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'.

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.

Jackfruit note image

Jackfruit

Sweet, fleshy, and slightly bubblegum-like fruit. It has a funky, tropical ripeness.

Plum note image

Plum

Dark, juicy, and sensual. It adds a velvet texture to chypres and orientals.

Argan note image

Argan

Nutty, oily, and rich, recalling luxurious hair treatments. It adds a smooth, fatty depth to the base of a fragrance.

Cabernet Grape note image

Cabernet Grape

Dark, tannic, and sweet grape scent. It mimics the aroma of red wine on the vine.

Durian note image

Durian

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

Coconut Water note image

Coconut Water

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

Black Walnut note image

Black Walnut

Distinctive, earthy, and oily nut scent. It smells darker and more tannic than regular walnuts.

Fruit Salad note image

Fruit Salad

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

Chayote note image

Chayote

A mild squash. It smells watery, green, and crisp.

Beetroot note image

Beetroot

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

Daikon Radish note image

Daikon Radish

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

Japanese Loquat note image

Japanese Loquat

A fruit smelling like a mix of peach, citrus, and mango. It is mild and juicy.

Fig Leaf note image

Fig Leaf

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

Grains note image

Grains

Wheat, barley, oats. Savory, dusty, and wholesome.

Green Pear note image

Green Pear

Juicy and grainy. It adds a transparent sweetness.

Currant Leaf and Bud note image

Currant Leaf and Bud

Cassis. It smells green, fruity, tart, and animalic.

Genipapo note image

Genipapo

A Brazilian fruit. It smells funky, fruity, and fermented.

Count's Fruit note image

Count's Fruit

A specific exotic fruit, sweet and juicy.

Guarana note image

Guarana

Amazonian berry. It smells fruity, slightly medicinal, and energizing.

Blueberry note image

Blueberry

Sweet, tart, and slightly spicy. It adds a dark blue fruitiness that isn't as jammy as blackberry.

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.

Habanolide® note image

Habanolide®

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

Bacon note image

Bacon

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

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

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

Ambergris note image

Ambergris

The gold standard of fixatives, smelling of salty skin and warm ocean air. It possesses a magical ability to make a fragrance shimmer and last forever.

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.

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

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

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

Ambretone note image

Ambretone

A sweet, musky amber note that is very diffusive. It creates a soft, radiant aura around the wearer.

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.

Cheese note image

Cheese

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

Oysters note image

Oysters

Salt water and minerals. A raw marine scent.

Leather note image

Leather

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

Civet note image

Civet

Pungent and fecal in isolation, but magically warms up florals when used with a light hand. It creates that lived-in, intimate skin scent found in classic perfumery.

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.

Hyraceum note image

Hyraceum

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

Muscone note image

Muscone

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

Milk note image

Milk

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

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.

Caviar note image

Caviar

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

Exaltolide® note image

Exaltolide®

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

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.

Kir Royal note image

Kir Royal

Champagne and crème de cassis. Fizzy, berry-sweet, and chic.

Goldwasser note image

Goldwasser

A herbal liqueur with gold flakes. Smells of anise, caraway, and citrus.

Espresso note image

Espresso

Concentrated, bitter coffee. Dark, roasted, and intense.

Beer note image

Beer

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

Coca-Cola note image

Coca-Cola

Effervescent and spicy with notes of cinnamon and lime. It brings a playful, nostalgic sweetness that feels decidedly American yet oddly chic.

Espresso Coffee note image

Espresso Coffee

Specifically the steamed, pressurized bean smell. Energizing and bitter.

Hi-Fi note image

Hi-Fi

Orange and vodka cocktail. Citrusy and spirited.

Cachaça note image

Cachaça

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

Batida note image

Batida

A Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça and fruit juice. It smells sweet, boozy, and tropical—a party in a bottle.

Chinotto note image

Chinotto

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

Kava Drink note image

Kava Drink

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

Lemon Soda note image

Lemon Soda

Sprite/7-Up scent. Fizzy, lime-lemon, and artificial.

Fruit Tea note image

Fruit Tea

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

Hot Chocolate note image

Hot Chocolate

Cocoa and milk. Warm, powdery, and comforting.

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.

Rum note image

Rum

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

Tequila note image

Tequila

Agave spirit. Earthy, alcoholic, and weird.

Wine must note image

Wine must

Freshly crushed grape juice. Sweet and raw.

Cognac note image

Cognac

Aged grape brandy. It smells warm, fruity, woody, and expensive.

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.

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.

Pepperwood™ note image

Pepperwood™

A Givaudan molecule. Spicy, peppery, and fresh like linalool.

Evernyl note image

Evernyl

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

Damascone note image

Damascone

A potent aroma chemical that gives roses their fruity, apple-like jamminess. It smells vibrant and rosy-sweet.

