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'.

Althaea note image

Althaea

A soft, musky floral scent that is related to hibiscus. It feels gentle and slightly powdery on the skin.

Celosia note image

Celosia

Also known as Cockscomb. It has a mild, grassy floral scent.

Bougainvillea note image

Bougainvillea

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

Carnation note image

Carnation

Spicy, clove-like floral. It smells powdery and vintage, a staple of early 20th-century scents.

Karmaflor® note image

Karmaflor®

A synthetic floral from Givaudan smelling of salicylates (sunscreen) and exotic blossoms.

Astragalus note image

Astragalus

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

Crinum Lily note image

Crinum Lily

A large lily with a strong, clean fragrance. It smells soapy and fresh.

Camellia note image

Camellia

A flower with very little natural scent, represented in perfume as a fresh, tea-like floral. It feels wet and elegant.

Deadnettle note image

Deadnettle

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

Dandelion note image

Dandelion

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

Iris Butter note image

Iris Butter

Orris butter. Extremely expensive, fatty, and creamy, smelling of violets and dry wood.

Cherry Blossom note image

Cherry Blossom

Sakura. It smells very faint, fresh, and slightly powdery, symbolizing fleeting beauty.

Euphorbia note image

Euphorbia

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

Butomus Umbellatus note image

Butomus Umbellatus

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

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.

Hibiscus note image

Hibiscus

A fantasy note, as the flower has little scent. Usually rendered as musky, red, and slightly sour.

Banksia Australian note image

Banksia Australian

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

Dyer's Greenweed note image

Dyer's Greenweed

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

Iris Pallida note image

Iris Pallida

The finest variety of iris. It is softer, sweeter, and more chocolatey than other types.

Great Burnet note image

Great Burnet

A medicinal herb with a cucumber-like freshness.

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.

Suede note image

Suede

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

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

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

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.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

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.

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

Daim note image

Daim

The French term for suede; it smells softer and more velvety than full leather. It evokes the inside of a luxury handbag.

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.

Coral Reef note image

Coral Reef

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

Caviar note image

Caviar

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

Milk note image

Milk

Creamy, lactonic, and comforting. It adds a nursery-soft texture.

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

Leather note image

Leather

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

Amber note image

Amber

A fantasy accord that wraps you up like a cashmere throw. It’s warm, resinous, and vanillic, providing a golden glow to the dry-down.

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.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

A synthetic wood note smelling of warm amber, tobacco, and old wood.

Sea Shells note image

Sea Shells

Calcium and salt. Dry mineral scent.

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.

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.

Buttermilk note image

Buttermilk

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

Plum Wine note image

Plum Wine

Japanese plum wine. Sweet, sour, and almondy.

Mai Tai Cocktail note image

Mai Tai Cocktail

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

Mezcal note image

Mezcal

Smoky tequila. Agave, smoke, and earth.

Amaretto note image

Amaretto

The distinct aroma of almond liqueur, sweet and slightly bitter with a cherry edge. It is boozy and rich, perfect for evening wear.

Daiquiri note image

Daiquiri

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

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

A generic term for alcohol-inspired scents like rum, whiskey, or cognac. They add warmth, sweetness, and intoxication.

Syrup note image

Syrup

Sugar water. Thick and sweet.

Masala Chai note image

Masala Chai

Spiced milky tea. Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and black tea.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

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

Raki note image

Raki

Turkish anise spirit. Smells of licorice and grapes.

Calvados Drink note image

Calvados Drink

French apple brandy. It smells of warm, fermented apples and oak barrels.

Negroni note image

Negroni

Gin, vermouth, and Campari. Bitter, herbal, and orange.

Buttered Rum note image

Buttered Rum

Hot rum with butter and spices. It is rich, oily, and intoxicatingly warm.

Rum note image

Rum

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

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.

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.

Mojito note image

Mojito

Mint, lime, rum, and sugar. Fresh and zesty.

Pina Colada note image

Pina Colada

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

Cocktail Fruits note image

Cocktail Fruits

Canned fruit salad. Syrupy, mixed fruitiness.

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.

Plastic Bag note image

Plastic Bag

Dry polyethylene. Faint and chemical.

Magnolan note image

Magnolan

A synthetic smelling of magnolia and geranium. Fresh and grapefruit-like.

CO2 Extracts note image

CO2 Extracts

A method of extraction that produces hyper-realistic scents. They smell exactly like the raw material.

