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!f
fennel
Description:
aromatic, spicy, herbacous, licorice, bitter
Olfactive Profile:
A herbaceous, soft, aromatic spiciness scent, similar to anise or licorice.
Facts:
Fennel is of course familiar to most of us as a food–but did you know it’s also used in creating absinthe, the no-longer-banned-but-it-still-makes-you-dance-on-tabletops French alcoholic drink?
fig
Description:
fruity, green, lactonic, sulfuric
Olfactive Profile:
Fig offers a fruity green profile reminiscent of peach and sparked with sulfuric accents.
Facts:
Botanically identified as Ficus carica L., it is unique in a genus embracing perhaps over 1,000 species, mostly giant "rubber trees", and mostly tropical. In June 2006, it was reported that figs dating back 11,400 years were discovered at Gilgal I, a village in the Lower Jordan Valley, just 8 miles north of ancient Jericho. This discovery makes figs the oldest domesticated crop.
fig blossom
Description:
sweet, floral, warm, earthy, sensual, honey, spicy
Olfactive Profile:
Fig blossom has a sweet, warm, and slightly earthy floral aroma. It's often described as sensual and has a rich, honey undertone with subtly spicy hints.
Facts:
Fig blossom is the fig tree's flower, a member of the mulberry family native to the Mediterranean region.
fir
Description:
fresh, piney, resinous, coniferous
Olfactive Profile:
Fir is fresh, uplifting, and aromatic.
Facts:
There are 10 species of fir native to North America. Canada balsam is used to mount specimens on glass slides for microscopic examination.
frankincense
Description:
earthy, woody, piney, balsamic, soft, sweet, citrus
Olfactive Profile:
With a sweet, woody and balsamic undertone, Olibanum offers a green, terpenic, citrusy, peppery and resinous profile. Sensual and rich, the note is typically amber
Facts:
The genus Boswellia is used to describe any of the varieties of trees that produce frankincense resin, and is native to the Arabian Peninsula and northeastern Africa. It has been used for a variety of medicinal, ceremonial, and religious purpose for over 5000 years.
freesia
Description:
sweet, floral, warm, earthy, sensual, honey, spicy
Olfactive Profile:
Fig blossom has a sweet, warm, and slightly earthy floral aroma. It's often described as sensual and has a rich, honey undertone with subtly spicy hints.
Facts:
Fig blossom is the fig tree's flower, a member of the mulberry family native to the Mediterranean region.
fruit
Description:
fresh, sweet, tropical, spring, summer, tangy, sharp, citrusy, juicy, crisp, ripe, exotic, musky
Olfactive Profile:
While fruit is a more general fragrance note, many people understand the aroma that the word "fruit" refers to, and it can be a helpful addition to fragrance descriptions. Fruit is often associated with freshness, sweetness, warm climates, tropical weather, and spring and summer abundance. Tangy and sharp notes are commonly associated with citrus fruits, while juicy sweetness is typically attributed to fruits like berries and melons. We call fruits like apples and pears crisp, reminding us of the "snap" sound they make when bitten or broken in two. Tropical fruits like mangos, pineapples, and papaya are sweeter with a distinct musky aroma.
Facts:
Some foods that we typically think of as vegetables, like tomatoes and cucumbers, are actually classified as fruits. It's difficult to determine the exact number of fruit varieties because new fruits are constantly discovered, but there are at least over 2000 different fruits in the world.