Celebrating different notes in the perfumery | thescentbase.com

The Olfactory Library

Welcome to the building blocks of the invisible art. If a perfume is a symphony, then these are the individual notes on the sheet music—the singular elements that the perfumer arranges to create a melody that lingers on your skin.


Whether you are here to understand why you adore Vetiver but detest Patchouli, or simply to find out what "Iso E Super" actually is, this library is your guide.

Florals

The undisputed heart of perfumery, ranging from the innocent whisper of a spring muguet to the narcotic, carnal shout of a tuberose. These notes provide the romance and the texture, proving that flowers are far too complex to be considered merely 'pretty'.

Bottlebrush note image

Bottlebrush

An Australian native with a woody, honeyed floral scent. It evokes the dry heat of the bush.

Phlox note image

Phlox

Sweet, honeyed, and spicy.

Azalea note image

Azalea

A dusty, slightly spicy floral scent. It isn't strongly fragrant in nature, so it's often a fantasy interpretation of the pink blooms.

Calendula note image

Calendula

Marigold, smelling bitter, green, and slightly herbal. It adds a medicinal but sunny touch.

China Rose note image

China Rose

A species of rose with less scent than European varieties, but subtle and fresh.

Dianthus note image

Dianthus

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

Gerbera note image

Gerbera

A daisy scent that is light, happy, and slightly fruity-green.

Diviniris note image

Diviniris

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

Buttercup note image

Buttercup

A mild meadow flower that smells fresh and slightly green. It doesn't actually smell like butter.

Astragalus note image

Astragalus

An herb used in traditional medicine with a sweet, earthy, root-like smell. It feels grounding and restorative.

Eglantine Rose note image

Eglantine Rose

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

Forget Me Not note image

Forget Me Not

A very mild, green floral. Often a fantasy note of delicate spring air.

Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) note image

Flamingo Flower (Anthurium)

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

Goldenrod note image

Goldenrod

Herbal, anise-like, and yellow. It smells like late summer fields.

Hortensia note image

Hortensia

Hydrangea. Very subtle scent, mostly green and watery.

Fringed Pink note image

Fringed Pink

A type of Dianthus. Spicy, clove-like, and sweet.

Bergamot Blossom note image

Bergamot Blossom

The flower of the bergamot tree, smelling of citrus and white petals. It is softer and more romantic than the fruit zest.

Hazel Blossom note image

Hazel Blossom

The catkins of the hazel tree. Mild, dusty, and pollen-heavy.

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.

Deadnettle note image

Deadnettle

A common weed with a faint, honeyed-herbal smell. It adds a touch of wild hedgerow to a composition.

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.

Genipapo note image

Genipapo

A Brazilian fruit. It smells funky, fruity, and fermented.

Daikon Radish note image

Daikon Radish

Peppery, crisp, and watery. It adds a sharp, earthy crunch that feels decidedly modern and savory.

Buriti note image

Buriti

An Amazonian palm fruit smelling oily, woody, and fruity. It is exotic and rich.

Tucumã note image

Tucumã

Amazonian palm fruit. Oily and sweet.

Moepel Accord note image

Moepel Accord

Milkwood. Smells honeyed, milky, and tobacco-like.

Blackthorn note image

Blackthorn

The shrub that produces sloes, smelling woody and sharp. It has a hedgerow toughness to it.

Pitanga note image

Pitanga

Surinam Cherry. Tart, red, and tropical.

Black Currant note image

Black Currant

Tart, jammy, and slightly ammoniac—some say 'catty,' I say characterful. It adds a dark, purple richness that is utterly distinctive.

Blueberry note image

Blueberry

Sweet, tart, and slightly spicy. It adds a dark blue fruitiness that isn't as jammy as blackberry.

Mango note image

Mango

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

Banana note image

Banana

Creamy, sweet, and tropical. Depending on the use, it can smell like artificial candy or a lush, green jungle plant.

Artichoke note image

Artichoke

Vegetal, green, and slightly earthy. It is an unusual note that adds a savory, culinary twist to niche scents.

Mushroom note image

Mushroom

Earthy, fungal, and damp. Smells like soil and forest floors.

Kumbaru note image

Kumbaru

Tonka bean relative. It smells nutty and vanilla-like.

Rambutan note image

Rambutan

Hairy fruit related to lychee. Sweet, woody, and floral.

cocoa shell note image

cocoa shell

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

Quandong Desert Peach note image

Quandong Desert Peach

Australian bush fruit. Tart, peach-like, and dry.

