Encyclopedia
Fragrance Ingredients
Understanding what goes into a fragrance changes the way you experience it. Explore our curated visual library of raw materials, from origin and extraction to their distinct olfactory profiles.
Note Families
CitrusBright, zesty, and energizing. Citrus notes bring freshness and lift.
FloralsThe heart of classic perfumery. From delicate rose to heady jasmine.
WoodsWarm, grounding, and sophisticated. The backbone of countless fragrances.
SpicesWarm, exotic, and complex. Spice notes add intrigue and depth.
GourmandSweet, edible, and comforting. Think vanilla, chocolate, and caramel.
AnimalicSkin-like, warm, and intimate. The notes that make fragrance feel alive.
GreenFresh, leafy, and natural. The smell of freshly cut grass and crushed leaves.
AquaticClean, oceanic, and airy. The scent of sea breeze and fresh rain.
FruityJuicy, sweet, and vibrant. From crisp apple to rich plum and berries.
AromaticFresh, herbal, and invigorating. The backbone of classic colognes and fougères.
LeatherRich, smoky, and sophisticated. Can range from soft suede to dark, birch-tar leather.
AldehydicSparkling, soapy, and abstract. Synthetic compounds that give fragrance lift and brightness.
Ingredient Directory
"Fresh Air" accordsAldehydic • Modern/Ozone
Absinthe/WormwoodAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
AkigalawoodWoods • Synthetics/Aroma Chemicals
AlmondGourmand • Nuts
Aloe VeraGreen • Grasses/Stems
AmarettoGourmand • Beverage/Rich
AmbergrisAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
AmbrettolideAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
AmbroxanAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
AngelicaGreen • Grasses/Stems
Apple (Green, Red)Fruity • Orchard
ApricotFruity • Orchard
BambooWoods • Classic/Smooth
BananaFruity • Tropical
BasilAromatic • Herbal
BeeswaxAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
Bell PepperGreen • Vegetal
BergamotCitrus • Core
Bergamot LeafCitrus • Crossover (Citrus-Floral/Woody)
Birch TarLeather • Classic Leathers
Birch WoodWoods • Resinous/Dry
Bitter OrangeCitrus • Core
Black PepperSpices • Fresh/Sharp
BlackberryFruity • Berries
Blackcurrant (Cassis)Fruity • Berries
Blackcurrant LeafGreen • Leaves/Foliage
Blood OrangeCitrus • Exotic/Niche
BlueberryFruity • Berries
Broom (Genêt)Florals • Exotic/Yellow
Brown SugarGourmand • Confectionery
BubblegumGourmand • Confectionery
ButterGourmand • Dairy/Lactonic
ButterscotchGourmand • Confectionery
C-10Aldehydic • Classic Aliphatic Aldehydes
C-11Aldehydic • Classic Aliphatic Aldehydes
C-12 (Lauric, MNA)Aldehydic • Classic Aliphatic Aldehydes
C-8Aldehydic • Classic Aliphatic Aldehydes
C-9Aldehydic • Classic Aliphatic Aldehydes
Cacao/Dark ChocolateGourmand • Beverage/Rich
CactusGreen • Grasses/Stems
Cade OilLeather • Classic Leathers
CalamansiCitrus • Exotic/Niche
CaloneAquatic • Synthetics
CamphorAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
CantaloupeFruity • Melons
CaramelGourmand • Confectionery
CarawaySpices • Earthy/Savory
CardamomSpices • Warm/Sweet
CarnationFlorals • Rose & Powdery
CascaloneAquatic • Synthetics
CashmeranWoods • Synthetics/Aroma Chemicals
CastoreumAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
Castoreum (has a heavy leather profile)Leather • Animalic Leathers
Cedarwood (Atlas, Virginia, Texas)Woods • Classic/Smooth
CetaloxAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
ChampacaFlorals • Exotic/Yellow
CherryFruity • Other
ChestnutGourmand • Nuts
ChinottoCitrus • Exotic/Niche
CinnamonSpices • Warm/Sweet
CitronCitrus • Exotic/Niche
CivetAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
CivetoneAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
Clary SageAromatic • Herbal
Clean Linen accordsAldehydic • Modern/Ozone
ClearwoodWoods • Synthetics/Aroma Chemicals
ClementineCitrus • Core
CloveSpices • Warm/Sweet
CoconutFruity • Tropical
CoffeeGourmand • Beverage/Rich
CognacGourmand • Beverage/Rich
Condensed MilkGourmand • Dairy/Lactonic
CorianderSpices • Fresh/Sharp
CostusAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
Cotton Candy (Ethyl Maltol)Gourmand • Confectionery
CoumarinAromatic • Fougère Staples
CranberryFruity • Berries
CreamGourmand • Dairy/Lactonic
CucumberGreen • Vegetal
CuminSpices • Earthy/Savory
Cumin (animalic facet)Animalic • Sweaty/Intimate Accords
Cut GrassGreen • Grasses/Stems
CyclamenFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
CypressWoods • Resinous/Dry
Dew DropsAquatic • Fresh/Rain
DillAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
DriftwoodAquatic • Marine/Oceanic
EucalyptusAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
FennelAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
