Citrus
The earliest notes to evaporate, mostly cold-pressed from peel. They open the story: bright, sharp and brief.
Bergamot
Citrus bergamia
Bright, green citrus with a slight bitterness, between the sharpness of lemon and the rounded sweetness of orange. A faint floral facet may appear. It opens quickly, making the fragrance feel airy and clear before the heart emerges.
Lemon
Citrus limon
Bright, sharp, distinctly tart and clean, with a slightly bitter edge. Imagine a fine streak of sunlight on glass: fresh, dry, vivid and not very sweet. It usually opens quickly, so a base is needed if the citrus impression is to linger.
Juicy Orange
Citrus sinensis
Ripe, sweet, juicy orange, suggesting freshly peeled rind and cool juice. Compared with lemon, orange is rounder and more approachable, with less bite. It brightens the opening and makes it welcoming without necessarily overpowering the other notes.
Yuja
Citrus junos
Closely compared with yuzu: fresh, green, bright citrus with a zesty lemon-mandarin facet. It is sharper and greener than orange, yet may feel softer and more layered than yellow lemon. Keep the name Yuja and do not claim that the two materials are exactly the same.
Mandarin
Citrus reticulata
Ripe, juicy and gentle citrus, sweeter than lemon and sometimes lightly honeyed. It makes the opening round, warm and welcoming, and can connect sharper citrus with florals or woods without making the result too tart.
Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
Lime suggests bright green citrus peel with vivid tartness and a slight bitterness in the zest. It often lifts quickly, adding a crisp edge and clarity to the opening.
Green · Herbal
Leaves, grasses and herbs. Clean, cool and structured, often bridging the opening and the heart.
Green Tea
Camellia sinensis
Light, clean, tranquil green tea; not necessarily astringent. Green tea can soften citrus and open up a sense of space. Describing it as clear or still is often more accurate than comparing it directly to a brewed drink.
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Herbal greenness meets a soft, dry floral character with a faint powdery or tea-like nuance. This note bridges citrus and florals, keeping the composition clean and relaxed without making it sweeter. Describe both its green side and its gentle floral side.
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
A green, dry herb with a clear spicy character and a distinct personality. It gives the composition a neat, slightly sharp outline and livens up its botanical structure; it is not as soft or sweet as a floral note. 'Dry green aromatic leaves with a touch of spice' is an accessible description.
Lemon Verbena
Aloysia citrodora
Lemon verbena suggests bright, fresh citrus peel over a light, dry aromatic leaf quality. Compared with yellow lemon, it is commonly described as softer and more herbal, with less juicy tartness.
Mint
Mentha
Cool aromatic leaves bring a light menthol freshness and gentle herbal sweetness; clean, quick and sharper than apple mint.
Pine Needle
Pinus
Green, dry needles carry a resinous forest character, sometimes with a cool camphor-like edge and a woody undertone.
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Basil suggests fresh, green aromatic leaves with a lightly spicy edge and a softer herbal sweetness underneath. It can enliven citrus while keeping the impression natural and airy.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus globulus
Green leaves feel cool, camphoraceous and mint-like, but drier and more expansive; the impression is open and clear.
Golden Bamboo
Phyllostachys aurea
Golden bamboo suggests a smooth, clear green facet with a poised linear character, alongside the visual image of pale bamboo culms.
Leafy Greens
Fresh young leaves feel green, moist and slightly bitter, like cut stems; crisp and natural, without fruity sweetness.
Carrot Seed
Daucus carota
Not the smell of a fresh carrot. It may have a dry seed-and-root character with earthy, lightly dusty, slightly metallic and herbal facets. It can connect soft florals with a woody or earthy base. 'Dry root' and 'fine dust' are more evocative than 'vegetable-like.'.
Floral
The heart of many collections. From soft white jasmine to powdery iris, flowers give a scent its emotion.
Jasmine
Jasminum
Jasmine has a soft, smooth and diffusive white-floral character, with natural sweetness that gives the floral heart fullness. Depending on the blend, it can lean sheer and lightly powdery or warm with a honeyed nuance; either way, the floral note remains rounded and present.
