The world of perfume is filled with lots of wonderful, if not slightly, peculiar words you won’t find anywhere else. So, if you struggle to understand precisely what you’re reading when looking for a new perfume, we’re here to help. We’ve decoded some of the most common terms and compiled them in our fragrance glossary so you can make expert decisions when searching for your next scent.
ACCORD
An accord comprises multiple fragrance materials, usually between 6 and 8 components, to create a distinctive scent. An accord is often considered the focal point of any great perfume and is the work of skilled perfumers. An example of an accord is a ‘green accord’ made up from various leaves and grasses or the playful ‘mojito accord’, formed of mint, lime, sugar and rum notes.
AFTERSHAVE
Aftershave is usually found in splash form rather than a spray, making it easier to apply to the face. Aftershave typically contains around 3% fragrance concentration and will last on the skin for roughly 3 hours. In addition, its alcohol content helps close pores and stimulates the skin after a shave.
Aftershave Balm
Aftershave balm is a gentle moisturising product, with a creamy consistency, for the face, which soothes and calms the skin after shaving.
Anosmia
Anosmia is the total, or partial, loss of your sense of smell.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing therapy that uses natural plant extracts to promote positive health and wellbeing.
Aroma chemicals
Aroma chemicals are volatile molecules that are obtained from naturally sourced products, or synthetically created, that have their own aroma.
Base notes
Base notes are the most memorable fragrance tones that can be smelt once a scent has settled on the skin. Base notes are often distinctive, long-lasting and can determine the character of a perfume.
Body Notes
Also known as the heart or middle notes of the fragrance: this is the perfume’s dominant scent.
Body Lines
Body lines are complementary products that feature the same aroma as fragrances and include shower gels, body lotions, body oils and balms. Layering body products over the top of their matching fragrance will help the scent last longer on the skin.
BODY MIST
A body mistis a light fragrance with a very low concentration of fragrant compounds. They are suitable for everyday wear, but due to their high alcohol content, they would need topping up throughout the day.
Chypre
Chypreis a popular fragrance family which features aromatic, woody, and earthy notes, including bergamot, jasmine, rose, patchouli and tree moss. An example of a popular chypre scent is CK One by Calvin Klein.
Civet
Civetis a scented musk extracted from the odorous sacs of a civet (an exotic cat), but it is now commonly replicated synthetically due to ethical reasons. On its own, the aroma of civet is very unpleasant, but when it is diluted with other perfume ingredients, it can become warm and radiant.
Citrus
The citrus fragrance family offers fresh and fruity scents with zesty notes of lemon, lime and orange. They are a great choice to wear every day and can be worn all year round. A popular citrus fragrance is Citrus Fresco by The Perfume Edit.
DRY DOWN
dry down of a fragrance can be smelt on the skin once the top and heart notes dissipate. Therefore, it is important when testing perfumes to allow the ‘dry down’ to come through, which can take around 30 minutes, so that you can enjoy the full fragrance profile.
Eau de cologne (EDC)
An Eau de Cologne is a light fragrance that contains around 2-5% aromatic compounds. All male fragrances are often referred to as a ‘cologne’, but the strengths will differ, and they may not fall into the weaker ‘Eau de Cologne’ category. They are suitable for everyday wear but may need topping up as they generally last 2-3 hours on the skin.
Eau de parfum (EDP)
An Eau de Parfum, commonly known as EDP, contains around 10-20% fragrance concentration and is a popular choice for those wanting a long-lasting scent. An Eau de Parfum will last longer on your skin than an Eau de Toilette, but not as long as a Parfum.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
An Eau de Toilette, commonly known as an EDT, is a common strength of fragrance. An Eau de Toilette usually contains 10% fragrance concentrationand is the perfect choice for an everyday signature scent. EDT’s are more potent than Eau de Colognes, but weaker than Eau de Parfum and Parfum’s.
EAU FRAICHE
Eau Fraiche is a very light form of a fragrance, which has a lower concentration of fragrant compounds than an Eau de Toilette but more than an Eau de Cologne. Eau Fraiche scents are especially pleasant to wear in warmer months.
