List of Perfume Notes

Açai - (ah sigh ee) Brazilian plum-colored berry that grow on palm trees in Central and South America.

Amber - A subtle woody, warm and full-bodied fragrance.

Ambergris - Gray to black waxy concretion found in the intestinal tract of tropical sea sperm whales, used as a fixative.

Ambroxan - A hypoallergenic synthetic form of ambergris. Often used in laundry detergents for it's clean, crisp scent. Common base note, also called Cetalox or Orcanox.

Amyris - Sweet oil from bark of torchwood.

Anise - Masculine licorice scent from seed or dried ripe fruit found in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Apple - Sweet scent of apple.

Apple Blossom - Flower essence from apple tree.

Apricot - Orange-colored, tart fruit, usage includes fruit and oil.

Aquatic Accord - Aquatic notes have a light and clean energy layer with notes like salty ocean water or warm spring rain accords, include cooling aquatic aroma with notes such as water lily or water myacinth.

Arnica - Wolfsbane. Dried flower heads used in astringents, very harmful if ingested. Sweet scent of apple.

Basil - Popular culinary herb from the mint family. Thai basil has a anise or licorice scent.

Bay Oil - Oil of Myrica. Distilled from the leaves of Bayberry (Wax Myrtle; Waxberry; Candleberry.)

Benzoin - Styrax benzoin. Gum Benzoin: The balsamic resin of benzoin, grown in Sumatra, Cochin China, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Bergamot - A light citrus fragrance from the extract of a bergamot orange. Red: Oswego Tea. Pear-shaped orange, oil from rind.

Bitter Almond Oil - Almond Oil. Sweet Almond Oil. Strong almond scent expressed from small sweet almond, grown in Italy, France, and Spain.

Black Currant - European plant that yields hanging yellow flowers and black aromatic fruit; extract from fruit.

Blackberry - Berries, bark and leaves used.

Cabbage Rose - Fragrant garden rose; large and full white or pink flowers growing on upright branches.

Calendula - Flower of pot marigold.

Caramel - Burnt sugar.

Cardamom - Grains of Paradise. A sweet and spicy fragrance similar to ginger. Native to India. From dried, ripe seeds of trees common in India, Ceylon, and Guatamala.

Carnation - Essential oil of clove pink double-flowered variety.

Cascalone - Cascalone® is an aquatic fragrance ingredient created by Firmenich.

Cashmeran - Synthenic polycyclic musk created by IFF in the 1970s. The aroma emulates the scent of deer musk or other animal musks. The woody-musk scent conveys a softness like the feel of cashmere, hence the name.

Cashmere - From keratin fibers found in cashmere wool.

Cassie Flowers - Distilled from flowers.

Cedar - Warm woodsy scent, mild camphor. Distilled oil from fresh leaves and branches of white, red, or various varieties of cedars.

Cetalox - See AMBROXAN.

Chamomile - Powdery daisylike flowers with white and yellow heads, distilled pale-blue essential oil from flower heads.

Cherry Accord - Essential oil cannot be extracted from the fruit, so a syntehic perfume accord is often created with benzaldehyde for it's almond-like scent. Perfume: Black Opium Over Red

Cinnamon Oil - Oil of Cassia. Oil from twigs and leaves of cultivated tree. 80-90 percent cinnamal.

Cistus - See ROCKROSE.

Civet - Perfume fixative. Unctuous secretion from civet cat, between anus and genitalia.

Clary Sage - Perfume fixative. Natural extract of aromatic herb grown in southern Europe (England)

Cloudberry - Similar to a blackberry, described as a cross between redcurrant and raspberry in flavor, cloudberry is an edible fruit from the Rubus chamarmorus, a flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, also known as nordic berry or knotberry. Perfume: Daisy Love

Clove Oil - Strongly irritating to skin. 82-87 percent eugenol.

Cocoa - From ripe and cured kernals from cocoa plant.

Cocoa Butter - Theobroma Oil. Expressed solid fat from roasted cocoa plant seeds.

Coconut - Fruit of the coconut palm.

Coffee Arabica - Extract of coffee plant.

Copaiba Balsam - Transparent, thick, yellow oleoresin; found in Brazil, Colobia, and Venezuela.

