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'.

Kangaroo Paw note image

Kangaroo Paw

An Australian flower with a grassy, honey-like scent.

China Rose note image

China Rose

A species of rose with less scent than European varieties, but subtle and fresh.

Cacao Blossom note image

Cacao Blossom

The flower of the cocoa tree, smelling subtly floral with a hint of chocolate. It is delicate and rare.

Periwinkle note image

Periwinkle

Vinca. A mild, herbaceous floral scent.

Sour Cherry Blossom note image

Sour Cherry Blossom

Floral with a bitter almond nuance.

Orchid note image

Orchid

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

Poinsettia note image

Poinsettia

Mostly scentless. A fantasy green, milky sap note.

Macadamia Flower note image

Macadamia Flower

Sweet and nutty floral.

Leatherwood note image

Leatherwood

Tasmanian honey source. It smells uniquely spicy, floral, and musky.

Poppy note image

Poppy

Mostly scentless. In perfume, it’s earthy, powdery, and slightly narcotic.

Michelia note image

Michelia

Magnolia relative. Smells creamy, spicy, and fruity.

Fig Blossom note image

Fig Blossom

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

Ashoka Flower note image

Ashoka Flower

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

Plumeria note image

Plumeria

Frangipani. Creamy, sunny, and intensely tropical.

Pansy note image

Pansy

Mild, grassy floral. Mostly a fantasy note.

Peach Blossom note image

Peach Blossom

A delicate, airy floral scent with a whisper of fruitiness. It smells pink and spring-like.

Delonix note image

Delonix

The Flame Tree, offering a subtle tropical floral note. It smells vaguely of orchids and ferns.

Pelargonium note image

Pelargonium

The botanical name for scented geraniums. Rosy, minty, and green.

Passion Flower note image

Passion Flower

Exotic floral. Smells slightly fruity and medicinal.

Champaca note image

Champaca

A rich orange flower related to magnolia. It smells velvety, spicy, and tea-like.

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.

Barberry note image

Barberry

A tart red berry that is acidic and sharp. It cuts through sweetness like a little red knife.

Gariguette Strawberry note image

Gariguette Strawberry

A coveted French strawberry. It smells intensely aromatic and sweet-tart.

Candlenut note image

Candlenut

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

Chickpeas note image

Chickpeas

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

Tayberry note image

Tayberry

Blackberry-raspberry cross. Tart.

Melon note image

Melon

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

Beetroot note image

Beetroot

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

Peach note image

Peach

Velvety skin and lactonic flesh. A classic note that ranges from fresh nectar to the iconic Mitsouko chypre style.

Kumbaru note image

Kumbaru

Tonka bean relative. It smells nutty and vanilla-like.

Pomegranate note image

Pomegranate

Tart, red, and tannic. It smells dry and astringent rather than overly sweet.

Carambola (Star Fruit) note image

Carambola (Star Fruit)

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

Red Berries note image

Red Berries

A mix of cranberry, currant, and peppercorn. Tart and festive.

Bitter melon note image

Bitter melon

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

Apricot note image

Apricot

Fuzzy, sweet, and soft-skinned, differing from peach by being slightly more tart. It has a velvety texture that blends beautifully with osmanthus.

Nectarine note image

Nectarine

Peach without the fuzz. Juicy, sweet, and smooth.

Durian note image

Durian

The King of Fruits. Creamy and sweet to some, rotting onions and gym socks to others. Proceed with caution.

Pumpkin note image

Pumpkin

Creamy, earthy squash. Ideally not the spiced latte variety, but the vegetable itself.

Peruvian Pepper note image

Peruvian Pepper

Pink pepper. Spicy but fruity and sweet.

Breadnut note image

Breadnut

Similar to chestnut, smelling starchy and nutty. It provides a savory, food-like base.

Bearberry note image

Bearberry

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

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.

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.

Suede note image

Suede

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

Genet note image

Genet

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

Muskrat note image

Muskrat

An animalic musk. Similar to civet but soapier.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

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

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

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.

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.

Caviar note image

Caviar

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

Muscone note image

Muscone

The main component of natural deer musk. Smells warm, erotic, and radiant.

Leather note image

Leather

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

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.

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.

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.

Coral Reef note image

Coral Reef

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

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.

Skatole note image

Skatole

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

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

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.

Milk note image

Milk

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

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.

Cachaça note image

Cachaça

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

Gin note image

Gin

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

Mojito note image

Mojito

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

Raki note image

Raki

Turkish anise spirit. Smells of licorice and grapes.

Tequila note image

Tequila

Agave spirit. Earthy, alcoholic, and weird.

