Perfume Dictionary

A–Z PERFUMERY GLOSSARY (Complete Guide)
A

Accord — A blend of notes that creates a unified, recognisable scent (e.g., “amber accord,” “chypre accord”).
Aldehydes — Bright, sparkling, waxy molecules famously used in Chanel No. 5.
Amber — Warm, sweet, resinous accord (labdanum + benzoin + vanilla, etc.).
Ambergris — Rare marine fixative from sperm whales (mostly replaced by synthetics now).
Ambrette — Natural musk seed with a soft, skin-like scent.
Ambroxan — Extremely popular synthetic amber/musky diffusive note.
Animalic — Notes reminiscent of animal warmth (civet, castoreum, musk).
Anosmia — Inability to smell certain notes (common for musks).
Aromatic — Herbal notes (lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme).
Attar / Ittar — Traditional perfume oils distilled in sandalwood or other natural mediums.

B

Base Notes — The longest-lasting part of a perfume (musk, woods, resins).
Bergamot — Popular citrus top note, fresh & slightly floral.
Benzoin — Warm, vanilla-like resin used as a fixative.
Blooming — How a perfume expands during wear.
Blotter — Paper strip used for smelling/testing fragrances.
Body — The fullness or richness of a perfume’s scent.
Bouquet — A harmonious floral blend.
Boozy Notes — Rum, whiskey, cognac-style olfactory impressions.

C

Civet — Warm animalic note (now synthetic).
Chypre — Classic perfume family: bergamot + oakmoss + labdanum.
Clary Sage — Herbal, aromatic note used in fougères.
Coumarin — Sweet, hay-like note (key in fougères).
Citrus Notes — Lemon, lime, orange, bergamot, mandarin.
Cold Throw — Scent intensity when a product is not burning (used in home fragrance).
Concentration — Strength of fragrance (EDT, EDP, extrait, etc.).
Creamy Notes — Lactonic notes (sandalwood, coconut, milky molecules).

D

Decant — Transferring perfume into small sample bottles.
Diffusion — How far a scent spreads from the wearer.
Drydown — Final stage of the fragrance when only base notes remain.
Dossier — A perfumer’s formula breakdown.
Dolce — Sweet note character.

E

EDP (Eau de Parfum) — 15–25% oil concentration.
EDT (Eau de Toilette) — 5–15% concentration; lighter projection.
Extrait / Perfume Oil — Highest concentration, longest-lasting.
Ester — Fruity odor molecules.
Essential Oils — Natural extracts obtained by distillation.
Earthy Notes — Patchouli, vetiver, geosmin.
Enfleurage — Old extraction method using fats to collect floral scents.

F

Fixative — Ingredient that slows evaporation (musk, amber, resins).
Fougere — Perfume family: lavender + oakmoss + coumarin.
Flanker — Variation of an existing perfume (Dior Sauvage → Sauvage Elixir).
Floral Notes — Rose, jasmine, lily, tuberose, ylang-ylang, etc.
Fragrance Pyramid — Top, middle, base structure.
Fructone — Fruity apple/pear-like molecule.

G

Gourmand — Edible-smelling notes: vanilla, chocolate, caramel.
Galaxolide — Clean laundry-like musk.
Green Notes — Fresh-cut leaf, stem-like scents.
Guaiac Wood — Smoky-sweet wood note.

H

Head Notes — Synonym for top notes.
Hedione — Jasmine-like molecule with airy projection.
Heart Notes — Middle/body notes of the perfume.
Herbaceous — Aromatic green herbs (thyme, basil, rosemary).
Hesperidic — Fragrances dominated by citrus.

I

IFRA — Regulatory body for safe fragrance concentration limits.
Indolic — Animalic nuance found in jasmine, tuberose.
Iso E Super — Smooth, woody molecule with skin-like aura.
Incense / Olibanum — Resinous, smoky frankincense note.

J

Jojoba Oil — Common carrier oil in perfumery.
Jasmine Sambac / Grandiflorum — Two main jasmine varieties used in perfumery.
Juicy Notes — Succulent fruit-like accords.

K

Kashmirwood / Cashmeran — Musky-woody-spicy synthetic note.
Khus — Indian vetiver.
Ketonics — Notes from ketone molecules (often musks).

L

Laconic Notes — Milky, creamy (coconut, lactones).
Layering — Combining fragrances to create custom blends.
Labdanum — Resin creating amber, leathery tones.
Lemon Aldehydes — Long-lasting citrus molecules.
Longevity — How long a perfume lasts on skin.

M

Maceration — Aging perfume for smoother blending.
Middle Notes — The heart of the perfume (florals, spices).
Musk — Soft, skin-like fixative (now synthetic).
Myrrh — Warm, resinous, slightly sweet note.
Macerate Oil Perfume — Letting oils age for deeper scent.

N

Nose — A perfumer.
Notes — Distinct identifiable scent components.
Neroli — Bitter orange blossom distillation.
Niche Perfume — Small-batch artistic fragrances.
Nutty Notes — Almond, hazelnut profiles.

O

Olfactory Pyramid — Top–middle–base structure.
Oriental / Amber Perfumes — Warm, spicy, resinous scents.
Oud / Agarwood — Woody, smoky, resinous luxury material.
Oxidation — Scent change due to air exposure.

P

Projection — How far a scent radiates from the wearer.
Parfum (Extrait) — Highest concentration fragrance.
Patchouli — Earthy, sweet, woody note.
Powdery Notes — Iris, heliotrope, musks.
Petals Accord — Soft floral interpretation.
Perfumer’s Alcohol — Ethanol used for dilution.

Q

Quiet Notes — Subtle, soft molecules (skin-like musks).
Quince Note — Tart fruity accord.

R

Resins — Labdanum, benzoin, myrrh, frankincense—used for warmth & fixing.
Rain / Aquatic Notes — Calone, marine molecules.
Rancio — Aged, leathery quality (used in older chypres).
Rooty Notes — Vetiver, iris root.

S

Sillage — The scent trail left behind when you walk.
Soliflore — A perfume built around one dominant flower.
Smoky Notes — Leather, birch tar, guaiac wood.
Spicy Notes — Cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper.
Synthetic Notes — Lab-created molecules (ambroxan, iso e super).
Sweet Notes — Vanilla, honey, caramel.
Sandalwood — Creamy, warm woody note.

T

Top Notes — First impression (citrus, aromatic, fresh).
Tincture — Natural material soaked in alcohol to extract scent.
Tonka Bean — Sweet, warm, coumarin-rich note.
Tuberose — Strong, creamy floral.
Tobacco Note — Sweet, dry, leafy.

U

Unisex — Fragrances wearable by all genders.
Undertone — Subtle hidden nuance behind dominant notes.
Uplifting Notes — Citrus, mint, fresh aromatics.

V

Vanillic Notes — Vanilla-toned sweetness.
Vetiver — Earthy, woody, smoky grass root note.
Volatility — How fast a note evaporates.

W

Woody Notes — Cedar, sandalwood, oud, guaiac.
White Florals — Jasmine, tuberose, lily, gardenia.
Warm Notes — Amber, spice, vanilla.

X

Xylose / Xylol Notes — Rare, dry, woody molecular notes.
Xeric Notes — Dry desert-like accords.

Y

Ylang–Ylang — Sweet, creamy exotic floral.
Yeasty Notes — Bread-like, sometimes used in gourmand perfumes.

Z

Zesty Notes — Sharp citrus (lime, grapefruit).
Zero-Nose Fatigue — Techniques to avoid olfactory burnout.
Zdravetz — Bulgarian herb note, green & rosy.