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'.

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 Fruits note image

Dried Fruits

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

Pitahaya note image

Pitahaya

Dragon fruit. Mild, watery, and melon-like.

Cherry Jam note image

Cherry Jam

Cooked cherries and sugar. Intense, sticky fruitiness.

Apple Pulp note image

Apple Pulp

The smell of crushed apple flesh, slightly oxidized and earthy. It feels more textured and rustic than a simple apple note.

Lingonberry note image

Lingonberry

Tart Scandinavian berry. Smells acid and bright red.

Potato note image

Potato

Earthy, starch, and raw skin. A root vegetable scent.

Daikon Radish note image

Daikon Radish

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

Peanut note image

Peanut

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

Grape Seed note image

Grape Seed

Oily and mild. Mostly adds texture.

Fruity Notes note image

Fruity Notes

A catch-all for sweet, edible fruit scents. Can range from fresh to jammy.

Grapes note image

Grapes

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

White Currant note image

White Currant

Tart berry. Less intense than red currant.

Tomato note image

Tomato

Red fruit. Acidic and savory.

Fig Leaf note image

Fig Leaf

Bitter, green, and coconutty. It brings a sharp, realistic snap of greenery.

Ground Cherry note image

Ground Cherry

Physalis/Cape Gooseberry. Tart, tomato-like, and sweet.

Arctic Bramble note image

Arctic Bramble

A hardy berry scent that is tart, wild, and slightly floral. It evokes cold climates and resilient nature.

Soybean note image

Soybean

Beany and green. Edamame.

Green Pear note image

Green Pear

Juicy and grainy. It adds a transparent sweetness.

Red Fruits note image

Red Fruits

Generic berry mix. Sweet and juicy.

Persimmon note image

Persimmon

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

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.

Ambrocenide (Symrise) note image

Ambrocenide (Symrise)

A powerhouse woody-amber synthetic that is extremely long-lasting. It provides a sharp, agarwood-like dryness to the base.

Bacon note image

Bacon

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

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Castoreum note image

Castoreum

Intensely leathery and animalic, smelling of ink and musk. It provides a dark, vintage sensuality that is certainly not for the faint of heart.

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.

Starfish note image

Starfish

Marine animal. Salty and fleshy.

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

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

Tolu Balsam note image

Tolu Balsam

Sweet resin. Cinnamon and vanilla scent.

Meat note image

Meat

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

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Musk note image

Musk

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

Habanolide® note image

Habanolide®

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

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.

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.

Leather note image

Leather

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

Genet note image

Genet

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

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

Caviar note image

Caviar

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

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.

Masala Chai note image

Masala Chai

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

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.

Tonic Water note image

Tonic Water

Quinine water. Bitter and fizzy.

Liquor note image

Liquor

Generic alcohol note. Sharp, volatile, and warming.

Chinotto note image

Chinotto

Italian soda made from bitter orange. It smells dark, cola-like, and citrusy.

Cream Soda note image

Cream Soda

Vanilla, fizzy water, and sugar. It smells frothy and sweet.

Plum Liquor note image

Plum Liquor

Sweet, boozy fruit. Like Umeshu.

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.

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.

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

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

Root Beer note image

Root Beer

Sassafras and wintergreen. Medicinal and sweet.

Vodka note image

Vodka

Pure alcohol and water. Smells cold and sterile.

Amarula note image

Amarula

A creamy liqueur note from the Marula fruit, smelling of caramel and fruit. It is milky and exotic, evocative of an African sunset.

Hot Chocolate note image

Hot Chocolate

Cocoa and milk. Warm, powdery, and comforting.

Buttermilk note image

Buttermilk

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

Rhum Agricole note image

Rhum Agricole

Cane juice rum. Grassy, vegetal, and funky.

Jasmine Tea note image

Jasmine Tea

Green tea infused with jasmine blossoms. It smells steamy, floral, and soothing.

Vinegar note image

Vinegar

Acetic acid. Sour and pungent.

Whiskey note image

Whiskey

Oak barrels, grain, and peat. Warm and boozy.

