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'.

Gladiolus note image

Gladiolus

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

Ashoka Flower note image

Ashoka Flower

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

Dianthus note image

Dianthus

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

Fragonia note image

Fragonia

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

Forget Me Not note image

Forget Me Not

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

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.

Diviniris note image

Diviniris

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

Bellflower note image

Bellflower

A delicate, blue floral scent that is light and airy. It smells like a meadow in a fairy tale.

Cornflower Sultan Seeds note image

Cornflower Sultan Seeds

A mild floral scent with a powdery muskiness.

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.

Bougainvillea note image

Bougainvillea

Paper-like flowers with a faint, dry scent. In perfume, it's often a fantasy note of fresh, green florals.

Blackberry Blossom note image

Blackberry Blossom

A light floral scent with a whisper of fruit. It is delicate and often used to lighten berry compositions.

Butomus Umbellatus note image

Butomus Umbellatus

Flowering Rush, smelling slightly floral and aquatic. It is a subtle wetland scent.

Flax note image

Flax

Linseed. It smells nutty, oily, and grainy.

Coffee Blossom note image

Coffee Blossom

A white flower that smells like jasmine with a coffee nuance. Rare and beautiful.

Eglantine Rose note image

Eglantine Rose

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

Deadnettle note image

Deadnettle

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

Cistus Incanus note image

Cistus Incanus

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

Bird cherry note image

Bird cherry

A flowering tree with a scent that is sweet, almond-like, and heady. It smells intense and slightly balsamic.

Euphorbia note image

Euphorbia

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

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.

Dried Apricot note image

Dried Apricot

A dense, chewy orange fruit scent. It smells like concentrated sunshine and leather.

Peanut note image

Peanut

Earthy, oily, and roasted. A savory gourmand note that is distinctively leguminous.

Coconut Water note image

Coconut Water

Fresh, transparent, and lightly sweet. It adds a quenching hydration.

Green Plum note image

Green Plum

Unripe plum. Sour, firm, and tart.

Moepel Accord note image

Moepel Accord

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

Lucuma note image

Lucuma

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

Mulberry note image

Mulberry

Sweet, dark berry scent. Like a mild blackberry.

Sapodilla note image

Sapodilla

Chikoo. Malty, sweet, and pear-like.

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.

Longan Berries note image

Longan Berries

Dragon Eye fruit. Smells musky, sweet, and floral.

Dried Fruits note image

Dried Fruits

A sticky mix of raisins, dates, and figs. It adds a rich, boozy sweetness to oriental perfumes.

Dried Apple Crisp note image

Dried Apple Crisp

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

White Grape note image

White Grape

Sweet and juicy. Not wine-like.

Bearberry note image

Bearberry

A small red berry found in cold climates, smelling tart and dry. It adds a crisp, wild fruitiness.

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.

Peruvian Pepper note image

Peruvian Pepper

Pink pepper. Spicy but fruity and sweet.

Honeydew Melon note image

Honeydew Melon

Sweet, green, and aquatic. A staple of 90s freshwater scents.

Blackberry note image

Blackberry

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

Grapes note image

Grapes

Sweet and juicy. Can smell like artificial purple candy or realistic fruit.

Melon note image

Melon

Sweet, watery, and aquatic. Can smell like Calone.

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.

Tolu Balsam note image

Tolu Balsam

Sweet resin. Cinnamon and vanilla scent.

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

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.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

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.

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.

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.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

BBQ note image

BBQ

Smoky, savory, and charred. It evokes open fires and grilled meat—a bold, atmospheric choice.

Cheese note image

Cheese

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

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

Fur note image

Fur

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

Meat note image

Meat

Raw or cooked flesh. Iron-like, savory, and primal.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Skin note image

Skin

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

Coral Reef note image

Coral Reef

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

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.

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.

Soy Sauce note image

Soy Sauce

Salty and fermented. Umami richness.

Copper note image

Copper

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

Ink note image

Ink

Smells of metallic salts, charcoal, and damp wood. It evokes melancholy letters and calligraphy.

Hot Iron note image

Hot Iron

The smell of steam and scorching fabric. Metallic and clean.

Caoutchouc note image

Caoutchouc

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

Clay note image

Clay

Damp earth and pottery. It smells mineral, cool, and dense.

