Speak Fragrance

Fragrance has its own language. Here is the vocabulary you actually need, in plain English, so you can read a description and know exactly what you are getting.

The essentials

Accord: a blend of notes that reads as one smell, like a chord in music.

Notes: individual smells, grouped as top (first impression), heart (the body), and base (what lingers).

Top notes: the opening, often citrus or herbs, gone within fifteen minutes.

Base notes: the foundation, often woods, musk, or amber, lasting for hours.

Drydown: how a fragrance smells once the top notes burn off and it settles on your skin.

Projection & sillage: how far it travels and the trail it leaves.

Scent families

Chypre: a classic structure of citrus, floral, and mossy or woody base. Sophisticated and timeless.

Gourmand: edible notes like vanilla, caramel, and praline. Browse our Vanilla & Praline edit.

Oud: resinous agarwood, the heart of Middle Eastern perfumery. See Ouds & Saffron.

Fougere: the classic barbershop accord of lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin.

Amber: warm, resinous, slightly sweet. Explore Ambers & Resins.

The technical bits

Concentration: the percentage of perfume oil. EDT, EDP, and extrait, from light to rich.

Vetiver: a grassy, earthy root note, dry and elegant, common in woody fragrances.

Aldehydes: sparkling, soapy, slightly metallic notes that give a lift, famous in classic florals.

Batch: a production run of a fragrance. Formulas can shift subtly over time.

BNIB: brand new in box, factory sealed, exactly how we ship every bottle.