Celebrating different notes in the perfumery | thescentbase.com

The Olfactory Library

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


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

Florals

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

Jujube Blossom note image

Jujube Blossom

The flower of the red date. It smells small, honeyed, and fruity.

Heather note image

Heather

A purple shrub covering the moors. Smells dry, mossy, and slightly floral.

Banksia Australian note image

Banksia Australian

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

Astragalus note image

Astragalus

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

Eustoma | Lisianthus note image

Eustoma | Lisianthus

A gentle, slightly peppery floral scent.

Deadnettle note image

Deadnettle

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

Creamy Flowers note image

Creamy Flowers

A general description for white florals like gardenia or tuberose that have a buttery texture.

Elderflower note image

Elderflower

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

Carambola Blossom note image

Carambola Blossom

The flower of the starfruit tree. It smells small, pink, and subtly fruity.

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.

Kudzu note image

Kudzu

The vine that ate the South. The flowers smell remarkably like grape soda.

Great Burnet note image

Great Burnet

A medicinal herb with a cucumber-like freshness.

Evergreen note image

Evergreen

A general term for pine/fir needles. Fresh, resinous, and wintery.

Morning Glory Flower note image

Morning Glory Flower

Mild floral. Mostly visual.

Bougainvillea note image

Bougainvillea

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

Freesia note image

Freesia

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

Water Flowers note image

Water Flowers

Generic aquatic floral. Lotus/Lily vibe.

Orchid note image

Orchid

Often a fantasy note (most orchids have no scent). Usually powdery, vanilla-like, and floral.

Nard note image

Nard

Spikenard. Earthy, musky, and herbal.

Lily-of-the-Valley note image

Lily-of-the-Valley

Muguet. A tiny bell flower with a piercingly fresh, soapy green scent. It defines spring.

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.

Fruit Salad note image

Fruit Salad

A mix of generic fruity notes. Sweet, watery, and indistinguishable.

Beetroot note image

Beetroot

Deeply earthy, sweet, and dirt-like. It smells exactly like damp soil and adds a grounding, rooty quality.

Banana note image

Banana

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

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.

Guava note image

Guava

Pungent tropical fruit. It smells musky, sweet, and faintly of cat pee (in a characteristic way).

Elderberry note image

Elderberry

Tart, juicy, and dark purple. It lacks the sweetness of other berries.

Cepes note image

Cepes

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

Cloudberry note image

Cloudberry

A Nordic berry that smells tart, juicy, and slightly creamy. It feels rare and arctic.

Fuji Apple note image

Fuji Apple

Crisp and very sweet. It lacks the tartness of a Granny Smith.

Gooseberry note image

Gooseberry

Tart, green, and slightly hairy. It adds a sharp, acidic fruitiness.

Carrot note image

Carrot

Sweet, rooty, and earthy. It smells remarkably like iris root (orris) and is used to enhance it.

Jobs Tears (Yi Yi Ren) note image

Jobs Tears (Yi Yi Ren)

A grain smelling mild, nutty, and slightly earthy.

Apple Juice note image

Apple Juice

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

Bitter melon note image

Bitter melon

Green, watery, and distinctly bitter. It adds a sharp, vegetal crunch that feels healthy and astringent.

Honeydew Melon note image

Honeydew Melon

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

Fig note image

Fig

Milky, green, and sweet. It evokes the shade of a tree in the Mediterranean sun.

Ground Cherry note image

Ground Cherry

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

Carambola (Star Fruit) note image

Carambola (Star Fruit)

Watery, sour-sweet fruit. It adds a crisp, geometric freshness.

Brazil Nut note image

Brazil Nut

Rich, fatty, and oily nut scent. It adds a buttery, tropical heaviness.

Apple Sherbet note image

Apple Sherbet

A frozen, sweet apple treat that is icy and refreshing. It adds a cool, sugary fruit blast to the top notes.

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.

Cheese note image

Cheese

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

Amber Xtreme note image

Amber Xtreme

An incredibly powerful woody-amber note that projects for miles. It can be sharp and dry, cutting through even the heaviest compositions.

Sea Shells note image

Sea Shells

Calcium and salt. Dry mineral scent.

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Meat note image

Meat

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

Ambrette (Musk Mallow) note image

Ambrette (Musk Mallow)

A vegetal musk derived from seeds, smelling of pear brandy and clean skin. It is one of the few natural musks and feels incredibly sophisticated.

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.

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.

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.

Leather note image

Leather

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

Sylkolide note image

Sylkolide

A refined musk. Fruity and powdery.

Oysters note image

Oysters

Salt water and minerals. A raw marine scent.

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Velvione™ note image

Velvione™

Powdery musk. Similar to Ambrette.

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.

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.

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.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

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

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

Sweet, animalic, and sticky, with hints of honey and pollen. It adds a natural, waxy richness to the base.

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.

Syrup note image

Syrup

Sugar water. Thick and sweet.

Mojito note image

Mojito

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

Vinegar note image

Vinegar

Acetic acid. Sour and pungent.