Candle Wax note image

Candle Wax

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

Cetonal® note image

Cetonal®

A synthetic ionone smelling of orris, wood, and leather. It adds volume.

Linen note image

Linen

Clean cloth. It is a musk-based fantasy note of fresh laundry.

Camphor note image

Camphor

Cool, mothball-like, and medicinal. It clears the sinuses and adds a freezing effect.

Cashmeran note image

Cashmeran

A complex synthetic smelling of wet concrete, musk, and spicy wood. It feels like wrapping yourself in wool.

Factor X note image

Factor X

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

Earthy Notes note image

Earthy Notes

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

Coral Limestone note image

Coral Limestone

A mineral accord. Smells chalky, marine, and dry.

Fire note image

Fire

Smoky, dry, and hot. It mimics the scent of burning things.

Mayonnaise Accord note image

Mayonnaise Accord

Eggs, oil, and vinegar. A savory, fatty novelty.

Calone note image

Calone

The synthetic molecule that defined the 90s. It smells of watermelon and sea breeze, creating the 'aquatic' genre.

Cinnamaldehyde note image

Cinnamaldehyde

The main chemical component of cinnamon. It smells intensely spicy and sweet.

Ethyl Maltol note image

Ethyl Maltol

The smell of cotton candy and burnt sugar. It is the engine behind many blockbuster gourmands.

Fior di Latte note image

Fior di Latte

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

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.

White Chocolate Truffle note image

White Chocolate Truffle

Rich confection.

Eggnog note image

Eggnog

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

Knafeh note image

Knafeh

Sweet cheese pastry soaked in syrup. Salty-sweet, creamy, and rose-scented.

Gelatin note image

Gelatin

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

Coconut Pie note image

Coconut Pie

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

Brownie note image

Brownie

Dense, fudgy chocolate and cake. It is the ultimate chocolate gourmand note.

Griotte Cherries note image

Griotte Cherries

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

Honeycomb note image

Honeycomb

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

Cheesecake note image

Cheesecake

Cream cheese, sugar, and crust. It is tangy, creamy, and heavy.

Baked Pear note image

Baked Pear

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

Jelly note image

Jelly

Fruit preserves. Sweet, translucent, and wobbly.

Peach Cream note image

Peach Cream

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

Hazelnut Cocoa Spread note image

Hazelnut Cocoa Spread

Nutella. Oily, sweet chocolate nuttiness.

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

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

Bubbaloo note image

Bubbaloo

A specific brand of liquid-filled gum. Smells intensely synthetic, fruity, and sweet.

Chamallow note image

Chamallow

French marshmallow. Sweet, powdery, and soft.

Custard note image

Custard

Egg yolks, milk, and vanilla. Thick, creamy comfort.

Cake note image

Cake

A generic vanilla sponge scent. It represents celebration and sugary comfort.

Cookie Dough note image

Cookie Dough

Raw, sweet, and buttery with vanilla. It evokes childhood baking.

Dorayaki note image

Dorayaki

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

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.

Sassafras note image

Sassafras

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

Pua Keni Keni (Pua-Lulu) note image

Pua Keni Keni (Pua-Lulu)

Hawaiian flower. Smells rich, creamy, and tuberose-like.

Red Willow note image

Red Willow

Bark scent. Woody and bitter.

Rhizoma Atractylodis note image

Rhizoma Atractylodis

Chinese root. Pungent and earthy.

Kowhai note image

Kowhai

New Zealand's national flower. It smells earthy and nectar-like.

Spruce note image

Spruce

Resinous conifer. Christmas tree scent.

Ravensara note image

Ravensara

Aromatic oil from Madagascar. Smells camphorous, spicy, and clove-like.

Vetiver note image

Vetiver

A complex grass root. Smells earthy, smoky, green, and like grapefruit.

Selaginella tamariscina note image

Selaginella tamariscina

Spikemoss. Earthy and dry.

Laotian Oud note image

Laotian Oud

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

Ebony Tree note image

Ebony Tree

Dark, dense, and slightly spicy wood. It feels mysterious and solid.

Dry Wood note image

Dry Wood

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

Ho Wood note image

Ho Wood

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

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.

Alder note image

Alder

A subtle wood note that is light and slightly sweet. It provides a background hum of nature without dominating the conversation.

