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
S
saffron
Description:
aromatic, rich, warm, spicy, soft, leathery, woody, floral
Olfactive Profile:
Saffron has a distinct aroma often described as floral, warm, and spicy with undertones similar to hay. It has honey tones and a slight metallic quality that some describe as bitter.
Facts:
Saffron is one of the most ancient perfume ingredients, popular in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It was often used as a single note perfume, as well as in more complex blends.
sage
Description:
herbal, camphorous, rosemary
Olfactive Profile:
Sage is herbal and camphorous with subtle fruity and spicy undertones similar to rosemary.
Facts:
Sage is an aromatic plant native to the Mediterranean region and widely used in Mediterranean cuisine for its unique camphorated taste.
sandalwood
Description:
woody, creamy, sweet, balsamic, cedar, warm, spicy
Olfactive Profile:
Sandalwood has a rich wood tonality with soft, creamy, and sweet accents. Its creamy and woody character brings roundness and sensuality to fragrance blends.
Facts:
The earliest records of sandalwood in Ayurvedic texts are estimated to date back as far as 500 BCE, making sandalwood oil one of the most ancient fragrance ingredients still used today.
sea salt
Description:
marine, oceanic, aromatic, watery, salty
Olfactive Profile:
Sea salt combines airy, salty, watery, and oceanic notes and evokes the feeling of refreshing oceanside salt air.
Facts:
Most people agree that time on the beach boosts their mood, and salt air may be a factor. Sea salt in the water charges the oceanside air with negative ions, which are thought to positively impact mood and energy. So if you're someone who just loves the beach, salty air could be a contributing factor!
shea
Description:
creamy, vanilla, gourmand, sweet, buttery
Olfactive Profile:
Creamy and buttery, shea notes are slightly sweet with hints of vanilla.
Facts:
Famously beloved by Cleopatra, shea butter is made from the Shea tree nut, native to West Africa.
smoke
Description:
smoky, woody, warm, dry
Olfactive Profile:
Smoke notes exude the resinous, woody, smoldering warmth of glimmering coals.
Facts:
Smoke notes are often used to evoke nostalgia, like sitting fireside in a cabin or gathering with friends around a firepit or a campfire.
spearmint
Description:
minty, aromatic, herbaceous, sweet, fresh, sharp
Olfactive Profile:
Spearmint has a pleasant aromatic, sweet and minty facet. It brings freshness and uplifting characteristics to a fragrance.
Facts:
Peppermint has a stronger, more intense flavor than spearmint, which has a slightly sweeter taste and a more subtle cooling effect.
spice
Description:
cold, warm, effervescent, intense, vibrant
Olfactive Profile:
Spice a vibrant blend of warm and cold spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon and pink pepper. A touch of spice is enough to ensure the originality of a fragrance.
Facts:
The flavor and aroma of many spices is enhanced by heat because it helps release their oils, so many chefs toast or roast them before adding them to a dish.
spruce
Description:
woody, balsamic, fir, green, resinous, spicy, leathery, warm, fresh
Olfactive Profile:
Spruce has a woody, resinous and fresh green scent. It brings warmth and balsamic facets to a fragrance.
Facts:
Spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree belonging to the Pinaceae, or pine, family. Most species of spruce grow 60 to 200 feet tall.
strawberry
Description:
fruity, red fruit, fresh, juicy, sweet
Olfactive Profile:
Strawberry has a juicy, fruity gourmand signature with a fresh sweetness reminiscent of summertime.
Facts:
Despite their name, Strawberries are not true berries. Instead, a strawberry is an aggregate fruit made up of multiple achenes, each of which has a seed on the outside. Other fruits like raspberries, blackberries, and boysenberries are also aggregate fruits.
sugar
Description:
sweet, gourmand, sugary, powdery
Olfactive Profile:
The scent of sugar is sweet and gourmand with characteristics similar to caramel.
Facts:
The amounts and types of sugars plants produce vary based on climate, soil type, and genetics. Some plants are known for their sugar production, such as sugarcane, sugar beets, maple trees (for maple syrup), and agave plants (for agave nectar).