Discover the Secret Language of Perfumery: The Lexicon That Enhances Fragrances

Perfumery is an ancient and fascinating art, where each fragrance tells a unique story, capable of evoking emotions, memories and deep sensations. However, behind the creation of a perfume lies a complex and nuanced language, which only those who know the world of essences in depth can fully understand.

In this blog, we will guide you to discover the lexicon of the perfumery , a sensory journey through the terms and definitions that give voice to fragrances. Whether you are a perfume enthusiast, a professional in the sector, or simply curious to know more about this fascinating universe, our glossary will help you better understand olfactory descriptions and choose the perfect perfume for you.

Learn to recognize the top, heart and base notes , discover what lies behind terms like sillage, bouquet And persistence , and be fascinated by the variety of accords that make up the most iconic fragrances. Knowing the language of perfumery will not only enrich your vocabulary, but will also allow you to fully appreciate the complexity and beauty of all the perfumes .

Enter the world of essences and discover how words can transform a simple perfume into an unforgettable sensory experience.

Perfumery Lexicon

Accord : A harmonious combination of multiple olfactory notes that creates a unique fragrance.

Top Notes : The first olfactory impressions of a perfume, perceived immediately after application. Usually fresh and light, they evaporate quickly.

Heart Notes : The heart of the perfume, which emerges after the top notes fade. These are the notes that give character to the fragrance and last the longest.

Base Notes : The most persistent notes of a perfume, which emerge several hours after application and give depth and longevity to the fragrance.

Essence : The pure aromatic concentrate extracted from a raw material, such as plants or flowers.

Absolute : A highly concentrated form of essence obtained through a complex extraction process, often used for the most delicate raw materials.

Smell : The sense through which we perceive odors.

Bouquet : The complex of olfactory notes of a perfume, perceived as a single entity.

Sillage : The trail left by the perfume when a person moves. A perfume with good sillage leaves a lasting impression in the air.

Persistence : The duration of the perfume on the skin. A persistent perfume maintains its fragrance for many hours.

Distillation : A traditional method of extracting aromatic essences using steam or water.

Maceration : An extraction process where raw materials are immersed in a solvent to obtain the essence.

Bottle : The bottle that contains the perfume, often designed with particular attention to design.

Concentration : The amount of essence contained in a perfume, which determines its intensity and duration. The main concentrations are:

• Eau de Cologne : Low concentration (about 2-5% essence).
• Eau de Toilette : Medium concentration (approximately 5-15% essence).
• Eau de Parfum : High concentration (approximately 15-20% essence).
• Fragrance Extrait : Very high concentration (about 20-30% essence).

Chypre : An olfactory family characterized by notes of musk, bergamot, patchouli, and rose. It is often described as elegant and sophisticated.

Fougère : An olfactory family reminiscent of fern fragrances, characterized by fresh, herbaceous and aromatic notes, such as lavender and oak wood.

Gourmand : An olfactory family that includes sweet, edible notes such as vanilla, chocolate, and caramel.

Oriental : An olfactory family characterized by warm, spicy and resinous notes, such as amber, vanilla, incense and spices.

Chypre : A type of fragrance that is based on an accord of rose, oakmoss, patchouli, and bergamot, often associated with a powdery or face-powder sensation.

Soliflore : A perfume that evokes the essence of a single type of flower.

Texture : The tactile sensation a scent can evoke, such as silky, creamy, or velvety.

Composition : The set of notes that make up a fragrance, from beginning to end.

Olfactory pyramid : The schematic representation of the notes of a perfume, divided into three levels: head, heart and base.

Green Accord : A set of notes that evoke freshness, often associated with leaves, grass or aromatic plants.

Marine Accord : A set of notes reminiscent of the smell of the sea, often used to create fresh, aquatic fragrances.

Woody Accord : A set of notes that recall the smell of wood, often used for warm and robust fragrances.

Olfactory family : The classification of fragrances based on the predominant notes and main accords (floral, woody, oriental, fresh, citrus, etc.).