FenugreekSpices • Earthy/Savory
Fern accordAromatic • Fougère Staples
FigFruity • Orchard
Fig LeafGreen • Leaves/Foliage
Fir BalsamWoods • Resinous/Dry
Floral OzoneAldehydic • Modern/Ozone
FrangipaniFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
FreesiaFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
GalaxolideAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
GalbanumGreen • Leaves/Foliage
GardeniaFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
GeraniumFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
GingerSpices • Fresh/Sharp
Goji BerryFruity • Berries
Grapefruit (Pink and White)Citrus • Core
GrapesFruity • Other
Guaiac WoodWoods • Earthy/Smoky
GuavaFruity • Tropical
HazelnutGourmand • Nuts
HeliotropeFlorals • Rose & Powdery
HinokiWoods • Resinous/Dry
HoneyGourmand • Confectionery
HoneydewFruity • Melons
HyacinthFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
HyraceumAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
Indole (heavy white floral decay)Animalic • Sweaty/Intimate Accords
Iris/Orris RootFlorals • Rose & Powdery
Iso E SuperWoods • Synthetics/Aroma Chemicals
Isobutyl Quinoline (synthetic leather)Leather • Classic Leathers
IvyGreen • Leaves/Foliage
Jasmine (Sambac and Grandiflorum)Florals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
Juniper WoodWoods • Resinous/Dry
KelpAquatic • Marine/Oceanic
KumquatCitrus • Exotic/Niche
Labdanum/CistusLeather • Smooth/Suede
LavenderAromatic • Herbal
LemonCitrus • Core
Lemon VerbenaCitrus • Crossover (Citrus-Floral/Woody)
LemongrassCitrus • Crossover (Citrus-Floral/Woody)
LilacFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
LilyFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
Lily of the Valley (Muguet)Florals • Fresh/Green Florals
LimeCitrus • Core
LotusFlorals • Fresh/Green Florals
LycheeFruity • Tropical
MaceSpices • Warm/Sweet
MagnoliaFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
MahoganyWoods • Classic/Smooth
MandarinCitrus • Core
MangoFruity • Tropical
Maple SyrupGourmand • Confectionery
MarshmallowGourmand • Confectionery
MelonalAquatic • Synthetics
Metallic notesAldehydic • Modern/Ozone
MilkGourmand • Dairy/Lactonic
MimosaFlorals • Exotic/Yellow
Mint (Peppermint, Spearmint)Aromatic • Herbal
MusconeAnimalic • Synthetic Musks
MuskAnimalic • Natural Extract Equivalents
NectarineFruity • Orchard
NeroliCitrus • Crossover (Citrus-Floral/Woody)
NorlimbanolWoods • Synthetics/Aroma Chemicals
NutmegSpices • Warm/Sweet
OakmossWoods • Resinous/Dry
Orange BlossomFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
OreganoAromatic • Herbal
OsmanthusFlorals • Exotic/Yellow
Oud (Agarwood)Woods • Earthy/Smoky
Oud (leathery facets)Leather • Animalic Leathers
PapayaFruity • Tropical
PapyrusGreen • Grasses/Stems
PassionfruitFruity • Tropical
PatchouliWoods • Earthy/Smoky
PeachFruity • Orchard
PeanutGourmand • Nuts
PearFruity • Orchard
PeonyFlorals • Rose & Powdery
PetitgrainCitrus • Crossover (Citrus-Floral/Woody)
Petrichor (smell of rain on earth)Aquatic • Fresh/Rain
PimentoSpices • Earthy/Savory
PineWoods • Resinous/Dry
PineappleFruity • Tropical
Pink PepperSpices • Fresh/Sharp
PistachioGourmand • Nuts
PlumFruity • Orchard
PomegranateFruity • Other
PomeloCitrus • Exotic/Niche
PralineGourmand • Confectionery
RainwaterAquatic • Fresh/Rain
RaspberryFruity • Berries
RhubarbGreen • Vegetal
Rhubarb (fruity facet)Fruity • Other
Rose (Damask, Centifolia/May Rose)Florals • Rose & Powdery
RosemaryAromatic • Herbal
RosewoodWoods • Classic/Smooth
RumGourmand • Beverage/Rich
SaffronSpices • Warm/Sweet
Saffron (leathery facet)Leather • Smooth/Suede
SageAromatic • Herbal
SandAquatic • Marine/Oceanic
SandalwoodWoods • Classic/Smooth
Sea Water/SaltAquatic • Marine/Oceanic
SeaweedAquatic • Marine/Oceanic
SesameSpices • Earthy/Savory
ShisoGreen • Leaves/Foliage
Star AniseSpices • Warm/Sweet
StrawberryFruity • Berries
StyraxLeather • Classic Leathers
SuedeLeather • Smooth/Suede
Sweet OrangeCitrus • Core
TangerineCitrus • Core
TarragonAromatic • Earthy/Medicinal
Tea (Black, Matcha, Earl Grey, Chai)Gourmand • Beverage/Rich
Tea Leaves (Green, White, Mate)Green • Leaves/Foliage
ThymeAromatic • Herbal
Tiare FlowerFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
Tomato LeafGreen • Leaves/Foliage
Tonka BeanSpices • Warm/Sweet
TruffleAnimalic • Sweaty/Intimate Accords
TuberoseFlorals • White Florals (Indolic/Heady)
VanillaSpices • Warm/Sweet
Vetiver (Haitian, Bourbon)Woods • Earthy/Smoky
VioletFlorals • Rose & Powdery
Violet LeafGreen • Leaves/Foliage
WalnutGourmand • Nuts
Water LilyAquatic • Fresh/Rain
WatermelonFruity • Melons
White ChocolateGourmand • Beverage/Rich
White PepperSpices • Fresh/Sharp
Ylang-YlangFlorals • Exotic/Yellow
YuzuCitrus • Exotic/Niche