Coconut note image

Coconut

Creamy, milky, and unmistakably tropical. It can range from sun-lotion fun to a sophisticated, dry nuttiness depending on the company it keeps.

Black Cherry note image

Black Cherry

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

Corn Silk note image

Corn Silk

The threads on corn cobs. Smells green, dry, and sweet.

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.

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Muscone note image

Muscone

The main component of natural deer musk. Smells warm, erotic, and radiant.

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Genet note image

Genet

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

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

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

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Fur note image

Fur

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

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

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

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

Oysters note image

Oysters

Salt water and minerals. A raw marine scent.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ambretone note image

Ambretone

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

Civet note image

Civet

Pungent and fecal in isolation, but magically warms up florals when used with a light hand. It creates that lived-in, intimate skin scent found in classic perfumery.

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.

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.

Mezcal note image

Mezcal

Smoky tequila. Agave, smoke, and earth.

Espresso Coffee note image

Espresso Coffee

Specifically the steamed, pressurized bean smell. Energizing and bitter.

Lemon Soda note image

Lemon Soda

Sprite/7-Up scent. Fizzy, lime-lemon, and artificial.

Ice Wine note image

Ice Wine

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

Midori note image

Midori

Melon liqueur. Sweet, green, and artificial.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

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

Plum Wine note image

Plum Wine

Japanese plum wine. Sweet, sour, and almondy.

Liquor note image

Liquor

Generic alcohol note. Sharp, volatile, and warming.

Ouzo note image

Ouzo

Greek anise liqueur. Smells like licorice and alcohol.

Gin note image

Gin

Juniper berries and alcohol. Sharp, piney, and clean.

Margarita note image

Margarita

Lime and salt. Zesty and savory.

Punch note image

Punch

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

Applejack note image

Applejack

A boozy apple brandy scent that is warm and fruity. It smells like spiced cider with a kick, perfect for autumn.

Pina Colada note image

Pina Colada

Coconut cream, pineapple, and rum. The ultimate holiday scent.

Tokaji Wine note image

Tokaji Wine

Hungarian sweet wine. Honeyed apricot scent.

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.

Cachaça note image

Cachaça

Brazilian sugarcane spirit. It smells sweet, vegetal, and funky, different from rum.

Caipirinha note image

Caipirinha

Lime, sugar, and cachaça. It smells zesty, sweet, and spirited.

Macchiato note image

Macchiato

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

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.

Rhodinol note image

Rhodinol

A constituent of geranium and rose. Rosy, waxy, and citrusy.

Hexyl Acetate note image

Hexyl Acetate

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

Dust note image

Dust

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

Helvetolide note image

Helvetolide

A modern musk that smells of pears and ambrette. It feels fruity and soft.

Georgywood note image

Georgywood

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

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.

Hedione note image

Hedione

A transparent jasmine note that smells like fresh air. It makes other notes sparkle and project.

Black Diamond note image

Black Diamond

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

Black Leather note image

Black Leather

Intense, tarry, and smoky leather, like a biker jacket. It is darker and harsher than suede.

Factor X note image

Factor X

A marketing fantasy note. Usually implies pheromones or something mysterious.

Evernyl note image

Evernyl

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

Ambreine note image

Ambreine

The heart of labdanum, smelling warm, balsamic, and slightly spicy. It creates the classic oriental feel found in many masterpieces.

Floralozone note image

Floralozone

A synthetic smelling of fresh air and vague flowers. It lifts a fragrance.

Coumarin note image

Coumarin

The primary scent of Tonka Bean. Smells like hay, almond, and vanilla.

Loam note image

Loam

Rich, fertile soil. Smells organic and damp.

Brick note image

Brick

The smell of baked clay and dust. It creates a mineral, urban atmosphere.

Calypsone note image

Calypsone

A synthetic ozone and melon note. It smells like fresh sea spray.

Cashalox note image

Cashalox

A synthetic musk that smells clean and slightly powdery. It adds softness.

Coranol note image

Coranol

A floral synthetic smelling of coriander and linalool. Fresh and diffusive.

Azarbre note image

Azarbre

A synthetic that combines honey, tobacco, and dried flower notes. It adds a warm, autumnal feeling to the base.

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.

Pretzel note image

Pretzel

Baked dough and coarse salt. Savory and distinct.

Creamsicle note image

Creamsicle

Orange and vanilla ice cream. A nostalgic summer treat 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.

Eggnog note image

Eggnog

Nutmeg, cream, and rum. It smells undeniably like Christmas.