Mahogany note image

Mahogany

A dark, reddish wood scent. Smells dry and polished.

Amburana Bark note image

Amburana Bark

A Brazilian wood that smells wonderfully of vanilla, coumarin, and gingerbread. It adds a warm, spicy gourmand feel to woody scents.

Birch note image

Birch

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

Sycamore note image

Sycamore

Woody and leafy.

View All Woods & Earth Notes

White Flowers

A distinct league of floral powerhouses including Tuberose, Jasmine, and Gardenia, known for their creamy, narcotic heaviness that often intensifies as the sun goes down. Unlike their shy daylight cousins, these blooms possess a carnal, indolic undertone—a whisper of animalic warmth amidst the sweetness—that makes them unapologetically sensual and dominating.

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.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

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.

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.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

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.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

White Tobacco note image

White Tobacco

Nicotiana flower. Sweet and jasmine-like.

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

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.

Buckwheat note image

Buckwheat

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

Calycanthus note image

Calycanthus

Also known as Carolina Allspice, smelling of strawberry, pineapple, and spice. It is a fruity-floral shrub.

Rose Leaf note image

Rose Leaf

Green, slightly thorny smell.

Strawberry Leaf note image

Strawberry Leaf

Herbal and green.

Jojoba note image

Jojoba

An odorless oil in reality, but in perfume, it represents a nutty, waxy texture.

Cedar Roots note image

Cedar Roots

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

Sugandha Kokila note image

Sugandha Kokila

Nepalese berry. Smells spicy and camphoraceous.

Sabah Snake Grass note image

Sabah Snake Grass

Herbal medicine. Green and grassy.

Immortelle note image

Immortelle

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

Grape Leaves note image

Grape Leaves

Green and slightly tannic. It evokes vineyards and dolmas.

Skunk Cabbage note image

Skunk Cabbage

Fetid and sulfurous. Rarely used.

Coleus note image

Coleus

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

Spinach note image

Spinach

Dark green leaf. Iron-rich and vegetative.

Deer Tongue Grass note image

Deer Tongue Grass

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

Catnip note image

Catnip

An aromatic mint-family herb. It smells herbal, woody, and slightly skunky.

Stems Greens note image

Stems Greens

Cut plant stalks. Sap and chlorophyll.

Wormwood note image

Wormwood

Absinthe herb. Extremely bitter and herbal.

Tomato Leaf note image

Tomato Leaf

Fuzzy, green, and astringent. The smell of a greenhouse.

Pennyroyal note image

Pennyroyal

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

Naswar note image

Naswar

Dipping tobacco. Pungent, green, and earthy.

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.

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.

Oily Notes note image

Oily Notes

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

Ginger note image

Ginger

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

Cloves note image

Cloves

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

Kopi Luwak Coffee note image

Kopi Luwak Coffee

Civet coffee. It smells roasted but with a distinctive animalic, musky undertone.

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Sumac note image

Sumac

Sour red spice. Lemon-like and earthy.

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

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

Kaempferia Galanga note image

Kaempferia Galanga

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

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.

Licorice note image

Licorice

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

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

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

Cinnamon note image

Cinnamon

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

Cinnamon Leaf note image

Cinnamon Leaf

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

Caraway note image

Caraway

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

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.

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Wan Sao Lhong note image

Wan Sao Lhong

Thai herb. Spicy and aromatic.

Clove Leaf note image

Clove Leaf

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

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.

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.

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

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

Copal note image

Copal

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

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Copaiba Balm note image

Copaiba Balm

A Brazilian resin that is sweet, woody, and slightly peppery. It acts as a fixative.

Incense note image

Incense

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

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

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.

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

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

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

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

Opoponax note image

Opoponax

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

Gurjun Balsam note image

Gurjun Balsam

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

Surf Wax note image

Surf Wax

Coconut and paraffin. Beachy.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

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.

Pokan note image

Pokan

Taiwanese mandarin. Sweet and loose-skinned.

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

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.

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

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

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

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

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.

Blood Orange note image

Blood Orange

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

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Kaffir Lime note image

Kaffir Lime

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

Limetta note image

Limetta

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

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

Citruses note image

Citruses

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

Lemongrass note image

Lemongrass

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

Kumquat note image

Kumquat

Sour orange. It smells sharper and more bitter than a sweet orange.

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

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.