Fragrance Notes Glossary
Understanding fragrance notes helps you find dupes that truly match. Each note page explains what the ingredient smells like, which scent family it belongs to, and which dupes in our database feature it.
Amber
Amber/OrientalA warm, resinous accord (not a single ingredient) combining vanilla, benzoin, labdanum, and other balsamic notes. Amber...
Ambergris
MuskyA marine, slightly sweet and musky note historically derived from sperm whale secretions. Modern perfumery uses...
Ambroxan
MuskyA synthetic molecule (also called Ambrox) that recreates the warm, musky, woody quality of natural ambergris. Famous as...
Bergamot
CitrusA bright, citrusy top note from the peel of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia). It has a uniquely complex character —...
Cardamom
SpicyA fresh, aromatic spice note with cool, slightly eucalyptus-like qualities. Green cardamom adds an invigorating,...
Cedar
WoodyA dry, woody base note with pencil-shaving warmth and subtle sweetness. Cedarwood (Atlas, Virginia, or Texas varieties)...
Cinnamon
SpicyA warm, sweet-spicy note with familiar baking associations. In perfumery, cinnamon adds fiery warmth and can swing from...
Coffee
GourmandA rich, roasted gourmand note that adds depth, bitterness, and an addictive quality to fragrances. Coffee accords can...
Grapefruit
CitrusA bright, tangy, and slightly bitter citrus top note with an energizing, uplifting quality. Grapefruit adds zesty...
Incense
ResinousA smoky, resinous, and sacred note evoking burning frankincense and myrrh. Incense adds mystical depth and spiritual...
Jasmine
FloralA rich, intensely floral note with sweet, slightly indolic qualities. Jasmine sambac is heavier and more exotic, while...
Lavender
AromaticA fresh, herbaceous note with aromatic, slightly camphoraceous qualities. A foundational ingredient in fougère...
Leather
LeatherA rich, animalic accord recreated through combinations of birch tar, castoreum substitutes, and smoky notes. Leather...
Musk
MuskyA warm, skin-like base note that adds sensuality and longevity to fragrances. Modern perfumery uses synthetic musks...
Orange Blossom
FloralA fresh, sweet floral note from the flowers of bitter orange trees. Closely related to neroli (steam-distilled) and...
Oud
WoodyA dark, complex, resinous note from agarwood (Aquilaria trees infected with a specific mold). One of the most expensive...
Patchouli
WoodyA deep, earthy base note with rich, slightly sweet, and woody-herbaceous qualities. Once associated with 1960s...
Pink Pepper
SpicyA fresh, slightly sweet, and rosy-spicy top note from the berries of Schinus molle. Unlike black pepper's sharp bite,...
Rose
FloralThe quintessential floral note, ranging from fresh and dewy (Bulgarian rose) to rich and honeyed (Turkish rose/Damascus...
Saffron
SpicyA luxurious, spicy-sweet note with leathery, metallic, and slightly medicinal facets. Derived from the stigmas of Crocus...
Sandalwood
WoodyA creamy, warm, and milky woody base note from the heartwood of Santalum trees. Indian (Mysore) sandalwood is the most...
Tobacco
AromaticA warm, sweet, and slightly smoky note evoking dried tobacco leaves. In perfumery, tobacco accords range from honeyed...
Tonka Bean
GourmandA sweet, warm base note with almond-like, vanilla, and hay-like facets. Extracted from the seeds of the Dipteryx odorata...
Vanilla
GourmandA warm, sweet, and comforting base note derived from vanilla beans (Vanilla planifolia). One of the most universally...
Vetiver
WoodyA deep, earthy, smoky base note extracted from the roots of Chrysopogon zizanioides grass. Vetiver is simultaneously...