Cachaça note image

Cachaça

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

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.

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.

Mai Tai Cocktail note image

Mai Tai Cocktail

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

Liquor note image

Liquor

Generic alcohol note. Sharp, volatile, and warming.

Aperol note image

Aperol

Bittersweet orange, gentian, and rhubarb notes typical of the Italian aperitif. It brings a sunny, spritz-like joy to the opening.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

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

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

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

Tokaji Wine note image

Tokaji Wine

Hungarian sweet wine. Honeyed apricot scent.

Kava Drink note image

Kava Drink

Earthy, muddy, and pepper-like. It smells distinctly rooty.

Umeshu note image

Umeshu

Plum wine. Sweet and sour.

Buttered Rum note image

Buttered Rum

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

Madeira note image

Madeira

Fortified wine. Smells oxidized, nutty, and caramelized.

Beer note image

Beer

Yeasty, malty, and slightly fizzy. It brings a casual, pub-like atmosphere that is strangely comforting.

Pear Juice note image

Pear Juice

Sweet nectar. Very sugary and liquid.

Cherry Liqueur note image

Cherry Liqueur

Boozy, sweet cherry. It adds a dark, cocktail vibe.

Gin note image

Gin

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

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.

Wet Stone note image

Wet Stone

Petrichor. Rain on pavement.

Dirt note image

Dirt

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

Black Leather note image

Black Leather

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

Floratta DNA note image

Floratta DNA

A specific accord from the O Boticário brand. Floral and commercial.

Glass note image

Glass

A fantasy note of transparency. It smells cold, clean, and invisible.

Georgywood note image

Georgywood

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

Aldambre note image

Aldambre

A synthetic molecule that feels dry, woody, and intensely hot. It adds a radiant heat to a fragrance, like sun baking on stone.

Dust note image

Dust

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

Linen note image

Linen

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

Gunpowder note image

Gunpowder

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

Fabric note image

Fabric

The smell of cotton, wool, or linen. Usually a musk accord evoking laundry.

Lilybelle® note image

Lilybelle®

A biodegradable synthetic Lily of the Valley. Fresh, green, and floral.

Earthy Notes note image

Earthy Notes

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

Burnt Match note image

Burnt Match

Sulfurous, smoky, and sharp. It captures the fleeting smell of ignition.

Jeans note image

Jeans

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

Ozonic Notes note image

Ozonic Notes

The smell of air before a thunderstorm. Sharp, metallic, and clean.

Propolis note image

Propolis

Bee glue. Resinous, balsamic, and waxy.

Bourgeonal note image

Bourgeonal

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

Lorenox note image

Lorenox

A synthetic woody-amber. It smells leathery and aromatic.

Coral Limestone note image

Coral Limestone

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

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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.

Candied Orange note image

Candied Orange

Sweet, sticky orange peel. It smells festive, often associated with Christmas cakes.

Palm Sugar note image

Palm Sugar

Coconut sugar. Caramelized and earthy sweetness.

Frosting [Glacé] note image

Frosting [Glacé]

Pure sugar and fat. Sweet, vanilla-heavy, and dense.

Agave Nectar note image

Agave Nectar

A warm, honey-like sweetener that is less floral than actual honey. It adds a smooth, golden glaze to a fragrance without being cloying.

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

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

Chocolate Truffle note image

Chocolate Truffle

Dark chocolate dusted with cocoa powder. It smells sophisticated and powdery.

Chocolate Sauce note image

Chocolate Sauce

Liquid chocolate syrup. It smells sweet and artificial.

Gourmand Accord note image

Gourmand Accord

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

Dates note image

Dates

Sticky, honeyed fruit with a dense, sugary profile. It evokes the warmth and richness of the Middle East.

Acetyl Furan note image

Acetyl Furan

A powerful synthetic that smells remarkably like balsamic vinegar and burnt sugar. It provides that caramelized, toasted crunch to gourmand scents.

Gummy Candies note image

Gummy Candies

Artificial fruit and gelatin. Playful and sweet.

Cosmofruit™ (IFF) note image

Cosmofruit™ (IFF)

A synthetic fruity note smelling of quince and pear. It is diffusive and sweet.

Custard note image

Custard

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

Pistachio Spread Cream note image

Pistachio Spread Cream

Intensely sweet, oily pistachio paste.

Butter note image

Butter

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

Donut or Doughnut note image

Donut or Doughnut

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

Panna Cotta note image

Panna Cotta

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

Cacao Butter note image

Cacao Butter

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

Maple Syrup note image

Maple Syrup

Burnt sugar and fenugreek. Intense, sticky sweetness.

Marzipan note image

Marzipan

Almond paste. Intense bitter almond and sugar.

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.

Elm note image

Elm

A green, watery wood scent. It feels fibrous and natural.

Blackwood note image

Blackwood

Also known as Mpingo, it is dense and dry. It provides a solemn, dark woodiness to the base.

Dartanol® note image

Dartanol®

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

Ditax wood note image

Ditax wood

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

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.