Enfleurage
Enfleurage is the extraction of essential oils and perfumes from flowers using odourless animal or vegetable fats.
Eugenol
Eugenol is a warm and spicy perfume ingredient found predominantly in clove essential oil and allspice, bay, cinnamon, patchouli, and pimento.
Essential oils
Essential oilsare compounds extracted from plants through distillation (steaming) or mechanical methods (cold pressing). The extraction process captures the plant or flowers' natural scent or ‘essence’ and is then combined with a carrier oil to create a ready-to-use product. Common essential oils include rose, jasmine, neroli, and sandalwood.
Factice
Factice is a display bottle of perfume used in stores for display and visual purposes only.
Floral
Floral perfumesare based on floral notes, which fall into several categories: green, white, powdery, or rose flowers. In addition, floral notes blend beautifully with other natural components such as woods and fruits. An example of a popular floral perfume isMiss Dior by Dior.
Fragrance Family
Fragrance families is a classification system that the perfume industry uses to group scents. Understanding the fragrance families may help you identify your perfume preferences and will also help you determine which perfume to choose next. The leadingfragrance families include floral, oriental/amber, fresh and woody, and these families are then split into subfamilies.
Fragrance notes
Fragrance notesare split into top, middle/heart, and base categories. These are the descriptors of a scent that can be identified once a perfume is applied and overtime as it settles on the skin.
Fruity
Fruity perfumes are delightfully vibrant. They feature the aroma of fruits, from apple and strawberry to orange and lemon. They are often found in light, fresh fragrances that wear well during the warmer months.
FOUGERE FRAGRANCES
Fougere fragrances are scents based around lavender, citrus, spicy, amber, and woody notes.
Gourmand FRAGRANCES
Gourmand fragrances are made up of notes usually described as ‘good enough to eat’. These ‘edible’ notes include honey, chocolate, vanilla, and praline, to name a few and give a fragrance a smooth, sweet scent. A great example of a gourmand fragrance is Angel by MUGLER.
HEART NOTES
Heart notes, or middle notes as they are also known, define a fragrance's main character. They can be smelt once the often-vibrant top notes have dissipated to reveal the lighter centre.
Layering
Layering is a technique that involves applying various scents on top of one another to create a longer-lasting, unique aroma. Different fragrances can be layered, or perfume can be layered with complementary body and skincare products such as a shower gel, body lotion or complimentary deodorant.
Maceration
Maceration is a method of extracting essential oils from flowers by soaking them in warm fats. The essential oils are then dissolved in alcohol so the extract of floral oil can be obtained.
Musk
Muskis an intense smelling ingredient initially extracted from the male musk deer but is now commonly replaced with a synthetic replacement known as ‘white musk’. The aroma of musk is often described as earthy, woody and even animalistic. Its scent can vary from person to person once settled onto the skin and can be found in one of the world’s best-selling male fragrances:1 Million by Paco Rabanne.
Neroli oil
Neroli oil is a popular essential oil extracted from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, which has a sweet scent with hints of earth and spice.
Notes
Fragrance notesdescribe the individual ingredients that make up a whole fragrance, i.e., top notes, middle notes and base notes.
Oakmoss
Oakmoss is the precious essence from lichen, which grows on oak trees across Europe and has a bitter-smelling forest floor scent.
Odour
Odour is the characteristic of a substance that activates the olfactory system or our sense of smell.
The olfactory bulb is located near the front of the brain and is an essential structure in your olfactory system. It is the first system to receive neural input about odours detected in the nasal cavity.
Olfactory epithelium
The olfactory epithelium are layers of sensory cells that sit on each side of the upper-rear portion of the nose that are involved with the process of smell.
Perfume/Parfum
Parfumis a highly concentrated, luxurious fragrance option. A parfum will generally have between 20-30% concentrated fragrance and will last on the skin all day without the need to top up. It has a higher concentration than Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette and, therefore, often comes with an increased price point.
Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical substances that animals release to attract another member of their species. Research on whether humans have the same ability is inconclusive, but there are strong connections between scent and how drawn we are to another person.