Base : The last notes that remain perceptible on the skin, even many hours after applying the perfume.

Advanced Perfumery Vocabulary

1. Amber : Fossil resin used in perfumery to create warm and sweet notes.
2. Soul : The central and distinctive character of a fragrance.
3. Anisate : Aroma that recalls the scent of anise, sweet and spicy.
4. Balsamic : Warm and sweet notes, often obtained from resins such as benzoin and myrrh.
5. Benzoin : Aromatic resin used for sweet, balsamic and vanilla notes.
6. Bergamot : Citrus fruit used for fresh and sparkling notes.
7. Birch : Wood used for smoky and leathery notes.
8. Boisé : French term for "woody," referring to dry or smoky wood notes.
9. Bourbon : Bourbon vanilla, a particularly prized variety of vanilla.
10. Brilliant : Describes a perfume with bright, sparkling notes.
11. Camphoraceous : Fresh and pungent odor, similar to that of camphor.
12. Cinnamon : Warm, sweet spice used for spicy notes.
13. Caramelized : Sweet notes reminiscent of caramel.
14. Citrus : Fresh and acidic notes, typical of citrus fruits such as lemon and orange.
15. Clove clove : Spice that gives a warm and spicy aroma.
16. Cocooning : An enveloping and reassuring fragrance.
17. Concrete : Solid aromatic extract obtained by maceration or solvent extraction.
18. Floral heart : The central part of the perfume dominated by floral notes.
19. Leathery : Notes that recall the smell of leather, often intense and smoky.
20. Decisive : Describes a fragrance with a strong, recognizable presence.
21. Sweet : Sugary and soft notes, often present in gourmand perfumes.
22. Effluvium : The diffusion of perfume into the air.
23. Elemi : Resin used for fresh, spicy and woody notes.
24. Herbaceous : Notes that recall the smell of fresh grass.
25. Citrus : Olfactory family that includes citrus notes such as bergamot, orange and lemon.
26. Exotic : A perfume that evokes distant places, often characterised by spicy and fruity notes.
27. Ethereal : Light and delicate fragrance, almost impalpable.
28. Feminine : A fragrance that expresses delicacy and sensuality, often with floral or sweet notes.
29. Hay : Aroma reminiscent of hay, dry and slightly sweet.
30. Floral : Fragrance dominated by floral notes.
31. Fresh : A light and lively fragrance, often associated with citrus or marine notes.
32. Fruity : Sweet and juicy notes reminiscent of ripe fruit such as peach, apple and strawberry.
33. Jasmine : Exotic flower used for sweet, intense and seductive notes.
34. Garden : Fragrance that evokes the smell of a flower garden.
35. Broom : Mediterranean flower with a sweet, honeyed scent.
36. Gourmand : Fragrance with sweet and edible notes such as vanilla, chocolate and caramel.
37. Hesperidic : Synonym of citrus, with fresh citrus notes.
38. Incense : Notes reminiscent of the smell of incense, often spiritual and smoky.
39. Infusion : Extraction method in which the raw material is immersed in a liquid.
40. Intense : Perfume with a strong presence and long-lasting.
41. Iris : Flower with a powdery, slightly earthy scent.
42. Light : Delicate and non-invasive fragrance.
43. Woody : Notes that evoke the smell of wood, such as cedar, sandalwood and pine.
44. Fortified : A fragrance reminiscent of the smell of sweet liqueurs such as rum or brandy.
45. Luxurious : A perfume that expresses opulence and refinement.
46. Magnolia : Flower with fresh and slightly citrus notes.
47. Marine : Notes that evoke the sea, fresh and salty.
48. Masculine : Fragrance with typically virile characteristics, often woody or spicy.
49. Mediterranean : A fragrance that recalls the landscapes and aromas of the Mediterranean, such as citrus fruits, olives and rosemary.
50. Honeyed : Sweet, rich aroma, similar to honey.
51. Mint : Fresh, pungent herb, often used for green, lively notes.