Fruit Tea note image

Fruit Tea

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

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.

Nail Polish note image

Nail Polish

Acetate and solvent. Fruit-like chemical smell.

Graphite note image

Graphite

Pencil lead. Grey, mineral, and dry wood.

Calypsone note image

Calypsone

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

Ember note image

Ember

Glowing wood and fading smoke. Warm and dry.

Evernyl note image

Evernyl

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

Crustaceans note image

Crustaceans

Shellfish smell. Salty, oceanic, and savory.

Coranol note image

Coranol

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

Ethyl Maltol note image

Ethyl Maltol

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

Camphor note image

Camphor

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

Caoutchouc note image

Caoutchouc

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

Gunpowder note image

Gunpowder

Sulfur, charcoal, and smoke. A sharp, flinty accord used in edgy niche scents.

NaturalCalm™ note image

NaturalCalm™

A synthetic note implying relaxation. Likely herbal or ozonic.

Bourgeonal note image

Bourgeonal

A synthetic smelling of Lily of the Valley with a watery freshness. It’s powerful and diffusive.

Fish note image

Fish

Marine and amine-like. Rarely used literally, but part of some daring marine accords.

Ionones note image

Ionones

The molecules that give violet and iris their scent. They smell powdery, woody, and like berry candy.

Mud note image

Mud

Wet earth. Heavy, dirty, and opaque.

Coal Tar Pitch note image

Coal Tar Pitch

Even denser and darker than coal tar. Deeply industrial.

Orbitone note image

Orbitone

Transparent woody-amber (Iso E Super type). velvety.

Brick note image

Brick

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

Gold note image

Gold

A fantasy concept. Usually represented by bright aldehydes, amber, and solar notes.

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.

Baked Pear note image

Baked Pear

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

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

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

Horchata note image

Horchata

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

Pistachio Spread Cream note image

Pistachio Spread Cream

Intensely sweet, oily pistachio paste.

Dulce de Leche note image

Dulce de Leche

Slow-cooked caramelized milk. It smells thick, savory-sweet, and creamy.

Rainbow Sorbet note image

Rainbow Sorbet

Mixed fruit ice. Citrusy, berry-like, and sweet.

Canelé note image

Canelé

A Bordeaux pastry with rum and vanilla. It smells caramelized, custardy, and boozy.

Candied Fruits note image

Candied Fruits

Fruits preserved in sugar. They lose their freshness and become chewy, sweet, and intense.

Cookie note image

Cookie

Baked goods. Smells of butter, sugar, and flour.

Brown Sugar note image

Brown Sugar

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

Cacao Butter note image

Cacao Butter

The fatty richness of white chocolate. It smells creamy, oily, and vanilla-like.

Crème Brûlée note image

Crème Brûlée

Burnt sugar and vanilla custard. It smells rich, egg-y, and caramelized.

Molasses note image

Molasses

Thick sugar syrup. Burnt caramel and iron.

Custard note image

Custard

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

Choux Pastry note image

Choux Pastry

Light, airy pastry dough. It smells buttery and eggy.

Eggnog note image

Eggnog

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

Gourmand Accord note image

Gourmand Accord

A blend smelling of edible treats—vanilla, caramel, chocolate. Dessert for the nose.

Gelatin note image

Gelatin

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

Churros note image

Churros

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

Biscuit note image

Biscuit

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

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.

Ironwood note image

Ironwood

An incredibly hard wood with a metallic, dry scent. It feels dense and impenetrable.

Black Hemlock or Tsuga note image

Black Hemlock or Tsuga

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

Incienso note image

Incienso

A desert shrub (Encelia) that smells resinous and pine-like. It is pungent and aromatic.

Vetiver note image

Vetiver

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

Carob Tree note image

Carob Tree

Woody and slightly chocolate-like. It adds a dry, sweet earthy nuance.

Cambodian Oud note image

Cambodian Oud

A variety of oud known for being sweeter and fruitier than others. It can smell slightly like dried berries.

Bamboo note image

Bamboo

Clean, dry, and woody-green. It smells like a Zen garden, offering a structured freshness without being heavy.

