Fragrance Note Glossary
Deepen your understanding of scent with our fragrance note glossary. Discover the origins, nuances, and profiles of the notes that describe fragrances. Get ready to elevate your candle scent game and impress your friends (maybe?) with your newfound knowledge!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
W
walnut
Description:
gourmand, fruity, nutty, salty, warm
Olfactive Profile:
This gourmand note is reminiscent of a freshly opened walnut. With its rich, warm, salty, and slightly earthy qualities, this walnut is both inviting and comforting.
Facts:
Botanically speaking, the walnut is not actually a true nut but rather the seed of a drupe. People have used pigments derived from walnut husks for centuries to create durable ink; it's even believed that Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt utilized this ink in their works!
watermelon
Description:
fruity, watery, fresh, green, sweet
Olfactive Profile:
Watermelon notes are fresh, fruity, watery, green, and slightly sweet. Often used in tropical and summertime fragrances, this note illustrates the experience of slicing through a perfectly ripe, crisp fruit and elicits memories of carefree summer days.
Facts:
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant that originated in northeast Africa. Egyptian tomb paintings indicate that watermelons were eaten in the Nile Valley as a dessert over 4,000 years ago.
whiskey
Description:
gourmand, bitter, dry, clean, subtle, heavy, smooth, creamy, rich, earthy
Olfactive Profile:
Whiskey has a dry yet smooth and creamy aroma. Often described as smokey, gourmand, and woody, this note adds a mature touch to fragrances and often evokes memories of leisure and celebration.
Facts:
The parallels between whiskey and fragrance are plentiful. Whiskey distillers use aromatic notes to convey a concept; you'll see many of the same notes, like woody, fruity, and floral, in the fragrance world! Tasting wheels—similar to our Fragrance Wheel—are employed for evaluation and pairing whiskies with meals or experiences.
white chocolate
Description:
creamy, milky, sweet, gourmand, smooth, vanilla
Olfactive Profile:
White chocolate has a sweet, milky, gourmand aroma with hints of smooth vanilla.
Facts:
White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids. However, it's not technically chocolate because it does not contain cocoa particles.
white tea
Description:
crisp, watery, floral, acidic, fruity, peach, melon, apple, pear
Olfactive Profile:
With a watery and subtle aroma that's both smooth and refreshing, this light floral note exudes spa-like luxury.
Facts:
White tea is made from the youngest tea leaves and buds, which are picked before they fully open. This tea variety requires a high level of expertise to process, and it is only harvested for a short period each year. As a result, white tea is often considered a luxurious, opulent variety.
white wine
Description:
crisp, watery, floral, acidic, fruity, peach, melon, apple, pear
Olfactive Profile:
Aromas of white wine include citrus, peaches, apples, pears, and melons. A balanced and fruity floral, it can also have crisp aromatic elements.
Facts:
White wine is made with green or yellow grapes, which are the grapes that have not had a chance to fully ripen.
wood
Description:
creamy, dry, earthy, long-lasting, rich, sensual, smoky, warm
Olfactive Profile:
Woods can be subtle or rich, dry or wet, soft or strong. These textures bring elegance, structure and character to fragances.
Facts:
Sensual, warm, and earthy wood textures were traditionally masculine, but modern fragrance houses utilize them in various fragrances to add sophisticated intrigue and evoke feelings of nature. Sandalwood, cedar, pine, and vetiver are a few typical woody notes, but they all feature different olfactive qualities.