Fragrance Notes Encyclopedia
Every fragrance is built from named raw materials — here's what they actually are, where they come from, and which of our fragrances feature each one.
Amber
A warm, resinous base note — despite the name, it has nothing to do with fossilized tree resin.
Learn more →Bergamot
A bright, slightly bitter citrus that opens the vast majority of modern fragrances.
Learn more →Black Pepper
A sharp, warming spice note that adds energy and a slightly metallic edge to a composition.
Learn more →Cardamom
A warm, slightly camphorous spice that adds an aromatic lift to both gourmand and woody fragrances.
Learn more →Cedar
A dry, pencil-shaving wood note that gives structure to countless masculine and unisex fragrances.
Learn more →Coconut
A creamy, tropical note that adds warmth and sweetness without being overtly fruity.
Learn more →Frankincense
A resinous, slightly smoky note with deep ceremonial and spiritual associations across cultures.
Learn more →Iris
One of the most expensive raw materials in perfumery, prized for its cool, powdery elegance.
Learn more →Jasmine
An intensely rich white floral considered one of the essential building blocks of perfumery.
Learn more →Lavender
An herbal, slightly sweet note best known from classic barbershop-style fragrances.
Learn more →Leather
A dry, smoky note that evokes tanned hide without using any actual animal material in modern perfumery.
Learn more →Mint
A cooling, fresh note that adds sharpness and energy, most common in lighter daytime fragrances.
Learn more →Musk
A warm, skin-like base note that gives a fragrance its lasting "closeness" to the body.
Learn more →Myrrh
A resinous, slightly bitter note with the same ancient ceremonial pedigree as frankincense.
Learn more →Neroli
A fresh, slightly bitter orange-blossom note that reads as elegant rather than simply "citrusy."
Learn more →Oakmoss
An earthy, forest-floor note historically essential to classic "chypre" perfumery.
Learn more →Oud
A dark, resinous wood note prized as one of the most expensive raw materials in perfumery.
Learn more →Patchouli
An earthy, slightly sweet leaf note that ages beautifully and grows softer over years in the bottle.
Learn more →Rose
The most widely used floral note in perfumery, ranging from bright and dewy to deep and jammy.
Learn more →Saffron
A warm, slightly leathery spice note that adds a golden, luxurious quality to a fragrance.
Learn more →Sandalwood
A creamy, soft wood note long used as both a fragrance ingredient and a carrier oil for attars.
Learn more →Tonka Bean
A warm, almond-like note with a natural sweetness reminiscent of vanilla and fresh hay.
Learn more →Vanilla
A warm, sweet base note that reads as comforting rather than purely gourmand in fine fragrance.
Learn more →Vetiver
An earthy, grounding root note with a cool, green character unlike almost anything else in perfumery.
Learn more →White Musk
A clean, soft, and modern variant of musk associated with freshly laundered fabric.
Learn more →