Fragrance Ingredient Glossary

Key molecule derived from ambergris. Used in Dior Sauvage and many modern fragrances. Warm, woody, amber character with excellent longevity.

Cold-pressed essential oil from Calabria, Italy. The defining note of Earl Grey tea. Fresh, bright, slightly floral citrus used in almost every cologne.

Warm, musky, woody molecule with a velvety, cashmere-like softness. Created by IFF. Found in Donna Karan Cashmere Mist.

Sweet, hay-like, vanilla-adjacent molecule. Originally found in tonka beans. One of the most widely used materials in perfumery since Fougère Royale (1882).

Ancient resin from Boswellia trees, sourced primarily from Somalia and Oman. Sacred, smoky, balsamic character used in incense and luxury fragrances.

Essential oil from Egypt and Réunion. Rosy, minty, green character. A perfumer's rose substitute that adds natural freshness to compositions.

Revolutionary jasmine molecule created by Firmenich. Used in Eau Sauvage (1966). Transparent, radiant floral with diffusive properties.

Smooth, velvety cedar-like molecule. The sole ingredient in Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules. Adds woody warmth and skin-scent quality.

Extracted from Jasminum grandiflorum flowers, primarily from Grasse and India. Rich, sensual, indolic floral. One of the most expensive natural ingredients.

Essential oil from Lavandula angustifolia, primarily from France and Bulgaria. Clean, herbal, calming character. Foundation of fougère fragrances.

Various synthetic musks (Galaxolide, Habanolide, Ethylene Brassylate) replaced animal-derived musk. Soft, clean, skin-like character essential to modern perfumery.

Resinous heartwood from infected Aquilaria trees. The most expensive natural fragrance material ($28,500/kg). Rich, complex, smoky, leather-like character central to Middle Eastern perfumery.

Essential oil from Indonesian patchouli leaves. Dark, earthy, rich character. Essential base note that improves with age. Key to chypre and oriental compositions.

Extracted from Rosa damascena (Turkey, Bulgaria) or Rosa centifolia (Grasse). The queen of flowers in perfumery. Rich, honeyed, complex floral.

Precious oil from Santalum album (India) and Santalum spicatum (Australia). Creamy, warm, milky woody character with exceptional longevity.

From Dipteryx odorata trees in Venezuela and Brazil. Rich coumarin-laden aroma: vanilla, caramel, almond, and warm hay character.

Essential oil from vetiver grass roots, sourced from Haiti, Java, and Réunion. Earthy, smoky, woody-green character. Haiti supply chain is currently critical.