Floratta DNA note image

Floratta DNA

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

Earthy Notes note image

Earthy Notes

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

Earth Tincture note image

Earth Tincture

The smell of freshly turned soil. Rich, dark, and full of geosmin.

Gasoline note image

Gasoline

Chemical, sweet, and volatile. It adds an industrial, addictive edge.

Graphite note image

Graphite

Pencil lead. Grey, mineral, and dry wood.

Eugenol note image

Eugenol

The main component of clove oil. Smells spicy, warm, and medicinal (like a dentist's office).

Dew Drop note image

Dew Drop

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

Dihydromyrcenol note image

Dihydromyrcenol

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

Hair Pomade note image

Hair Pomade

A wax/grease scent. Evokes vintage barbershops and grooming.

Flour note image

Flour

Dusty, starchy, and white. It evokes baking or makeup powder.

Flint note image

Flint

Gunpowder and stone. The smell of sparks striking rock.

Geosmin note image

Geosmin

The smell of earth after rain. Muddy, beet-like, and profoundly natural.

Floralozone note image

Floralozone

A synthetic smelling of fresh air and vague flowers. It lifts a fragrance.

Healingwood note image

Healingwood

A patchouli-based synthetic. It smells woody, lactonic, and clean.

Ambrofix™ note image

Ambrofix™

A sustainable version of Ambroxan, smelling dry, piney, and amber-like. It creates a transparent woody aura that feels very 'now'.

Hedione note image

Hedione

A transparent jasmine note that smells like fresh air. It makes other notes sparkle and project.

Ash note image

Ash

The smell of cold fireplaces and grey residue. It is dry, powdery, and somber, evoking a sense of aftermath.

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.

Icing Pink note image

Icing Pink

The smell of fondant or decorative sugar. Pure, unadulterated sweetness.

Choux Pastry note image

Choux Pastry

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

Apple Pie note image

Apple Pie

Baked apples, cinnamon, and buttery crust. It is a comforting gourmand scent that smells like home and holidays.

Biscuit note image

Biscuit

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

Calissons d'Aix note image

Calissons d'Aix

A French candy made of melon and almond paste. It smells fruity, nutty, and sweet.

Cotton Candy note image

Cotton Candy

Spun sugar. It smells of ethyl maltol—sweet, burnt, and airy.

Bubbaloo note image

Bubbaloo

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

Cacao Butter note image

Cacao Butter

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

Dulce de Leche note image

Dulce de Leche

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

Donut or Doughnut note image

Donut or Doughnut

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

Dragee note image

Dragee

Sugared almonds. It smells of hard candy shells, vanilla, and nuttiness.

Chocolate Fudge note image

Chocolate Fudge

Dense, sugary chocolate. It is heavy, rich, and cloying.

Coconut Powder note image

Coconut Powder

Dry, desiccated coconut. It smells milky but dusty.

Baba (Italian dessert) note image

Baba (Italian dessert)

A yeast cake soaked in rum syrup, smelling boozy and sugary. It’s a sophisticated gourmand treat for adults.

Bubble Gum note image

Bubble Gum

The classic pink smell of tutti-frutti and sugar. It’s playful, young, and nostalgic.

Cereals note image

Cereals

The smell of breakfast grains. Toasty, comforting, and wheaty.

Cheesecake note image

Cheesecake

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

Chantilly Cream note image

Chantilly Cream

Sweet whipped cream. It adds a fluffy, airy vanilla sweetness.

Burnt Sugar note image

Burnt Sugar

Caramel taken too far—bitter, dark, and smoky. It adds depth to sweet scents.

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.

Hiba note image

Hiba

A Japanese cypress. It smells intensely woody, cedar-like, and citrusy.

Pear Tree note image

Pear Tree

Woody and fruit-bearing.

Cascarilla note image

Cascarilla

A bark that smells spicy, woody, and peppery. It adds a dry heat to compositions.

Beech note image

Beech

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

Belambra Tree note image

Belambra Tree

A synthetic wood note by Givaudan that smells dry, amber-like, and sophisticated. It adds modern radiance.

Australian Blue Cypress note image

Australian Blue Cypress

A unique cypress oil that is blue in color and smells woody, smoky, and honeyed. It is complex and smoother than pine.

Ebony Tree note image

Ebony Tree

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

Fir note image

Fir

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

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.

Himalayan Cedar note image

Himalayan Cedar

Cedarwood from the mountains. It smells drier and sweeter than Virginian cedar.

Baobab note image

Baobab

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

Almond tree note image

Almond tree

Focuses on the wood and bark rather than the nut, smelling dry and slightly milky. It offers a solid, comforting base.

Sawdust note image

Sawdust

Freshly cut wood. Dry and powdery.

Thuja note image

Thuja

Arborvitae. Cedar-like and fruity.

Rhizoma Atractylodis note image

Rhizoma Atractylodis

Chinese root. Pungent and earthy.

Selaginella tamariscina note image

Selaginella tamariscina

Spikemoss. Earthy and dry.