Rhizome
Rhizomes are modified stems that grow under or along the ground. They are considered ‘invasion’ plants due to the aggressive way they shoot new stems from their nodes, but precious perfume ingredients such as Orris Absolute come from rhizomes.
Spicy
Fragrances described as ‘spicy’ are often warm and punchy, with clove oil, cinnamon, ginger, and lavender notes. An example of a popular spicy fragrance is Spicebomb by Viktor&Rolf.
Sweet perfume
Sweet perfumes offer a pleasant, gentle, and soft scent, often comprised of floral, fruity or sugary notes. An example of a popular sweet fragrance is BonBon by Viktor&Rolf.
Synthetic fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are predominantly made up of artificial compounds and materials made in laboratories, rather than being extracted from natural sources such as plants and flowers.
Tincture
A tincture is an extract of a plant or animal material which is dissolved in ethanol (alcohol).
Tonality
Tonality is the dominant note or theme of a fragrance.
TOP NOTES
Top notesare what you smell as soon as you spray the fragrance onto your skin. Top notes evaporate the quickest, making way for the heart notes to develop.
Umami
Umami describes a savoury smell that can be recognised within a fragrance. Outside of perfume, it is known as one of the five basic tastes (along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter), but as with these, you can’t physically smell umami; it’s more of a sensation or experience. Notes such as leather and tobacco have been associated with the umami aroma.
UNISEX FRAGRANCES
Unisex fragranceshave been designed with everybody in mind, regardless of gender, and therefore, do not comply with the categorisation of ‘men’s’ and ‘women’s’ labels.
VEGAN FRAGRANCES
For a fragrance to be vegan, it has to be formulated without using any animal-derived ingredients. Examples of vegan brands include The Perfume Edit.
Woody
Woody notes are crucial to perfumery; they offer richness, distinction and warmth to any fragrance. The aroma is extracted from trees, resin, moss, bark, and roots and provides a deep, earthy character.
You're the expert now
Why not put your newfound knowledge to the test and browse our online store today!
The Perfume Shop’s Fragrance Glossary
The world of perfume is filled with lots of wonderful, if not slightly, peculiar words you won’t find anywhere else. So, if you struggle to understand precisely what you’re reading when looking for a new perfume, we’re here to help. We’ve decoded some of the most common terms and compiled them in our fragrance glossary so you can make expert decisions when searching for your next scent.
ACCORD
An accord comprises multiple fragrance materials, usually between 6 and 8 components, to create a distinctive scent. An accord is often considered the focal point of any great perfume and is the work of skilled perfumers. An example of an accord is a ‘green accord’ made up from various leaves and grasses or the playful ‘mojito accord’, formed of mint, lime, sugar and rum notes.
AFTERSHAVE
Aftershave is usually found in splash form rather than a spray, making it easier to apply to the face. Aftershave typically contains around 3% fragrance concentration and will last on the skin for roughly 3 hours. In addition, its alcohol content helps close pores and stimulates the skin after a shave.
Aftershave Balm
Aftershave balm is a gentle moisturising product, with a creamy consistency, for the face, which soothes and calms the skin after shaving.
Anosmia
Anosmia is the total, or partial, loss of your sense of smell.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing therapy that uses natural plant extracts to promote positive health and wellbeing.
Aroma chemicals
Aroma chemicals are volatile molecules that are obtained from naturally sourced products, or synthetically created, that have their own aroma.
Base notes
Base notes are the most memorable fragrance tones that can be smelt once a scent has settled on the skin. Base notes are often distinctive, long-lasting and can determine the character of a perfume.
Body Notes
Also known as the heart or middle notes of the fragrance: this is the perfume’s dominant scent.
Body Lines
Body lines are complementary products that feature the same aroma as fragrances and include shower gels, body lotions, body oils and balms. Layering body products over the top of their matching fragrance will help the scent last longer on the skin.
BODY MIST
A body mist is a light fragrance with a very low concentration of fragrant compounds. They are suitable for everyday wear, but due to their high alcohol content, they would need topping up throughout the day.
Chypre
Chypre is a popular fragrance family which features aromatic, woody, and earthy notes, including bergamot, jasmine, rose, patchouli and tree moss. An example of a popular chypre scent is CK One by Calvin Klein.