Ditax wood note image

Ditax wood

A rare wood from Senegal. It smells dry and slightly fruity.

Eucalyptus note image

Eucalyptus

Cool, camphorous, and medicinal. It clears the head and smells like a spa steam room.

Kyara wood note image

Kyara wood

The highest grade of Oud. It smells complex, spiritual, honeyed, and absolutely priceless.

Laotian Oud note image

Laotian Oud

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

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.

Indian Woods note image

Indian Woods

A generic woody accord inspired by the subcontinent. Usually creamy and spicy.

Dry Wood note image

Dry Wood

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

Canadian Balsam note image

Canadian Balsam

Balsam Fir resin, smelling piney and sweet. It is the scent of deep northern forests.

Massoia note image

Massoia

A bark smelling of coconut, dried milk, and wood. Extremely lactonic.

Kowhai note image

Kowhai

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

Palo Santo note image

Palo Santo

Holy Wood. It smells creamy, lemony, and smoky, used for cleansing energy.

Papyrus note image

Papyrus

Dry, smoky, and woody. It smells of ancient scrolls and river reeds.

Mahogany note image

Mahogany

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

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.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

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.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

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.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

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.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

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.

Chinese Medicinal Herbs note image

Chinese Medicinal Herbs

A complex mix of bitter, earthy, and aromatic roots. It smells of traditional apothecary shops.

Galbanum note image

Galbanum

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

Lovage Root note image

Lovage Root

Smells distinctively like celery and Maggi seasoning. Very savory.

Flouve note image

Flouve

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

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.

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 Notes note image

Green Notes

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

Henna note image

Henna

Earthy, dry, and hay-like. It smells like the powdered dye.

Ginkgo note image

Ginkgo

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

Dried Fallen Leaves note image

Dried Fallen Leaves

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

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.

Senecio note image

Senecio

Ragwort. Herbal and sometimes fetid.

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.

Deer Tongue Grass note image

Deer Tongue Grass

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

Sap note image

Sap

Sticky tree blood. Green, bitter, and resinous.

Sugandha Kokila note image

Sugandha Kokila

Nepalese berry. Smells spicy and camphoraceous.

Sideritis Mountain Tea note image

Sideritis Mountain Tea

Greek Mountain Tea. Herbal, lemon, and chamomile notes.

Green Chilli note image

Green Chilli

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

Sage note image

Sage

Culinary herb. Savory, dusty, and grey-green.

Wormwood note image

Wormwood

Absinthe herb. Extremely bitter and herbal.

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.

Fennel note image

Fennel

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

Tonka Bean note image

Tonka Bean

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

Green Coffee note image

Green Coffee

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

Carum note image

Carum

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

Japanese Pepper note image

Japanese Pepper

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

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

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

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

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

Sumac note image

Sumac

Sour red spice. Lemon-like and earthy.

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

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.

Mustard Seed note image

Mustard Seed

Pungent and sharp. Adds a biting heat.

Pimento Leaf note image

Pimento Leaf

Greener and sharper than the berry. Very spicy.

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.

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

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

Sichuan Pepper note image

Sichuan Pepper

Citrusy and tingling. Unlike black pepper, it smells of lemon and metal.

Ultravanil™ note image

Ultravanil™

High-impact vanilla synthetic. Non-edible vanilla.

Cinnamon note image

Cinnamon

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

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.

Myrica note image

Myrica

Bayberry. Smells spicy, waxy, and balsamic.

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

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.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

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.

Choya Nakh note image

Choya Nakh

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

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.

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

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.

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

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

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

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.

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

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.

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

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

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

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.

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Rangpur note image

Rangpur

A lemon-mandarin hybrid. Very acidic and floral.

Tangerine Zest note image

Tangerine Zest

Oily orange peel scent.

Neroli note image

Neroli

Steam-distilled orange blossom. It smells green, soapy, bitter, and exquisitely fresh.

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

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

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Citruses note image

Citruses

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

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Kumquat note image

Kumquat

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

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.