Hivernal® note image

Hivernal®

A fresh, clean aldehyde scent. It evokes cold winter air.

Dirt note image

Dirt

Damp potting soil or petrichor. It adds a grounding, realistic touch of the garden to florals.

Apple Shisha Accord note image

Apple Shisha Accord

Sweet apple tobacco smoke, sticky and aromatic. It captures the social atmosphere of a hookah lounge.

Aquozone note image

Aquozone

A marine molecule that smells remarkably like sea breeze and ozone. It gives fragrances a wet, rainy-day feeling.

Dihydromyrcenol note image

Dihydromyrcenol

The smell of clean laundry and modern men's cologne. It is intensely fresh, soapy, and lime-like.

Cosmone note image

Cosmone

A rich, powdery musk with a warm, nutty character. It is elegant and modern.

Coral Limestone note image

Coral Limestone

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

Melonal note image

Melonal

A synthetic melon smell. Intense, cucumber-like, and fresh.

Cashmeran note image

Cashmeran

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

Dew Drop note image

Dew Drop

A fantasy note capturing the smell of wet grass at dawn. It is watery, green, and fleeting.

Javanol note image

Javanol

A super-powerful synthetic sandalwood. It smells creamy, metallic, and rosy, and lasts for days.

Azarbre note image

Azarbre

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

Shamama Attar note image

Shamama Attar

Complex Indian blend. Herbal, spicy, and woody.

Powdery Notes note image

Powdery Notes

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

Rose Oxide note image

Rose Oxide

Metallic rose molecule. Sharp, green, and bloody.

Fior di Latte note image

Fior di Latte

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

Lava note image

Lava

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

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.

Toast note image

Toast

Burnt bread. Pyrazines.

Palm Sugar note image

Palm Sugar

Coconut sugar. Caramelized and earthy sweetness.

Custard note image

Custard

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

Praline note image

Praline

Caramelized sugar and nuts. A benchmark of the modern gourmand style.

Candied Ginger note image

Candied Ginger

Spicy heat tempered by crystal sugar. It is zesty and warming.

Cherry Syrup note image

Cherry Syrup

Medicinal and sugary. Often smells like cough syrup.

Toffee note image

Toffee

Caramel and butter. Chewy sweetness.

Jellybean note image

Jellybean

Sugar shell and artificial fruit flavor. A playful, childhood scent.

Nutella note image

Nutella

Hazelnut and chocolate. Rich and fatty.

Butter note image

Butter

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

Candies note image

Candies

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

Panna Cotta note image

Panna Cotta

Cooked cream. Smooth, vanilla-heavy, and mild.

Chocolate Sauce note image

Chocolate Sauce

Liquid chocolate syrup. It smells sweet and artificial.

Cone Waffle note image

Cone Waffle

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

Donut or Doughnut note image

Donut or Doughnut

Fried dough and sugar glaze. It smells oily, sweet, and comforting.

Bonbon note image

Bonbon

A general term for hard candy. It smells sugary, fruity, and childlike.

Brown Sugar note image

Brown Sugar

Sweetness with a molasses depth. It smells darker and more caramelized than white sugar.

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

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

Gingerbread note image

Gingerbread

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

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.

Takamaka note image

Takamaka

Resinous tropical wood.

Dartanol® note image

Dartanol®

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

Ho Wood note image

Ho Wood

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

Arbutus (Madrona, Bearberry Tree) note image

Arbutus (Madrona, Bearberry Tree)

A woody note with a sweet, berry-like nuance from the fruit. It smells rustic and Mediterranean.

Vetiver note image

Vetiver

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

Aspen note image

Aspen

A light wood scent that evokes crisp mountain air and trembling leaves. It feels clean and outdoorsy.

Fir note image

Fir

Balsamic and green. It smells like a winter forest or a Christmas wreath.

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.

Bark note image

Bark

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

Agarwood (Oud) note image

Agarwood (Oud)

The heavyweight champion of woods, smelling dark, complex, and occasionally barnyard-esque. It adds a profound, resinous depth that demands attention.

Pua Keni Keni (Pua-Lulu) note image

Pua Keni Keni (Pua-Lulu)

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

White Oud note image

White Oud

A gentler, cleaner oud accord.

Wolfwood note image

Wolfwood

A Firmenich synthetic. Woody and leathery.

Akigalawood note image

Akigalawood

A biotechnology marvel that smells like patchouli cleaned of its dirt. It is spicy, peppery, and woody, feeling very modern and polished.

