

Cone Waffle

The smell of an ice cream cone. Baked, vanilla-scented batter.

Horchata note image

Horchata

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

Gummy Candies note image

Gummy Candies

Artificial fruit and gelatin. Playful and sweet.

Chamallow note image

Chamallow

French marshmallow. Sweet, powdery, and soft.

Baked Pear note image

Baked Pear

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

Coconut Pie note image

Coconut Pie

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

Pudding note image

Pudding

Creamy dessert. Vanilla and milk.

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

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

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.

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.

Laotian Oud note image

Laotian Oud

Known for being drier and sharper than other ouds. It smells intensely woody and incense-like.

Indian Sandalwood note image

Indian Sandalwood

Santalum Album. The creamy, milky king of woods that smells impossibly smooth and buttery.

Almond tree note image

Almond tree

Focuses on the wood and bark rather than the nut, smelling dry and slightly milky. It offers a solid, comforting base.

Black Hemlock or Tsuga note image

Black Hemlock or Tsuga

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

Ho Wood note image

Ho Wood

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

Cottonwood (Poplar) note image

Cottonwood (Poplar)

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

Dreamwood note image

Dreamwood

A sustainable sandalwood alternative from biotechnology. It smells creamy, milky, and warm.

Desert Sagebrush note image

Desert Sagebrush

Dry, dusty, and intensely herbal. It evokes the vast, arid landscapes of the American West.

Dartanol® note image

Dartanol®

A synthetic sandalwood note that is creamy, spicy, and very persistent. It creates a smooth, woody foundation.

Bark note image

Bark

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

Cocobolo note image

Cocobolo

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

Fig tree note image

Fig tree

Woody and grey, with hints of the milky sap. A dry, summery wood scent.

Belambra Tree note image

Belambra Tree

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

Chypre Notes note image

Chypre Notes

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

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.

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'.

Dry Wood note image

Dry Wood

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

Blonde Woods note image

Blonde Woods

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

Hiba note image

Hiba

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

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.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Datura note image

Datura

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

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

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

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.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

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.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

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.

Siriuba Tree note image

Siriuba Tree

Amazonian tree. Smells soapy and balsamic.

Ginseng note image

Ginseng

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

Deer Tongue Grass note image

Deer Tongue Grass

Rich in coumarin, smelling of vanilla, hay, and almonds. It creates a sweet, herbaceous warmth.

Green Chilli note image

Green Chilli

Vegetal heat. It smells sharp, green, and spicy.

Hay note image

Hay

Dried grass rich in coumarin. Smells warm, sweet, and comforting, like late summer.

Fermented Tea note image

Fermented Tea

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

Arnica note image

Arnica

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

Grass note image

Grass

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

Fougère Accord note image

Fougère Accord

The classic 'barbershop' smell: Lavender, Oakmoss, and Coumarin. Clean, masculine, and timeless.

Dried Fallen Leaves note image

Dried Fallen Leaves

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

Flouve note image

Flouve

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

Beachheather note image

Beachheather

A coastal shrub that smells salt-sprayed and woody. It captures the rugged scent of seaside vegetation.

Buckwheat note image

Buckwheat

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

Chlorophyll note image

Chlorophyll

The pure scent of green plants. It smells grassy, leafy, and full of photosynthesis.

Green Notes note image

Green Notes

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

Aromatic Notes note image

Aromatic Notes

A broad family including sage, rosemary, and lavender. These notes are spirited, clean, and bracing—the backbone of men's perfumery.

Green Pepper note image

Green Pepper

Bell pepper. It smells remarkably crunchy, watery, and green.

Blue Bugle note image

Blue Bugle

A wildflower scent that is mild and herbaceous. It adds a touch of wild meadow to a scent.

Hat Straw note image

Hat Straw

Dried grass and sun. Evokes summer hats and baskets.

Lettuce note image

Lettuce

Watery green snap. Very mild and vegetative.

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.

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.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

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

Saffron note image

Saffron

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

Dill note image

Dill

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

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

Star Anise note image

Star Anise

Licorice spice. Sweet, medicinal, and herbal.

Fennel note image

Fennel

Sweet, green anise flavor. It adds a cool, herbal licorice note.

Pimento Seeds note image

Pimento Seeds

Peppery and dry.

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

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

Clove Leaf note image

Clove Leaf

Smells like cloves but woodier and greener. It is drier than the bud.

Coffee Tincture note image

Coffee Tincture

Alcohol infusion of coffee. Smells lighter and boozier than the absolute.

Tonka Bean note image

Tonka Bean

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

Peppertree note image

Peppertree

Schinus molle. Resinous, woody, and peppery.

Oily Notes note image

Oily Notes

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

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

Coffee CO2 note image

Coffee CO2

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

Cloves note image

Cloves

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

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

Wan Sao Lhong note image

Wan Sao Lhong

Thai herb. Spicy and aromatic.

Pimento Leaf note image

Pimento Leaf

Greener and sharper than the berry. Very 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.

Gurjun Balsam note image

Gurjun Balsam

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

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

Roasted Sal tree resin. It smells leathery, smoky, and woody.

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

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

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

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.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

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

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

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

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

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

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.

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.

Styrax note image

Styrax

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

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

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.

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.

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.

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

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

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

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

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.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Limetta note image

Limetta

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

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

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

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

Calamansi note image

Calamansi

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

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Citrus Japonica note image

Citrus Japonica

Kumquat. It smells tart and sweet.

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

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

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.