Driftwood - Evokes seaside mustiness, a with salty and watery wood tone. Used in men's fragrances and summer inspired perfumes. Perfume: Crab Apple Blossom

Elemi - The spicy, balsam and lemony scent is derived from the sap (oleoresin) of the Manila Elemi tree (Canarium luzonicum) native to the Philippines. Fragrance: Spicebomb

Eucalyptus - A large tree is native to Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands, and genus of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). The herbaceous scent is often good for colds and promotes relaxation. Perfume: Carnal Flower

Fennel - A pereninial herb with feathery leaves and bright yellow flowers. A species of the carrot family, is has mild anise or licorice aroma.

Gentian - A flowering plant with tiny violet flowers. Rarely used in perfumery, the scent is a bitter herbaceous note with a sublte woody undertone.

Guaiac Wood - One of the most resilient and hardest woods, this exotic note used in tobacco and leather scents is obtained from the small guayacan tree found in South America. Perfume: Born In Roma

Hibiscus - A flowering plant from the mallow family (Malvaceae). The showy "rose of sharon" flowers have a sweet floral and slightly fruity tropical fragrance. Perfume: Jimmy Choo L'Eau

Iris / Orris - A flowering perennial plant grown flowering plant with inflorescence blooms shaped like a fan containing one or more symmetrical 6-lobed flowers. Named from the Greek word for rainbow and found in the Northern Hemisphere, predominantly in rocky mountain, dry, semi-desert areas. Used in perfumery, the rhizomes are referred to as orris root with a scent similar to violets, a powdery floral with earthy undertones. Perfume: Shalimar

Jasmine - A sweet fragrance. Essential oil extracted from the jasmine shrub.

Kumquat - Small fruit-bearing tree of the Rutaceae family of citrus native to Southeast Asia. The edible orange-like fruit is about the size of an olive with a sweet and tart flavor. Essential oils are extracted from the fruity rind and white flowers. Fragrance: Coach for Men

Labdanum - A soft pine fragrance. From variety of woody herb, rockroses.

Lavender - A freshing herbaceous floral.

Lemongrass - An invigorating lemon citrus aroma envelopes and stimulates, creating a vibrant, refreshing fragrance.

Lily of the Valley  or  Muguet (French) - A delicate and light sweet fragrance. Native to the Northern Hemisphere or Europe and Asia. Also known as the May Lily, or Our Lady's Tears in Christian legend.

Mandarin - Citrus fragrance from a loose-rinded orange. Yellow to reddish-orange in color, this small orange tree origins can be found in southeastern Asia.

Mariposa - Hedychium coronarium, white ginger lily, is the national flower of Cuba, called the "Butterfly Jasmine" for its jasmine-like honey scent. Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly. Perfume: Brisa Cubana

Marshmallow - A confectionery/candy made from sugar, water, and gelatin whipped to a soft solid consistency with a sweet, vanilla-like scent. The root of the mallow plant, a herb that grows in damp areas like marshes, was boiled with honey to soothe coughs, sore throats, and heal wounds by ancient Egyptians.

Neroli - A very strong and refresshing bittersweet fragrance most widely used in perfumery. Distilled oil from the flowers of a bitter orange tree.

Oakmoss - Sharp pine fragrance. Growth on oak trees.

Orris - See: Iris

Osmanthus - A delicate fruity floral apricot fragrances. The osmanthus flower is native to China.

Patchouli - A distinctive woody fragrance with rich musk note. One of the earthiest essential oils, from mint.

Rockrose - Several plants in the Cistaceae family, mainly from Mediterranean region.

Sandalwood - A soft, sweet and woody fragrance. Used in perfumery, aromatherapy and incense.

Styrax - A woody fragrance. From a small shrub or tree that has fragrant bell-shaped flowers hanging below green foliage.

Tonka Bean - One of the finest notes used in perfume. The dark beans come from the South American tonka tree. The scent is a powdery sweet, rich caramel-like, honey, vanilla aroma. Often used as a base note in fragrances, candles, and bath and body products. Perfume: YSL Caban

Tuberose - A highly fragrant lily-like aroma. This Mexican herb has waxy white flowers that grow in spikes and grasslike leaves.

Vanilla Bourbon - Vanilla beans cultivated on the Bourbon Island of Madagascar. A sweet, creamy, velvety tone. A more intense aroma than Mexican vanilla due to its higher concentration of vanillin.

Vetiver - An earthy, smoky fragrance. Essential oil from an African grass root.

Ylang Ylang - A sweet floral fragrance. Oil from the flowers of the cananga tree. Pronounced "ee-long ee-long".

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View a list and photos of popular Perfume Notes