Perfume Ingredients: The Encyclopedia.
A Perfume is made up of different fragrance ingredients. You cannot smell these at the same time, this is because a perfume is made up of different layers: the top notes, heart notes and base notes. These nuts consist of combinations of ingredients: these are the most common.
Aldehyde C12 Lauric
A synthetic top note that enhances the "power" of a fragrance; especially the floral and spicy notes.
Aldehyde C14
This fruity heart note will remind you of apricot and nectarine blossoms or the wax of a candle. It is a fruity ingredient associated with more recent perfumes.
Aldehyde C16
A synthetic fruity top note that mimics the scent of strawberries and other red fruits.
Allyl Amyl Glycolate
A fruity, exotic top note reminiscent of the scent of pineapple. These ingredients mix a perfect cocktail with mango and passion fruit and give you the real summer atmosphere.
Ambroxan
A good imitation of amberwood and has exactly the same musky, woody, spicy and leathery properties. It is a base note that combines well with oriental and floral scents.
Anethole
This aromatic, aniseed top note is masculine and fresh.
Bergamot
A citrusy top note that comes from citrus fruits grown mainly in Italy. This note smells of lavender, spices and wood. It's a fresh ingredient that reminds you of earl grey.
Calone
An aquatic heart note that will remind you a fresh, salty sea breeze. This iconic fresh scent will feel very familiar as it is used in fresh and airy scents such as Acqua di Gio and Davidoff Cool Water. Since the discovery of this molecule in 1966, it has taken a very prominent place in the perfume landscape.
Cardamom
This spicy heart note, which is fruity and citrusy, has a strong scent with leathery and balsamic notes.
Cedarwood
A leathery, dry woody base note reminiscent of a pencil sharpening. The scent may differ depending on the origin. The Virginia extract is most commonly used in perfumery.
Cinnamon
A spicy heart note with traces of leather and wood. Cinnamon is a classic spicy ingredient that gives a warm note to the perfume.
Cis-3-hexenol
This is a green top note that smells exactly like freshly cut grass. This iconic molecule is very common for plant, leaf and grass scents.
Coumarine
As far back as 1860, they discovered this almond or marzipan-like ingredient hidden in the tonka bean. This ingredient has been used in "Fougere" fragrances as a base note for over 150 years.
Dihydromyrcenol
Masculine "Fougere" fragrances most likely have this aromatic top note ingredient in their formulas. Its fresh and clean, ozone-like scent makes it perfect for shower gels, deodorants and other personal care products.
Ethyl Linalool
This floral heart note resembles aromatic lavender, spicy coriander and citrusy bergamot.
Floralozone
An aquatic heart note that contains floral ingredients without being too salty.
Galaxolide
This musky base note is not too strong but is very long lasting. Therefore, it is a universally used ingredient that is easy to use due to its soft, creamy, cotton-like properties.
Geraniol
This is actually part of the rose, and is a synthetic heart note that is fresh and a little spicy.
Geranium
A floral heart note known as a masculine rose note. As this ingredient is extracted from the leaves, it has green and aromatic accents.
Hedione
This floral heart note was first synthesized in 1962 and will remind you of jasmine tea. It smells very lightly of lemon and fresh flowers and is used in airy fragrances.
Ionone-alpha
The scent of sweet, ambery woods is represented in this powdery heart note. A floral twist is common in combination with rose and iris. It belongs to a family of ingredients often associated with vintage cosmetics and the smell of talcum powder.
Iso E Super
A woody base note that induces a comforting softness with its spicy yet fresh sawn pine. No wonder it is often associated with the smell of a warm sauna.
Jasmine
This spicy, exotic, fruity, floral heart note is one of the most used flowers in perfumery and smells like a blooming flower.
Labdanum
An amber base note with a very balsamic and animalic scent.
Lavandin
Closely related to lavender, but a fresher, more aromatic, spicy, minty and sweeter ingredient.
Lemon
A more sharp, lively, fresh, green citrus top note that gives a kick to the perfume.
Lilial
A synthetic ingredient that gives an airy, fresh and subtle floral or cotton-like scent to the perfume.
Mandarin oil
This fruity, candy-like citrus top note is the fruitiest citrus you can get.
Maltol
The sweet smell of candy and sugar, but leathery due to the "burnt" character. This base note is a great substitute for vanniline.
Neroli
Neroli is a common floral heart note obtained after distilling orange blossom. It is citrusy, green and sweet.
Orange
A more sweet and juicy citrus note.
Patchouli
This icon was born in the 1970s and is still doing very well today. This mossy base note smells of dry moss, tobacco and cocoa. In perfumery it is called "Chypre" and it is extracted from the leaves of an Indonesian shrub. It's oriental, yet deeply dark and sensual and blends perfectly with vanilla.
Peppermint
You will recognize this immediately. It smells perfectly fresh and clean and is the ingredient that makes your toothpaste smell like toothpaste. It is an uplifting, masculine and recognizable aromatic top note.
Petitgrain
Another citrus top note, but more bitter because it is extracted from the leaves of an orange tree.
Pink Peppercorn
A spicy top note that makes the fragrance fresh and fruity. It is a great ingredient to spice up a floral perfume.
Polysantol
This woody base note is the synthetic substitute for sandalwood. It is equally woody, spicy and creamy and goes perfectly with floral, spicy and leathery notes.
Prunolide
A fruity heart note that reminds you of the scent of a coconut. This ingredient is used in sunscreen to give it the holiday and beachy scent.
Rose
Everyone loves the scent of Rose. This commonly used floral heart note is the queen of all flowers and smells green, sweet, fruity, woody and spicy.
Rosemary
This aromatic top note has a masculine character and is spicy, minty and green.
Stemone
A green top note that smells like tomato leaves and has a fruity accent.
Undecavertol
This synthetic green top note smells fresh of cucumber, water and leaves.
Vanillin
We're sure you'll love this one. These base notes are reminiscent of ice cream and white chocolate. Vanillin is not exactly the same as the natural extract vanilla, but is even more pure and milky.
Vetiver
A woody base note that smells of leather, smoke and walnut. It is extracted from a carrot and combines very well with spicy and citrus notes.
Ylang Ylang
A floral heart note known as the "jasmine of the poor". It is spicy and exotic and is often used in sunscreen for use at the beach.