Civet
Civet is a scented musk extracted from the odorous sacs of a civet (an exotic cat), but it is now commonly replicated synthetically due to ethical reasons. On its own, the aroma of civet is very unpleasant, but when it is diluted with other perfume ingredients, it can become warm and radiant.
Citrus
The citrus fragrance family offers fresh and fruity scents with zesty notes of lemon, lime and orange. They are a great choice to wear every day and can be worn all year round. A popular citrus fragrance is Citrus Fresco by The Perfume Edit.
DRY DOWN
dry down of a fragrance can be smelt on the skin once the top and heart notes dissipate. Therefore, it is important when testing perfumes to allow the ‘dry down’ to come through, which can take around 30 minutes, so that you can enjoy the full fragrance profile.
Eau de cologne (EDC)
An Eau de Cologne is a light fragrance that contains around 2-5% aromatic compounds. All male fragrances are often referred to as a ‘cologne’, but the strengths will differ, and they may not fall into the weaker ‘Eau de Cologne’ category. They are suitable for everyday wear but may need topping up as they generally last 2-3 hours on the skin.
Eau de parfum (EDP)
An Eau de Parfum, commonly known as EDP, contains around 10-20% fragrance concentration and is a popular choice for those wanting a long-lasting scent. An Eau de Parfum will last longer on your skin than an Eau de Toilette, but not as long as a Parfum.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
An Eau de Toilette, commonly known as an EDT, is a common strength of fragrance. An Eau de Toilette usually contains 10% fragrance concentration and is the perfect choice for an everyday signature scent. EDT’s are more potent than Eau de Colognes, but weaker than Eau de Parfum and Parfum’s.
EAU FRAICHE
Eau Fraiche is a very light form of a fragrance, which has a lower concentration of fragrant compounds than an Eau de Toilette but more than an Eau de Cologne. Eau Fraiche scents are especially pleasant to wear in warmer months.
Enfleurage
Enfleurage is the extraction of essential oils and perfumes from flowers using odourless animal or vegetable fats.
Eugenol
Eugenol is a warm and spicy perfume ingredient found predominantly in clove essential oil and allspice, bay, cinnamon, patchouli, and pimento.
Essential oils
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants through distillation (steaming) or mechanical methods (cold pressing). The extraction process captures the plant or flowers' natural scent or ‘essence’ and is then combined with a carrier oil to create a ready-to-use product. Common essential oils include rose, jasmine, neroli, and sandalwood.
Factice
Factice is a display bottle of perfume used in stores for display and visual purposes only.
Floral
Floral perfumes are based on floral notes, which fall into several categories: green, white, powdery, or rose flowers. In addition, floral notes blend beautifully with other natural components such as woods and fruits. An example of a popular floral perfume is Miss Dior by Dior.
Fragrance Family
Fragrance families is a classification system that the perfume industry uses to group scents. Understanding the fragrance families may help you identify your perfume preferences and will also help you determine which perfume to choose next. The leading fragrance families include floral, oriental/amber, fresh and woody, and these families are then split into subfamilies.
Fragrance notes
Fragrance notes are split into top, middle/heart, and base categories. These are the descriptors of a scent that can be identified once a perfume is applied and overtime as it settles on the skin.
Fruity
Fruity perfumes are delightfully vibrant. They feature the aroma of fruits, from apple and strawberry to orange and lemon. They are often found in light, fresh fragrances that wear well during the warmer months.
FOUGERE FRAGRANCES
Fougere fragrances are scents based around lavender, citrus, spicy, amber, and woody notes.
Gourmand FRAGRANCES
Gourmand fragrances are made up of notes usually described as ‘good enough to eat’. These ‘edible’ notes include honey, chocolate, vanilla, and praline, to name a few and give a fragrance a smooth, sweet scent. A great example of a gourmand fragrance is Angel by MUGLER.
HEART NOTES
Heart notes, or middle notes as they are also known, define a fragrance's main character. They can be smelt once the often-vibrant top notes have dissipated to reveal the lighter centre.