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.

Blackcurrant Juice note image

Blackcurrant Juice

Sweet, syrupy, and intensely fruity. It smells like Ribena, bringing a nostalgic, thirst-quenching vibe.

Rhum Agricole note image

Rhum Agricole

Cane juice rum. Grassy, vegetal, and funky.

Cherry Liqueur note image

Cherry Liqueur

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

Pear Juice note image

Pear Juice

Sweet nectar. Very sugary and liquid.

Boozy Notes note image

Boozy Notes

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

Calvados Drink note image

Calvados Drink

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

Syrup note image

Syrup

Sugar water. Thick and sweet.

Champagne Rosé note image

Champagne Rosé

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

Pistachio Liquer note image

Pistachio Liquer

Sweet, nutty alcohol. Dessert in a glass.

Sauce-aroma Baijiu note image

Sauce-aroma Baijiu

Chinese liquor. Savory, soy-sauce-like, and fermented.

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.

Lemonade note image

Lemonade

Sugary lemon water. It is sweet rather than sour.

Buttered Rum note image

Buttered Rum

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

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.

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.

Butterscotch note image

Butterscotch

Brown sugar and butter. It smells deeper and more molasses-like than caramel.

Cake note image

Cake

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

Brown Sugar note image

Brown Sugar

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

Fougassette note image

Fougassette

A Provencal bread flavored with orange blossom. Yeasty and floral.

Candied Fruits note image

Candied Fruits

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

Salted Caramel Fudge note image

Salted Caramel Fudge

Buttery, salty sugar. Extremely rich.

Palm Sugar note image

Palm Sugar

Coconut sugar. Caramelized and earthy sweetness.

Meringues note image

Meringues

Baked sugar and egg whites. Dry, powdery sweetness.

Bread note image

Bread

The savory, yeasty smell of baked crust. It evokes comfort, bakeries, and simple pleasures.

Brownie note image

Brownie

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

Dorayaki note image

Dorayaki

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

Lemon Meringue Pie note image

Lemon Meringue Pie

Tart curd and burnt sugar foam. A balance of sour and sweet.

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.

Custard note image

Custard

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

Loukhoum note image

Loukhoum

Turkish Delight. Rosewater, sugar, and almonds. Powdery and sweet.

Maraschino Cherry note image

Maraschino Cherry

Bright red, almondy, and artificial. The smell of a cocktail garnish.

Honeycomb note image

Honeycomb

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

Churros note image

Churros

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

Nougat note image

Nougat

Honey, egg whites, and nuts. Chewy and sweet.

Dulce de Leche note image

Dulce de Leche

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

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.

Pink Ipê Tree note image

Pink Ipê Tree

Handroanthus. A floral wood scent.

Sawdust note image

Sawdust

Freshly cut wood. Dry and powdery.

Mahogany note image

Mahogany

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

Kowhai note image

Kowhai

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

Hinoki Wood note image

Hinoki Wood

Japanese Cypress. It smells lemony, woody, and sacred (used in temples and baths).

Plum Tree note image

Plum Tree

Woody and fruity.

Patchouli (Green) note image

Patchouli (Green)

Fresh, leafy patchouli without the fermentation. Cleaner and lighter.

Bark note image

Bark

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

Papyrus note image

Papyrus

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

Oakmoss note image

Oakmoss

The smell of damp forests, ink, and earth. It is the sensual soul of the Chypre family.

Beech note image

Beech

A light, clean wood scent that is less resinous than pine. It smells like fresh carpentry and forests.

Paperbark note image

Paperbark

Melaleuca. Smells swampy, medicinal, and woody.

Malaysian Oud note image

Malaysian Oud

Often sweeter and spicier than Indian oud. Can have cola nuances.

Manuka note image

Manuka

New Zealand Tea Tree. Honeyed, earthy, and aromatic.

Birch note image

Birch

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

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.

Muhuhu note image

Muhuhu

African Sandalwood. Dry, woody, and slightly balsamic.

Eucalyptus note image

Eucalyptus

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

Baobab note image

Baobab

The majestic African tree, smelling dry, woody, and slightly fruity. It provides a unique, grand base note.

Grass Tree note image

Grass Tree

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

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.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

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.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Tuberose note image

Tuberose

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

White Flowers note image

White Flowers

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

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

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.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Datura note image

Datura

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

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

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

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

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

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

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

Melati note image

Melati

Indonesian Jasmine. Sweet and tea-like.

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.

Satureja note image

Satureja

Savory herb. Peppery and thyme-like.