Apple Tree note image

Apple Tree

A woody note with hints of fruit and sap. It grounds the fruitiness with a solid, bark-like texture.

Desert Sagebrush note image

Desert Sagebrush

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

Scots pine variant note image

Scots pine variant

Pine needles. Fresh and balsamic.

Selaginella tamariscina note image

Selaginella tamariscina

Spikemoss. Earthy and dry.

Grass Tree note image

Grass Tree

Xanthorrhoea. It creates a resin that smells balsamic and woody.

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.

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

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.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

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.

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.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

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.

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.

Agave note image

Agave

Sweet, green, and succulent with a slight hint of earth. It brings a watery, vegetal freshness reminiscent of aloe but sweeter.

Linaloe Berry note image

Linaloe Berry

Smells woody, floral, and rose-like (high in linalool).

Earl Grey Tea note image

Earl Grey Tea

Black tea infused with bergamot oil. It is citrusy, tannic, and utterly civilized.

Grass note image

Grass

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

Barrenwort note image

Barrenwort

A ground-cover plant that smells earthy and green. It creates a forest-floor atmosphere.

Fresh Evergreen note image

Fresh Evergreen

The smell of snapped pine needles. Resinous and invigorating.

Cactus note image

Cactus

Green, watery, and succulent. It evokes the desert after rain, fresh and clean.

Angelica note image

Angelica

Green, musky, and peppery with a unique herbal bite. It adds a crisp, natural sophistication that feels botanical and fresh.

Green Branches note image

Green Branches

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

Fern note image

Fern

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

Garlic note image

Garlic

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

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

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

Aloe Vera note image

Aloe Vera

Green, watery, and cool, with a slight vegetative bitterness. It creates a soothing, spa-like atmosphere in a scent.

Bay Essence note image

Bay Essence

Spicy, medicinal, and warming. It smells of old-school rum splashes and barbershops.

Horseweed note image

Horseweed

Erigeron canadensis. Smells herbal and distinctively weedy.

Guao or Maiden Plum note image

Guao or Maiden Plum

A Caribbean shrub with a poisonous sap but a sweet scent.

Banana Leaf note image

Banana Leaf

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

Basil note image

Basil

Peppery and green, like crushing fresh leaves between your fingers. It adds a savory, aromatic zing that feels brilliantly Italian.

Duck Poo Oolong note image

Duck Poo Oolong

Dan Cong tea (the name is a myth, luckily). It smells floral, honeyed, and distinctly like orchids.

Huang Lian note image

Huang Lian

Coptis Chinensis. Extremely bitter and earthy herb.

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.

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

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

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

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

Carolina Reaper note image

Carolina Reaper

The hottest chili pepper. In perfume, it adds an aggressive, tingling heat.

Green Coffee note image

Green Coffee

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

Safraleine note image

Safraleine

A Givaudan molecule. Smells of saffron, tobacco, and leather.

Coffee Tincture note image

Coffee Tincture

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

Chutney note image

Chutney

Spiced fruit relish. It smells savory, sweet, and vinegary.

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

Japanese Pepper note image

Japanese Pepper

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

Pepper note image

Pepper

Black pepper. Sharp, hot, and sneezing-dry. It adds a masculine vibration.

Galanga note image

Galanga

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

Tonka Bean note image

Tonka Bean

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

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

Dry, herbal, and aromatic, often used in cooking. In perfume, it adds a savory, leafy crispness.

Fennel note image

Fennel

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

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

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

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.

Dill note image

Dill

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

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

Fenugreek note image

Fenugreek

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

Pimento note image

Pimento

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

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.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Myrica note image

Myrica

Bayberry. Smells spicy, waxy, and balsamic.

Copal note image

Copal

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

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.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

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.

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.

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

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.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

Copahu Balm note image

Copahu Balm

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

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

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.

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

Incense wood. It smells peppery, resinous, and spiritual, inspired by church incense.

Choya Nakh note image

Choya Nakh

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

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

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 Verbena note image

Lemon Verbena

Verveine. Herbal, fresh, and distinctly lemony without the acid.

Rangpur note image

Rangpur

A lemon-mandarin hybrid. Very acidic and floral.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Lime note image

Lime

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

Lemon Tree note image

Lemon Tree

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

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

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

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

Lemongrass note image

Lemongrass

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

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

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

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Candied Lemon note image

Candied Lemon

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

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.

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

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

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

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

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

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

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

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.