Layering
Layering is a technique that involves applying various scents on top of one another to create a longer-lasting, unique aroma. Different fragrances can be layered, or perfume can be layered with complementary body and skincare products such as a shower gel, body lotion or complimentary deodorant.
Maceration
Maceration is a method of extracting essential oils from flowers by soaking them in warm fats. The essential oils are then dissolved in alcohol so the extract of floral oil can be obtained.
Musk
Musk is an intense smelling ingredient initially extracted from the male musk deer but is now commonly replaced with a synthetic replacement known as ‘white musk’. The aroma of musk is often described as earthy, woody and even animalistic. Its scent can vary from person to person once settled onto the skin and can be found in one of the world’s best-selling male fragrances: 1 Million by Paco Rabanne.
Neroli oil
Neroli oil is a popular essential oil extracted from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, which has a sweet scent with hints of earth and spice.
Notes
Fragrance notes describe the individual ingredients that make up a whole fragrance, i.e., top notes, middle notes and base notes.
Oakmoss
Oakmoss is the precious essence from lichen, which grows on oak trees across Europe and has a bitter-smelling forest floor scent.
Odour
Odour is the characteristic of a substance that activates the olfactory system or our sense of smell.
Olfaction
Olfaction is the action of smelling.
Olfactory bulb
The olfactory bulb is located near the front of the brain and is an essential structure in your olfactory system. It is the first system to receive neural input about odours detected in the nasal cavity.
Olfactory epithelium
The olfactory epithelium are layers of sensory cells that sit on each side of the upper-rear portion of the nose that are involved with the process of smell.
Perfume/Parfum
Parfum is a highly concentrated, luxurious fragrance option. A parfum will generally have between 20-30% concentrated fragrance and will last on the skin all day without the need to top up. It has a higher concentration than Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette and, therefore, often comes with an increased price point.
Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical substances that animals release to attract another member of their species. Research on whether humans have the same ability is inconclusive, but there are strong connections between scent and how drawn we are to another person.
Rhizome
Rhizomes are modified stems that grow under or along the ground. They are considered ‘invasion’ plants due to the aggressive way they shoot new stems from their nodes, but precious perfume ingredients such as Orris Absolute come from rhizomes.
Spicy
Fragrances described as ‘spicy’ are often warm and punchy, with clove oil, cinnamon, ginger, and lavender notes. An example of a popular spicy fragrance is Spicebomb by Viktor&Rolf.
Sweet perfume
Sweet perfumes offer a pleasant, gentle, and soft scent, often comprised of floral, fruity or sugary notes. An example of a popular sweet fragrance is BonBon by Viktor&Rolf.
Synthetic fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are predominantly made up of artificial compounds and materials made in laboratories, rather than being extracted from natural sources such as plants and flowers.
Tincture
A tincture is an extract of a plant or animal material which is dissolved in ethanol (alcohol).
Tonality
Tonality is the dominant note or theme of a fragrance.
TOP NOTES
Top notes are what you smell as soon as you spray the fragrance onto your skin. Top notes evaporate the quickest, making way for the heart notes to develop.
Umami
Umami describes a savoury smell that can be recognised within a fragrance. Outside of perfume, it is known as one of the five basic tastes (along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter), but as with these, you can’t physically smell umami; it’s more of a sensation or experience. Notes such as leather and tobacco have been associated with the umami aroma.
UNISEX FRAGRANCES
Unisex fragrances have been designed with everybody in mind, regardless of gender, and therefore, do not comply with the categorisation of ‘men’s’ and ‘women’s’ labels.
VEGAN FRAGRANCES
For a fragrance to be vegan, it has to be formulated without using any animal-derived ingredients. Examples of vegan brands include The Perfume Edit.
Woody
Woody notes are crucial to perfumery; they offer richness, distinction and warmth to any fragrance. The aroma is extracted from trees, resin, moss, bark, and roots and provides a deep, earthy character.
You're the expert now
Why not put your newfound knowledge to the test and browse our online store today!
Read next
A Guide to Citrus Perfumes
The story behind pheromone perfumes
How to build your fragrance wardrobe