Dark Patchouli note image

Dark Patchouli

Aged and intense, smelling of wet earth, camphor, and dark cellars. It is the heavy, hippie-chic version of the leaf.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

The woody trunk scent. Dry, fibrous, and slightly salty.

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.

Aspen note image

Aspen

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

Australian Oud note image

Australian Oud

Sourced from Australian botanicals, this oud is often cleaner and greener. It lacks the barnyard funk of traditional agarwood.

Cabreuva note image

Cabreuva

A South American wood that smells floral, woody, and spicy. It has a delicate, complex character.

Incienso note image

Incienso

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

Amaranth note image

Amaranth

An earthy, grainy scent that smells slightly like dry hay or cereal. It adds a wholesome, rustic texture to a fragrance.

Chypre Notes note image

Chypre Notes

The classic accord of bergamot, labdanum, and oakmoss. It smells elegant, mossy, and abstract.

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos note image

Ishpink, Ocotea Quixos

Amazonian cinnamon. It smells spicy and floral, distinct from common cinnamon.

Sandalwood note image

Sandalwood

Creamy, milky, and warm wood. It feels spiritual and calming.

Clearwood note image

Clearwood

A transparent patchouli note created by fermentation. It smells woody and clean without the dirt.

Araucaria note image

Araucaria

Also known as the Monkey Puzzle tree, its wood smells resinous and piney. It is a rare note that adds an ancient, coniferous feel.

Kowhai note image

Kowhai

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

Papyrus note image

Papyrus

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

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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.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Lily note image

Lily

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

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

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.

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.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

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

Boronia note image

Boronia

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

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

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.

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.

Rose Thorn note image

Rose Thorn

Green, woody, and sharp.

Coca note image

Coca

The plant leaf, smelling green, dry, and tea-like. It lacks the sweetness of the soda.

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz) note image

Geranium Macrorrhizum (Zdravetz)

Bulgarian geranium. It smells more woody, herbal, and spicy than the floral variety.

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.

Gajumaru Banyan note image

Gajumaru Banyan

A fig tree variety. Smells woody, green, and aerial roots.

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.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

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

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.

Flouve note image

Flouve

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

Grass note image

Grass

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

Bagas de Zimbro note image

Bagas de Zimbro

Juniper berries in Portuguese. Piney, resinous, and gin-like, they provide a crisp, aromatic lift.

Earl Grey Tea note image

Earl Grey Tea

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

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.

Green Forest note image

Green Forest

A fantasy accord of pine, moss, and leaves. Fresh and shady.

Garlic note image

Garlic

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

Dried Fallen Leaves note image

Dried Fallen Leaves

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

Algae note image

Algae

A slimy, green, oceanic scent that is iodine-heavy and salty. It brings the true, funky smell of the seaside rather than the sanitized version.

Gromwell note image

Gromwell

Lithospermum. It has a mild, clean plant scent.

Green Branches note image

Green Branches

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

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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.

Carum note image

Carum

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

Mace note image

Mace

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

Sumac note image

Sumac

Sour red spice. Lemon-like and earthy.

Licorice note image

Licorice

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

Sichuan Pepper note image

Sichuan Pepper

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

Japanese Pepper note image

Japanese Pepper

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

Sesame note image

Sesame

Toasted seeds. Nutty, oily, and savory.

Galanga note image

Galanga

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

Peppertree note image

Peppertree

Schinus molle. Resinous, woody, and peppery.

Coriander note image

Coriander

The seed, not the leaf. It smells woody, spicy, citrusy, and warm.

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

Curry note image

Curry

A blend of spices (cumin, fenugreek). It smells savory and warm.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Safraleine note image

Safraleine

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

Asafoetida note image

Asafoetida

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

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

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

Allspice note image

Allspice

A warm spice rack in a single note, smelling of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg combined. It feels festive and warming, perfect for winter.

Cumin note image

Cumin

Spicy, warm, and unapologetically human, bordering on the smell of sweat. It adds a carnal, savory heat that makes a fragrance feel alive.

Priprioca note image

Priprioca

A Brazilian root. Smells woody, spicy, and grassy.

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.

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

Styrax note image

Styrax

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

Copahu Balm note image

Copahu Balm

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

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

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.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

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

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

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.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

Roasted Sal tree resin. It smells leathery, smoky, and woody.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

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

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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.

Lemongrass note image

Lemongrass

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

Pomelo note image

Pomelo

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

Lemon Myrtle note image

Lemon Myrtle

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Calamansi note image

Calamansi

A Philippine lime that is tart, tangerine-like, and floral. It is a complex and exotic citrus.

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.

Citrus Water note image

Citrus Water

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

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

Green and petitgrain-like. It adds a leafy bitterness.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

Japanese grapefruit. A complex mix of lime, mandarin, and pine. Bitter and aromatic.

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Citrus Japonica note image

Citrus Japonica

Kumquat. It smells tart and sweet.

Petitgrain note image

Petitgrain

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

Blood Orange note image

Blood Orange

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

Citruses note image

Citruses

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

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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.