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'.

Zinnia note image

Zinnia

A dry, dusty floral scent. Not very sweet.

Kadam note image

Kadam

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

Dogwood Blossom note image

Dogwood Blossom

A mild, powdery floral scent. It is mostly textural, adding a soft white petal feel.

Fuchsia note image

Fuchsia

A mostly scentless flower, represented as a green, slightly fruity floral.

Daphne note image

Daphne

A winter bloom with an intoxicating scent of lemon soap and spicy carnation. It is clean yet heady.

Freesia note image

Freesia

Peppery and fresh. It adds a sparkling, high-pitched floral energy.

Fig Blossom note image

Fig Blossom

Green and floral, lighter than the fruit. It smells fresh and unopened.

French Marigold note image

French Marigold

Pungent and herbal. It smells stronger and earthier than other marigolds.

Eustoma | Lisianthus note image

Eustoma | Lisianthus

A gentle, slightly peppery floral scent.

Dried Rose note image

Dried Rose

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

Gorse note image

Gorse

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

Geranium note image

Geranium

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

Elderflower note image

Elderflower

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

Gerbera note image

Gerbera

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

Dandelion note image

Dandelion

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

Floral Notes note image

Floral Notes

A generic bouquet. Smells 'perfumey' and feminine.

Flax note image

Flax

Linseed. It smells nutty, oily, and grainy.

Daylily note image

Daylily

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

Daisy note image

Daisy

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

Goldenrod note image

Goldenrod

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

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.

Papaya note image

Papaya

Sweet, musky, and faintly vomit-like (butyric). It’s a polarizing tropical fruit.

Green Grape note image

Green Grape

Tart and crisp. Less sugary than purple grapes.

Chickpeas note image

Chickpeas

Savory, nutty, and earthy. An unusual gourmand note.

Apple Juice note image

Apple Juice

Sweet, golden, and concentrated, lacking the tart skin of the fresh fruit. It adds a sugary, nostalgic fruitiness.

Blackberry note image

Blackberry

Dark, juicy, and sweet-tart. It smells deeply fruity with a hint of musk, evocative of hedgerows in late summer.

cocoa shell note image

cocoa shell

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

Litchi note image

Litchi

Lychee. Smells remarkably rose-like, aquatic, and sweet.

Prickly Pear note image

Prickly Pear

Cactus fruit. Watery, sweet, and melon-like.

Candlenut note image

Candlenut

An oily nut used in Southeast Asian cooking. It smells fatty and mild.

Macadamia note image

Macadamia

Buttery, fatty nut scent. Very rich.

Almond note image

Almond

Bittersweet and creamy, sometimes leaning towards marzipan or cherry. It adds a comforting, nutty gourmand facet to perfumes.

Cepes note image

Cepes

Porcini mushrooms. They smell earthy, fleshy, and savory.

Burning Cherry note image

Burning Cherry

The scent of charred wood and sweet fruit. A dramatic twist on the usual cherry note.

Artichoke note image

Artichoke

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

Persimmon note image

Persimmon

Sharon fruit. Sweet, jelly-like, and mild.

Dried Apple Crisp note image

Dried Apple Crisp

Concentrated apple sweetness with a dusty, dehydrated quality. Less juicy, more intensely fruity.

Shea Butter note image

Shea Butter

Nutty fat. Creamy and earthy.

Serrano Pepper note image

Serrano Pepper

Hot chili. Green and spicy.

Malt note image

Malt

Roasted barley. Smells like beer, whiskey, or ovaltine. Toasty and sweet.

Fig Milk note image

Fig Milk

The white sap of the tree. It smells creamy, woody, and slightly bitter.

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.

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.

Caviar note image

Caviar

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

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.

Suede note image

Suede

Soft leather. Musky, velvety, and skin-like.

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.

Genet note image

Genet

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

Carrot Seeds note image

Carrot Seeds

Dry, woody, and earthy. It acts as a bridge between iris notes and woods.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

Saffiano Leather note image

Saffiano Leather

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

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

Bacon note image

Bacon

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

Oysters note image

Oysters

Salt water and minerals. A raw marine scent.

Fur note image

Fur

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

Aldron note image

Aldron

An animalic synthetic that mimics body heat and slight sweat. It adds a lived-in, human sensuality to otherwise sterile scents.

Anthamber™ note image

Anthamber™

A woody, amber-like molecule that adds volume and substance. It provides a sturdy background for other notes to dance upon.

Akashic Acord note image

Akashic Acord

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

Ambretone note image

Ambretone

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

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.

Mai Tai Cocktail note image

Mai Tai Cocktail

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

Ouzo note image

Ouzo

Greek anise liqueur. Smells like licorice and alcohol.

Root Beer note image

Root Beer

Sassafras and wintergreen. Medicinal and sweet.

Pina Colada note image

Pina Colada

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

Fruit Tea note image

Fruit Tea

Dried fruits steeped in hot water. Sweet, tart, and comforting.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

Coffee with foamed milk. It smells roasted but creamy and comforting.

Caipirinha note image

Caipirinha

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

Advocaat note image

Advocaat

A rich, creamy liqueur scent smelling of vanilla, brandy, and custard. It is thick and indulgent, adding a boozy sweetness to the mix.

Espresso Coffee note image

Espresso Coffee

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

Syrup note image

Syrup

Sugar water. Thick and sweet.

Batida note image

Batida

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

Rum note image

Rum

Distilled sugarcane. Sweet, brown, and spicy. It evokes pirates and warm evenings.

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.

Blue Margarita note image

Blue Margarita

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

Madeira note image

Madeira

Fortified wine. Smells oxidized, nutty, and caramelized.

Umeshu note image

Umeshu

Plum wine. Sweet and sour.