Macarons note image

Macarons

Almond meringue cookies. Sugary, nutty, and airy.

Lemon Pie note image

Lemon Pie

Custard and crust. Sweet citrus bakery scent.

Gingerbread note image

Gingerbread

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

Kulfi note image

Kulfi

Indian ice cream. Dense, milky, and flavored with cardamom, saffron, and pistachio.

Popcorn note image

Popcorn

Toasted corn, butter, and salt. A fun, savory gourmand note.

Peanut Butter note image

Peanut Butter

Salt, sugar, and roasted nuts. Rich, fatty, and spreadable.

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.

Bread note image

Bread

The savory, yeasty smell of baked crust. It evokes comfort, bakeries, and simple pleasures.

Horchata note image

Horchata

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

Brioche note image

Brioche

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

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.

Peach Cream note image

Peach Cream

Peaches and cream. Smooth, lactonic, and very sweet.

Milk Mousse note image

Milk Mousse

Whipped milk. Airy and sweet.

Icing Pink note image

Icing Pink

The smell of fondant or decorative sugar. Pure, unadulterated sweetness.

Oatmilk note image

Oatmilk

Creamy and grainy. A gentle, wholesome sweetness.

Pastiera Napoletana note image

Pastiera Napoletana

Wheat, ricotta, and orange blossom water. An Easter cake scent.

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.

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

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.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

Datura note image

Datura

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

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Lily note image

Lily

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

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

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.

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

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.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

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.

Rye note image

Rye

Cereal grain. Spicy and dry.

Buchu or Agathosma note image

Buchu or Agathosma

A South African herb smelling of blackcurrant, mint, and cat pee. It is pungent and fruity-fresh.

Garlic note image

Garlic

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

Banana Leaf note image

Banana Leaf

Large, waxy, and vividly green. It smells of humid rainforests and crushed vegetation, fresh and slightly bitter.

Genmaicha note image

Genmaicha

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

Green Branches note image

Green Branches

The smell of snapped twigs. Green, woody, and sappy.

Chaparral note image

Chaparral

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

Fern note image

Fern

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

Lapsang Souchong Tea note image

Lapsang Souchong Tea

Tea smoked over pinewood. It smells strongly of campfire, leather, and smoke.

Crithmum note image

Crithmum

Rock Samphire. It smells aromatic, salty, and like lemon oil.

Fermented Tea note image

Fermented Tea

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

Black Currant Leaf note image

Black Currant Leaf

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

Azolla (Water Fern) note image

Azolla (Water Fern)

A small aquatic fern that smells green, damp, and mossy. It evokes the stillness of a pond covered in duckweed.

Ginkgo note image

Ginkgo

Green and herbal. The fruit can smell rancid, but the leaves are mild and distinct.

Thyme note image

Thyme

Culinary herb. Herbal and spicy.

Lettuce note image

Lettuce

Watery green snap. Very mild and vegetative.

Fougère Accord note image

Fougère Accord

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

Water Lily Leaf note image

Water Lily Leaf

Vegetal aquatic note.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

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

Sabah Snake Grass note image

Sabah Snake Grass

Herbal medicine. Green and grassy.

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.

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

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

Licorice note image

Licorice

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

Cinnamon note image

Cinnamon

Warm, spicy, and woody. It evokes baking, holidays, and heat.

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

Fennel note image

Fennel

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

Fenugreek note image

Fenugreek

Maple syrup and curry powder. It is spicy, sweet, and savory all at once.

Carum note image

Carum

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

Biryani note image

Biryani

A complex mix of savory spices including saffron, cardamom, and rice. It is a gourmand scent, but savory and dinner-like.

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

A pepper variety with a camphorous, allspice-like scent. Cooler than black pepper.

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

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.

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.

Oriental Notes note image

Oriental Notes

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

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

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

Pimento note image

Pimento

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

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

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.

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.

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.

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

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

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.

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.

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.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

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

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.

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Incense note image

Incense

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

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.

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

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.

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

Styrax note image

Styrax

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

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

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

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.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

An Australian leaf that smells 'more lemon than lemon.' Clean and sweet.

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

Blood Orange note image

Blood Orange

Juicier, sweeter, and redder than standard orange, with raspberry nuances. It feels lush and Mediterranean.

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

Unripe tangerine. It smells more zesty and bitter than the ripe fruit.

Rind Bergamot note image

Rind Bergamot

The zest. Bitter and aromatic.

Pokan note image

Pokan

Taiwanese mandarin. Sweet and loose-skinned.

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

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

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

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

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

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

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.