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
O
oak
Description:
woody, dry, smoky, warm
Olfactive Profile:
Oak is woody, dry, and smoky scent that adds a comforting vanilla-like warmth to fragrances.
Facts:
Oak barrels are commonly used in the production of various beverages. Oak contains vanillin, lactones, and tannins that can give wine and whiskey notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted nuts, as well as a subtle smokiness or spiciness.
oakmoss
Description:
mossy, earthy, marine, green, musky
Olfactive Profile:
Oakmoss is woody, mossy, slightly sweet, and long-lasting, with a distinct marine seaweed facet.
Facts:
Despite its name, oakmoss is not actually a moss but a type of lichen found in many different regions around the world.
orange
Description:
citrus, bright, zesty, juicy, fruity
Olfactive Profile:
Fresh and tangy orange has a bright, citrusy, and sweet aroma. It's often associated with cleanliness, and many find the scent of orange to be uplifting and refreshing.
Facts:
Citrus fruits like oranges contain small pockets of liquid which burst upon contact, releasing a jet of strong-smelling oil into the air. This phenomenon attracts animals that help spread the seeds of the fruit as far as possible.
orange blossom
Description:
green, floral, sweet, fruity, petal, white floral
Olfactive Profile:
The aroma of orange blossom is sweet and delicate with a hint of citrus.
Facts:
When spring arrives, you can see orange blossoms in abundance around the Mediterranean Sea, from Italy to Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia.
orange peel
Description:
citrus, zesty, acidic, bitter
Olfactive Profile:
Orange peel is fresh, tangy, slightly bitter, and citrusy.
Facts:
Orange peel contains more vitamin C than the flesh of the orange itself.
oud
Description:
woody, ambery, leathery, animalic, smoky, earthy, musky
Olfactive Profile:
Oud is rich, complex, and extremely long-lasting. Warm amber tones combine with spicy, animalic, and leather qualities, resulting in a sensual, woody, and slightly musky scent.
Facts:
Oud, also known as agarwood or aloeswood, is obtained from the Aquilaria tree, native to Southeast Asia, India, and Bangladesh. When the Aquilaria tree becomes infected with a certain type of mold, it produces a resinous substance that changes the composition of the wood and gives it a distinctive aroma.
ozone
Description:
ozonic, fresh, watery, clean
Olfactive Profile:
Ozone notes add the freshness of water, with the feeling of electric charge in the air. Ozone can smell watery, with sweet fresh melon notes and floral undertones. It brings intense and lasting freshness as well as cleanliness to fragrances.
Facts:
You know the smell of rainstorms in the distance? That’s ozone. Lightning can split nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere, which later form ozone. Ozone has a distinct smell that’s often described as clean, sharp, and vaguely similar to chlorine.