Ylang-Ylang
Cananga odorata
A soft, warm floral with a faint golden, honeyed quality that makes the floral heart rounder and fuller. At a moderate level it can soften citrus or spice; if too prominent, the floral facet may dominate. '.
Orris Root
Iris pallida, Iris germanica
Fine powder, dry earth and an elegant, classic character; not a juicy fresh flower. Orris creates a soft-dry veil of powder that links florals and woods.
Sun Goddess Rose
Rosa
Sun Goddess Rose suggests a fresh, soft and luminous floral, with smooth petals and gentle sweetness. In the composition, it can make the heart feel softer and fuller while keeping its outline refined.
Orange Blossom
Citrus aurantium
A sweet, soft white floral with a slightly creamy, honeyed quality; warm, familiar and gentler than neroli. It creates a soft, settled impression rather than a bright citrus spark. It can round out the floral heart, but should be balanced to avoid excessive sweetness.
Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Magnolia suggests a soft, rounded floral, sometimes touched by green or bright citrus facets. Its texture can range from airy and smooth to lightly creamy depending on the accord.
Violet
Viola odorata
Violet has a delicate, soft and lightly powdery floral character, sometimes accompanied by a cool green-leaf nuance. It creates a fine, understated powdery layer between florals and woods; the balance of green and powdery facets varies by accord.
White Flowers
White flowers names a floral family rather than one specific species. The direction is often bright, soft and airy; sweetness, creaminess, greenness or a light honeyed quality varies with the blend. Describe the clarity, softness and level of sweetness present in the sample.
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis
A refined, light, clean white floral with a green facet and a dewy impression; pure without being showy. Muguet softens wood without making the composition densely sweet. Words such as 'sheer,' 'clear' and 'clean as dew' are more precise than 'heady white flowers.'.
Apple Blossom
Malus
Apple blossom suggests a delicate, fresh and light floral, possibly with a green or softly honeyed touch. It is distinct from apple fruit; a crisp fruity character should not automatically be assigned to the blossom.
Ginger Flower
Hedychium coronarium
Ginger flower suggests a bright, delicate and tropical floral facet, usually softer in impression than ginger-root spice.
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Carnation suggests a defined floral with green warmth and sometimes a dry spicy accent. It may feel more textured than a sheer white floral, though the level of spice depends on the accord.
Geranium
Pelargonium graveolens
Geranium suggests a fresh green floral-herbal character with a refined rosy facet. It may feel slightly sharp or leafy, giving the floral heart definition rather than sweetness alone.
Freesia
Freesia
Freesia suggests a fresh, clear and airy floral, often with a young green facet and gentle sweetness. Its light, refined character can bridge fruit or leafy notes with the floral heart.
Orchid
Orchidaceae
Orchid is a broad floral direction in perfumery accords and may feel smooth, creamy, powdery or green depending on its construction.
Fruity
Juicy, crisp fruit that adds gentle sweetness and warmth to the first welcome.
Apple
Malus domestica
Apple suggests fresh, crisp and juicy fruit, ranging from lightly tart green apple to softer, sweeter ripe fruit. Variety and blending determine its crispness, tartness and sweetness.
Pear
Pyrus communis
Fresh, juicy, light and clear fruit, with a crisp, delicate quality that is less weighty than deeply ripe fruit. Pear can smooth the citrus layer and connect fruit with florals. Choose 'clear,' 'lightly juicy' or 'crisp' according to what the sample actually shows.
Peach
Prunus persica
Juicy, soft, gently sweet fruit with a slightly creamy or milky quality and a faint powdery nuance; youthful and tender. Compared with sharp citrus or crisp apple, peach feels rounder and softer. '.
Spice
Warm, dry and accented. A touch of spice gives the story rhythm and depth.
Clove
Syzygium aromaticum
Clove suggests a warm, dry and aromatic spice, sometimes with a subtle sweetness. Compared with fresher spices, it often feels deeper and more concentrated, adding definition to the heart or base.
Star Anise
Illicium verum
Star anise suggests a fragrant, warm spice with a sweet anise-like, licorice facet and a distinct lift. In moderation, it adds a bright spicy accent and gives the heart or base more definition.
Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamomum verum
Cinnamon sticks suggest a warm, gently sweet and dry spice with a rounded woody quality. In the base, this facet can lend lingering warmth without requiring a sharp, hot sensation.
Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum
A green, aromatic, gently pungent and fresh spice that adds brightness and liveliness without weighing down the heart. Cardamom can create a distinctive spicy accent; it differs from the darker, sweeter, heavier impression of brown spices.
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans
Nutmeg suggests a warm, dry spice with a gentle sweetness and soft woody nuance. It is often rounder and deeper than a sharp pepper note; powderiness and sweetness vary by blend.
Pink Pepper
Schinus molle
Pink pepper opens with a dry, sparkling and faintly sweet spice, edged with a light citrus nuance. It feels fresh, bright and brisk, less hot than black pepper.
Woody
The backbone of the base. Woods hold the scent, adding a steady, dry and calm feeling.
Patchouli
Pogostemon cablin
Damp earth, moss, old wood or dry leaves, sometimes with balsamic sweetness and a faint incense nuance. Patchouli adds depth and weight, grounds the base, extends the dry-down and balances florals or citrus that feel too light. Describe the contrast: deep earthiness with a trace of resinous sweetness.
Cedarwood
Cedrus
Cedarwood has a dry, clean and linear wood character, with a fine, light texture reminiscent of fresh shavings. It gives the woody body a clear outline and brings floral, citrus or spicy facets into sharper focus.
Vetiver
Chrysopogon zizanioides
A dry, clean rooty-woody direction with earthy facets. In some formulas, vetiver helps define the structure and add depth to the base. Its character can range from dry and airy to deeply earthy depending on the material and blend, so avoid promising a heavy damp-earth smell. It anchors the finish.
Sandalwood
Santalum album
Smooth, warm, slightly creamy wood with a rounded, gentle, skin-close feel. Sandalwood can cushion sharper edges, support the base and connect the layers, leaving the finish smoother and more persistent. 'Creamy smooth wood' is more specific than simply saying 'woody.'.
Birch
Betula
Dry birch wood can suggest smoke, leather and resin; darker and more incisive than creamy, soft woods.
Hinoki Wood
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Dry, bright, clean wood with a trace of green resin, citrus peel and cool mineral facets; not heavy or sweet. Emphasize its quiet, natural character and sense of calm. In the base, Hinoki can create a neat, clear, still finish rather than a dark, dense one.
Cypress Wood
Cupressus sempervirens
Cypress wood suggests a clear green, dry and refined wood with a coniferous freshness. Some accords may add a resinous facet; cypress should not be treated as identical to Hinoki.
Woody Notes
Woody notes are a broad sensory family: they may feel dry and bright, smooth and creamy, or deep and rooty. Describe the texture most apparent in the sample rather than treating every wood as simply warm.
Amber · Musk
A soft, warm foundation. Amber, musk and frankincense make the trail round, smooth and lasting.
Amber
Amber feels warm, resinous and gently sweet, with a smooth texture and balsamic depth. Drier interpretations lean woody and resinous; softer ones feel honeyed, rounded and enveloping.
Musk
Musk feels clean, soft and close to skin; depending on the accord, it can be lightly powdery, smoothly soapy or warm like fabric against the skin. Its trail is gentle, smooth and understated.
Vanilla Blossom
Vanilla planifolia
Vanilla blossom is visualised here as a soft, warm and gently sweet floral, possibly with a light creamy facet. This is the name of a fragrance note; it should not be treated as identical to vanilla fruit or extract.
Frankincense (Olibanum)
Boswellia
Dry, clear, tranquil resin, sometimes with a faint incense or light-smoke facet but not necessarily dense smoke. Frankincense sits in a deep resinous-woody family; in the base it extends the foundation and makes the transition to wood feel more settled.
Marine · Ozonic
Wind, mist and minerals. They open the space up, airy and clear.
Ozone Accord
Ozone is an accord that suggests bright, open and clear air, like a wide sky after rain. It makes the opening feel expansive, light and clean; this is a sensory effect, not a botanical ingredient.
Marine Accord
A marine accord evokes a coastal atmosphere through salty, mineral and open-air facets. It may feel clean, cool and sheer or more humid, soft and deep.