White Wine note image

White Wine

Crisp, fruity, and acidic alcohol.

Champagne Rosé note image

Champagne Rosé

Pink champagne. It smells fizzy like regular champagne but with added berry sweetness.

Buttermilk note image

Buttermilk

Sour, creamy, and tangy. It adds a fermented lactic quality that cuts sweetness.

Génépi note image

Génépi

An alpine herbal liqueur. Smells of wormwood, herbs, and mountain air.

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.

Siren note image

Siren

Lilac aldehyde. Floral, marine, and weird.

Coranol note image

Coranol

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

Candle Wax note image

Candle Wax

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

Caoutchouc note image

Caoutchouc

Raw rubber. It smells latex-like, green, and industrial.

Credit Cards note image

Credit Cards

A fantasy scent of plastic and ambition. Smells new and synthetic.

Antillone™ note image

Antillone™

A synthetic that mimics the smell of pineapple and pear. It is fruity, fresh, and slightly green, adding a juicy splash.

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.

Hindinol note image

Hindinol

A creamy, woody sandalwood synthetic. Soft and milky.

Copper note image

Copper

A metallic smell, warm and slightly sweet/bloody. It smells like loose change.

Pepperwood™ note image

Pepperwood™

A Givaudan molecule. Spicy, peppery, and fresh like linalool.

Molasses note image

Molasses

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

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.

Peat note image

Peat

Decaying vegetation and bog earth. Smoky, earthy, and Scotch-like.

Jeans note image

Jeans

A fantasy scent of denim cloth. Smells of indigo dye, cotton, and starch.

Pearadise® note image

Pearadise®

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

Salt note image

Salt

Savory and mineral. It adds a skin-like texture.

Damascone note image

Damascone

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

Plastic note image

Plastic

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

Coal note image

Coal

Dusty, black, and mineral. It adds a soot-like darkness.

Hand Cream note image

Hand Cream

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

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.

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.

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

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.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

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

Datura note image

Datura

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

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

Lily note image

Lily

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

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

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.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

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.

Water Lily Leaf note image

Water Lily Leaf

Vegetal aquatic note.

Juniper note image

Juniper

The smell of gin. Piney, peppery, and crisp, it adds a cold freshness.

Galbanum note image

Galbanum

Intensely bitter green resin. It smells like snapped pea pods and green peppers—sharp and bracing.

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.

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.

Hay note image

Hay

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

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu) note image

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu)

A Chinese medicinal root. Earthy, bittersweet, and herbaceous.

Borage note image

Borage

An herb that smells surprisingly like fresh cucumber. It adds a watery, green freshness.

Assam Tea note image

Assam Tea

A robust, malty black tea scent that is dark and tannic. It adds a sophisticated, breakfast-time depth to scents.

Asparagus note image

Asparagus

Distinctly vegetal and savory, bordering on sulfurous. It’s a brave, avant-garde choice for green fragrances.

Betel Leaf note image

Betel Leaf

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

Hops note image

Hops

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

Ammophila (Beach Grass) note image

Ammophila (Beach Grass)

The scent of dry dunes and salty vegetation. It smells hay-like and breezy, evoking a walk on a windswept British beach.

Siriuba Tree note image

Siriuba Tree

Amazonian tree. Smells soapy and balsamic.

Snake Plant note image

Snake Plant

Sansevieria. Green and dry.

Sweet Grass note image

Sweet Grass

Hierochloe odorata. Vanilla-scented hay (coumarin).

Yarrow note image

Yarrow

Herbal, sweet, and medicinal.

Tea note image

Tea

Aromatic leaves. Tannic, refreshing, and calming.

Bulrush note image

Bulrush

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

Grass note image

Grass

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

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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.

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

Green Coffee note image

Green Coffee

Unroasted beans. They smell vegetal, pea-like, and grassy.

Asafoetida note image

Asafoetida

Pungent and sulfurous when raw, but savory like onions when cooked. In perfume, it adds a weird, compelling earthy spice.

Cloves note image

Cloves

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

Pimento Leaf note image

Pimento Leaf

Greener and sharper than the berry. Very spicy.

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

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

Sesame note image

Sesame

Toasted seeds. Nutty, oily, and savory.

West Indian Bay note image

West Indian Bay

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

Mace note image

Mace

The outer covering of nutmeg. Smells similar but sweeter and softer.

Japanese Pepper note image

Japanese Pepper

Sansho pepper. It smells intensely lemony and creates a numbing effect.

Licorice note image

Licorice

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

Spiked Pepper note image

Spiked Pepper

Piper aduncum. Spicy and woody.

Water Pepper note image

Water Pepper

Smartweed. Sharp and peppery.

Wasabi note image

Wasabi

Horseradish-like heat. Pungent and green.

Anise note image

Anise

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

Cassia note image

Cassia

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

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

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

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

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.

Myrica note image

Myrica

Bayberry. Smells spicy, waxy, and balsamic.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

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

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.

Copal note image

Copal

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

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Gurjun Balsam note image

Gurjun Balsam

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

Opoponax note image

Opoponax

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

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

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

Choya Nakh note image

Choya Nakh

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

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.

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

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.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

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

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Rangpur note image

Rangpur

A lemon-mandarin hybrid. Very acidic and floral.

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

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

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Kaffir Lime note image

Kaffir Lime

Makrut lime. The leaves smell intensely sharp, green, and uniquely Thai cuisine-like.

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

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

Citron note image

Citron

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Bergamot note image

Bergamot

The finest of citruses, famous for giving Earl Grey tea its distinct aroma. It’s bitter, tart, and floral all at once—the perfect opening act.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Lemongrass note image

Lemongrass

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

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

Another name for Bitter Orange. It is sharp, zesty, and less sweet than regular orange, adding a sophisticated tartness.

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.