Thanaka Wood note image

Thanaka Wood

Burmese cosmetic wood. Sandalwood-like.

Siam Wood note image

Siam Wood

Fokienia. Smells like creamy cedar and rose.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

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

Buxus note image

Buxus

Boxwood, smelling green, woody, and slightly urinous (like cat pee). It smells like a formal French garden.

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.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Datura note image

Datura

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

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

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.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

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

Carissa note image

Carissa

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

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

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

Tangerine Blossom note image

Tangerine Blossom

Sweet white floral.

Lily note image

Lily

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

Belanis note image

Belanis

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

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

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

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.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

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

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.

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.

Ma-Kwaen note image

Ma-Kwaen

A Thai spice (Zanthoxylum). Citrusy and woody pepper.

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.

Green Chilli note image

Green Chilli

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

Basil note image

Basil

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

Green Pepper note image

Green Pepper

Bell pepper. It smells remarkably crunchy, watery, and green.

Bagas de Zimbro note image

Bagas de Zimbro

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

Henna note image

Henna

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

Green Notes note image

Green Notes

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

Cangzhu note image

Cangzhu

A Chinese medicinal root (Atractylodes). It smells spicy, woody, and rooty.

Barley note image

Barley

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

Deer Tongue Grass note image

Deer Tongue Grass

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

Blackberry Leaf note image

Blackberry Leaf

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

Barrenwort note image

Barrenwort

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

Garlic note image

Garlic

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

Coca note image

Coca

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

Keemun Tea note image

Keemun Tea

A Chinese black tea with a wine-like, fruity, and smoky aroma.

Lantana leaf note image

Lantana leaf

Pungent, herbal, and woody. Some find it refreshing; others find it catty.

Behini Tree note image

Behini Tree

A rare Malagasy tree with a green, woody aroma. It smells exotic and unfamiliar to Western noses.

Chuan Xiong note image

Chuan Xiong

Szechuan Lovage. It smells spicy and herbal.

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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.

Pepper note image

Pepper

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

Fennel note image

Fennel

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

Anise note image

Anise

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

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

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

Mustard Seed note image

Mustard Seed

Pungent and sharp. Adds a biting heat.

Coffee Tincture note image

Coffee Tincture

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

Sesame note image

Sesame

Toasted seeds. Nutty, oily, and savory.

Nutmeg note image

Nutmeg

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

Vanilla note image

Vanilla

The real bean is woody, boozy, and spicy. Not just simple sugar.

Star Anise note image

Star Anise

Licorice spice. Sweet, medicinal, and herbal.

Oriental Notes note image

Oriental Notes

A genre of resins, spices, and vanilla. Warm, sensual, and heavy.

Cinnamon note image

Cinnamon

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

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

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

West Indian Bay note image

West Indian Bay

Pimenta racemosa. Clove-like and spicy (Bay Rum).

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

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

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.

Mace note image

Mace

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

Bay Leaf note image

Bay Leaf

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

Timur note image

Timur

Nepalese pepper. Smells of grapefruit and passionfruit.

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.

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.

Coal Tar note image

Coal Tar

Pungent, medicinal, and asphalt-like. It smells like fresh pavement.

Poplar (Populus) Buds note image

Poplar (Populus) Buds

Sticky buds smelling of balsam, honey, and propolis.

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

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

Styrax note image

Styrax

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

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

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

Rubber note image

Rubber

Burnt tires or latex. Industrial and dark.

Estoraque note image

Estoraque

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

Bushman Candle note image

Bushman Candle

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

Choya Loban note image

Choya Loban

Frankincense destructively distilled. It smells intensely smoky and resinous.

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

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

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

A resin from the Mediterranean. Smells distinctively green, piney, and crisp.

Birch Tar note image

Birch Tar

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

Tea Tree Oil note image

Tea Tree Oil

Medicinal and antiseptic. Sharp and clean.

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

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

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.

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.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

The cornerstone of amber accords. It smells leathery, sweet, dirty, and warm all at once.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

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

Cade oil note image

Cade oil

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

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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.

Finger Lime note image

Finger Lime

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

Grapefruit Peel note image

Grapefruit Peel

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

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

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

Clementine note image

Clementine

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

Lime note image

Lime

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

Chen Pi note image

Chen Pi

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

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

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

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

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

Citruses note image

Citruses

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

Green Tangerine note image

Green Tangerine

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

Calamansi note image

Calamansi

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

Kaffir Lime note image

Kaffir Lime

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

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

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

Mandora note image

Mandora

A cross between mandarin and orange. Juicy and sweet.

Tangerine note image

Tangerine

Easy, sweet citrus. Less complex than mandarin.

Lemon note image

Lemon

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

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.

Citron note image

Citron

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

Palestinian Sweet Lime note image

Palestinian Sweet Lime

Limetta. A mild, non-acidic citrus scent.

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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.