52. Honey : Sweet and rich, with a slightly animalic note.
53. Myrrh : Aromatic resin with warm, sweet and slightly spicy notes.
54. Modern : A perfume that reflects current trends, often with bold and innovative combinations.
55. Soft : Fragrance with a delicate, velvety presence.
56. Musk : Warm and slightly animalic note, often used as a fixative.
57. Musky : Aroma that evokes the scent of musk, warm and persistent.
58. Narcissus : Flower with an intense, slightly green floral scent.
59. Neroli : Essential oil extracted from orange blossoms, with a fresh, floral aroma.
60. Notturno : Fragrance that evokes the atmosphere of the night, often sensual and mysterious.
61. Essential Oil : Pure aromatic extract obtained from a plant, used as a base for fragrances.
62. Shadowy : A scent that evokes darkness and mystery, often with woody or spicy notes.
63. Opoponax : Resin with sweet, balsamic and slightly amber notes.
64. Orient : Olfactory family characterized by warm, spicy and resinous notes.
65. Osmanthus : Flower with a sweet, fruity and slightly apricot scent.
66. Ozonic : Notes that evoke the smell of clean, fresh air, often used in marine fragrances.
67. Patchouli : Aromatic plant with earthy, sweet and slightly spicy notes.
68. Pink pepper : Spice with a slightly spicy and fresh aroma.
69. Long-lasting : Fragrance that lasts a long time on the skin.
70. Petitgrain : Essential oil extracted from the leaves and branches of bitter orange, with a fresh, green scent.
71. Pictorial : A perfume that evokes vivid, colorful images, often inspired by landscapes or works of art.
72. Powdery : Aroma reminiscent of talcum powder or rice powder, delicate and slightly sweet.
73. Grapefruit : Citrus fruit with a fresh, acidic and slightly bitter aroma.
74. Spring : Fragrance that evokes the freshness and vitality of spring, often with floral and green notes.
75. Deep : Fragrance with rich and intense notes that last a long time.
76. Resinous : Notes that recall the scent of tree resins, such as pine and cedar.
77. Rich : A perfume with many olfactory facets, full and complex.
78. Refreshing : Fragrance that gives a sensation of freshness and energy.
79. Rose : Flower with a sweet, romantic and universal scent.
80. Round : Balanced fragrance, without dominant or sharp notes.
81. Sandy : Aroma that recalls the smell of warm sand and the sea.
82. Sambac : Variety of jasmine with an intense, sweet scent.
83. Sandalwood : Aromatic wood with a warm, creamy and slightly sweet scent.
84. Sfumato : Fragrance with delicate and subtle notes that blend harmoniously.
85. Spicy : Aroma dominated by notes of spices such as cinnamon, pepper, cloves.
86. Spray : A form of perfume application that diffuses the liquid in a fine mist.
87. Talc : Aroma reminiscent of the scent of talcum powder, powdery and sweet.
88. Talcum : Synonym of powdery, it evokes the sensation of talcum powder.
89. Truffle : A rare and precious note that adds an earthy and rich aroma.
90. Thyme : Aromatic herb with a fresh, slightly pungent scent.
91. Tuberose : Flower with an intense, sweet, floral scent, often used in oriental fragrances.
92. Vanilla : Sweet and warm spice, widely used in gourmand fragrances.
93. Green : Notes that evoke the freshness of leaves and plants.
94. Vetiver : Herbaceous root with an earthy, woody and slightly smoky scent.
95. Vibrant : Fragrance with an energetic and lively presence.
96. Violet : Flower with a sweet, floral and slightly powdery aroma.
97. Vivace : Perfume with fresh and sparkling notes that awaken the senses.
98. Voluptuous : Rich, enveloping and sensual fragrance.
99. Saffron : Spice with a warm, spicy and slightly bitter aroma.
100. Ginger : Root with a spicy, fresh aroma, often used in spicy fragrances.