Jin Xuan Tea Leaves note image

Jin Xuan Tea Leaves

Milk Oolong. It smells naturally buttery and creamy, like steamed milk and green leaves.

Horseweed note image

Horseweed

Erigeron canadensis. Smells herbal and distinctively weedy.

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.

Sap note image

Sap

Sticky tree blood. Green, bitter, and resinous.

Davana note image

Davana

A chameleon herb that smells of dried fruit, wine, and tea. It shifts on every skin, sometimes smelling balsamic, sometimes herbal.

Pesto note image

Pesto

Basil, pine nuts, and garlic. Very savory and Italian.

Gyokuro Tea note image

Gyokuro Tea

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

Hops note image

Hops

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

Wintergreen note image

Wintergreen

Methyl salicylate. Medicinal mint (root beer).

Garlic note image

Garlic

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

Bay Essence note image

Bay Essence

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

Coca note image

Coca

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

Barley note image

Barley

Cereal-like, roasted, and nutty. It adds a savory, grainy warmth that feels wholesome and comforting.

Lishan Tea note image

Lishan Tea

High mountain oolong. Smells floral, creamy, and green.

Wild garlic leaf note image

Wild garlic leaf

Ramsons. Onion-like and green.

Clary Sage note image

Clary Sage

Herbal, sweet, and tea-like with an amber nuance. It is less medicinal than common sage.

Blackberry Leaf note image

Blackberry Leaf

Green, earthy, and slightly tart. It smells like the bush rather than the berry, adding a natural roughness.

Nut Grass note image

Nut Grass

Cyperus. Smells woody, earthy, and spicy (like Vetiver).

Purslane note image

Purslane

Green succulent. Crisp and slightly sour.

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.

Dill note image

Dill

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

Oily Notes note image

Oily Notes

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

Ginger note image

Ginger

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

Indian Spices note image

Indian Spices

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

Cloves note image

Cloves

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

Coriander note image

Coriander

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

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

Bengal Pepper note image

Bengal Pepper

Also known as Long Pepper, it is hotter and sweeter than black pepper. It has a complex, spicy-sweet aroma.

Chutney note image

Chutney

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

Curcuma (Turmeric) note image

Curcuma (Turmeric)

Earthy, dusty, and slightly ginger-like. It adds a dry yellow spice note.

Coffee note image

Coffee

Dark, roasted, and energizing, bringing a bitter gourmand edge. It grounds sweetness and adds a restless, urban energy to a scent.

Curry Tree note image

Curry Tree

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

Anise note image

Anise

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

Curry note image

Curry

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

Sichuan Pepper note image

Sichuan Pepper

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

Toscanol note image

Toscanol

Aromatic chemical. Anise and herbal.

Coffee CO2 note image

Coffee CO2

A photorealistic roasted coffee bean extract. It smells exactly like an espresso bar.

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.

Kaempferia Galanga note image

Kaempferia Galanga

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

Licorice note image

Licorice

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

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.

Elemi note image

Elemi

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

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

Wood chips soaked in perfume oil and burned, creating a smoky, fragrant cloud. It smells traditional, Middle Eastern, and welcoming.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Benzoin note image

Benzoin

A comforting balsamic resin that smells of vanilla and cinnamon. It gives fragrances a cozy, almost edible warmth without being overly sugary.

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

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

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green note image

Olibanum Sacra Resin Green

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

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

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.

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.

Amberwood note image

Amberwood

A sturdy blend of amber warmth and dry cedar-like woodiness. It acts as a strong pillar holding up the rest of the scent structure.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Copaiba Balm note image

Copaiba Balm

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

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.

Nag Champa note image

Nag Champa

Incense sticks. Sandalwood and Frangipani. Sweet and hippie.

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.

Breu-Branco note image

Breu-Branco

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

View All Resins And Balsams Notes

Citrus

The sunshine of the fragrance world, these volatile oils provide the sparkling opening act that greets you the moment the mist hits the air. While they are fleeting by nature, their zesty, sour-sweet optimism is essential for lifting the heavier materials and preventing a perfume from feeling like a lead weight.

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

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

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Rangpur note image

Rangpur

A lemon-mandarin hybrid. Very acidic and floral.

Citron note image

Citron

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

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Neroli note image

Neroli

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

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.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Red Mandarin note image

Red Mandarin

The sweetest mandarin oil. Floral and candy-like.

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Grapefruit note image

Grapefruit

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

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

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

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Hassaku note image

Hassaku

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

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

Lemon Zest note image

Lemon Zest

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

Sudachi citrus note image

Sudachi citrus

Japanese citrus. Sour and spicy like lime.

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.