CassiaCassia cinnamomum cassia |
Champaca or Champa AbsoluteChampa absolute from the flowers of the Michelia Champaca is an exotic rich deep floral natural perfumery material. It reminds me of carnation and tuberose and has warm caramel, peppery vanilla orchid notes. I have a Champaca C02 which has more of the spice caramel and less of the lily type floral scent. I would favor the absolute to the C02 extract. The absolute and C02 are extracted from concrete which is obtained from the yellow magnolia-like flowers of a medium sized tree which grows in the Indonesia and India and also Madagascar off the South Coast of Africa. Steffen Arctander (P.160 Perfume and Flaor Materials of Natural Origin) describes Champaca Absolute as "quite unique: delicately dry-floral, at the same time reminding one of the orange flowers, ylang ylang, carnation and the tearose." The absolute blends very well with carnation and rose. In dilution it has a soft floral tea-like note, it is best fixed with bases that do not easily overwhelm the delicate floral notes, for instance: sandalwood, auracaria, benzoin, ambrette, and ambergris. |
Chord(see Accord) refers to a combination of three or more aromatics to create a single ‘essence’, or an accord |
Chyprea dominating blend of bergamot and oak moss rounded off with rich woody essences like patchouli and ambriene |
Citrus NotesThe notes obtained through the use of citrus; orange, lemon, lime, bergamot, grapefruit, yuzu, lemongrass |
Classica scent which follows a perfumery template utilizing a higher percentage of floral notes to create an essence with timeless appeal |
CloveClove syzygium aromaticum |
Cloyingsweet, heavy, almost suffocating and clingy |
CO2 Extractioncarbon dioxide extractions, supercritical carbon dioxide extracts; solvent extraction utilizing CO2 at low temperature and high pressure to create a fragrant product |
Colognean essence composition utilizing primarily citrus oils and a high percentage of water; 3 – 5% perfume composition to alcohol and distilled water |
Concretesolvent extracted waxy substance obtained from botanical materials |
Creamy
|
CuminCumin cuminum cyminum |
Destructive Distillationdistillation of materials, seashells, woods or resins, which are intentionally burned, resulting in a material with a smoky, leathery bouquet |
Distillateresults of distillation |
Distillation
|
Dry Downthe final stage of a perfume’s life on the skin; base/bottom notes which have the most tenacity within a perfume composition |
Earthy Notesrefers to notes typified by mossy, moldy, dirty scents, such as patchouli, cepes (mushroom), tree mosses and vetyver |
Eau de Colognesame as Cologne; an essence composition utilizing primarily citrus oils and a high percentage of water; 3 – 5% perfume composition to alcohol and distilled water |
Eau de Parfum8 – 15% perfume composition blend to alcohol; sometimes incorporates less than 5% distilled water or floral hydrosol; second highest concentration of scent to diluent in perfume making |
Eau de Toilette4 to 8% composition blend to alcohol; incorporates a small percentage of distilled water or floral hydrosol; most common concentration in modern perfume making |
Enfleurageancient method of obtaining scent by repeatedly placing, removing and replacing fragrant botanical materials on sheets of glass that have been glazed with fat (typically cleaned animal fat) to produce a pomade (see pomade) |
Essencefragrant raw materials |
Essential OilAromatic volatile material obtained from botanicals through the process of distillation or cold-pressing/expression. Steam distillation: Usually indirect steam which is produced in a boiler. The steam goes through the plant material which can be resting on a grid or trays. The steam condenses and separates when cool into the water and the essential oil that floats on the top. Expression: Is reserved for citrus fruits such as lime, bergamot and orange. These are called cold pressed essential oils. |
Expressionmethod of obtaining an aromatic material (essential oil) through the use of presses which squeeze out the volatile oils of plant materials, typically citrus peels |
Extraithighest concentration of scent to diluent in perfume making; 15 to 30% composition blend to alcohol or diluent |
Fixativeraw materials or other natural materials which are used in very small amounts (1 to 3%) to help sustain a perfume, holding it down onto the skin so the scent lasts longer; includes distilled water, floral hydrosols, resin and wood tinctures, styrax benzoin and vegetable glycerin |
Flacon A bottle, often delicate in nature or beautifully decorated, used for storing perfumes... usually with a tight-fitting stopper or cap. From the Old French word flagon. |
Flat Notea note with no lift or body |
Floralflower based composition |
Floriental A word coined in modern perfumery to describe a scent that is classified as, or exhibits traits of being both floral and oriental in nature. |
Fougere(pronounced foo-zhayr) any ferny, mossy scent with lavender at its heart; usually includes patchouli, labdanum, vanilla, tonka and benzoin |
Freshtypified by light and airy notes found in green and citrus essences such as galbanum, violet leaf, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot |
Fruityfruit essences, usually does not include citrus oils; some examples of fruity essences are davana, magnolia, black currant bud, Roman chamomile; some fruit essences can be obtained through the use of tinctures of fruit like fig, dried currant, and berries |
GardeniaThere are many species of gardenia, but the most cultivated for its beauty and scent is Gardenia jasminoides called also Cape jasmine. Its intoxicating scent is found as absolute, but you can make oil extraction yourself if you have a plant. Its aroma is a kind of lemony jasmine and very strong . Half a dozen flowers are enough to modify completely the smell of one litre of vegetable oil or butter. |
GeraniumGeranium, which comes from thePelargonium graveolens and is usually classed as a middle note in natural perfumery, is described as having a floral sweet, fresh and fruity note. It is sometimes used to enhance the more expensive rose perfumes. There are many different types of geranium notes ranging from fruity citrus and light to a more floral rosy and some times even a little spicy. |
GrapefruitGrapefruit cold-pressed citrus paradisi |
Greenfresh scent of cut grass or fresh leaves; violet leaf absolute is a green note with a green cucumber-like scent; cardamom typifies a spicy/green note; coriander is a classic green note |
Gumssticky, resinous substances; plant sap exudates; balsams can also be called gums |
Harshpungent or chemical character within a perfume composition |
There arean essence typified by a coumarin character; tonka, lavender absolute, liatris |
Head Notethe first notes you smell in a perfume; they’re the opening note, the lead or hook note; relatively fleeting, usually lasting no more than 10 or 20 minutes |
Headyintoxicating and stimulating |
Heart Notenotes which normally classify or identify the perfume family or theme of the composition; for instance, if your theme is a white floral, then you would blend some combination of jasmine, neroli, tuberose, gardenia tinctures and other ‘white’ flower oils as the main component of this note |
Heavyintense and oftentimes cloying note |
Herbal oil A macerate or infusion of plant material in a plain vegetable oil. See macerate. |
Herbal/Herbaceoustypified by green and somewhat camphoraceous scents in combination; lavender, rosemary, sages and mints are common herbal essences |
Honeysweet, syrupy note |
Incensenotes incorporating sweet, powdery and resinous essences |
IndoleIndole is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound. It naturally occurs in human feces and has an intense faecal odour. At very low concentrations though, it has a very flowery smell, and is a constituent of many floral scents (such as orange blossoms) and perfumes. It tends to lend a "dirty" quality to a perfume. |
Infusionwhole botanical materials immersed in a hot medium, diluent or carrier; botanical material in warmed oil is considered an infusion |
Insolubleraw materials (essential oils, resins, absolutes, concretes, etc.) which do not dissolve in a diluent (alcohol, solvent, oil, water, etc.) |
Jasmine![]() Jasmine oil cannot be extracted by steam distillation. The main modern comercial method of extracting Jasmine oil is via solvent extraction. Jasmine concrete is produced by solvent extraction of the fresh flowers. Concrete of Jasmine sambac is a deep orange translucent mass of a jam like consistency. The sambac smells heady and intoxicating. Deep exotic floral with indolic, animalic undertones. Concrete of grandiflorum is dark orange mass of jam like consistency. Grandiflorum is heady, intoxicating and fruity an exotic floral with peachy fruity notes. Jasmine absolute is extracted from the concrete using alcohol. Jasmine wax is a by product of this process. Jasmine flowers of all varieties can be tinctured for use in perfumery. Dried jasmine flowers usually don't have much of a smell and are mainly used in tea. |
KadambaThe Kadamba or Anthocephalus Cadamba tree is native to Northern India. An essential oil and a hexane extraction is produced from the flowers but the yeild is very small. The perfume from the flowers is intoxicating at night. According to Steffen Arctander "This is one of the rare perfume materials which deserves a permanent and prominent place on the perfumer's shelf." He describes it as "woody floral and sweet odor with a short lived top note. The dry out is delightfully sweet floral, reminiscence of champaca and neroli. The tenacity of this fragrance is almost incredible." Ref: Steffen Arctander; Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin |
Labdanum![]() |
Lavender
Lavandin Arbaralis (Lavandula hybrida) is not often used in perfumery as the smell is medicine like and sort of falls into the same set as tea tree, eucalyptus, camphor. |
Leather A blend that is reminiscent of leather often including tobacco and smoky scents such as cade. Most noted leather scents include Peau d'Espagne and Cuir de Russie (see http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2007/12/leather-series-5-cuir-de-russie-vs-peau.html for more info.) |
Lemon cold-pressedcitrus limonum |
Lime cold-pressedcitrus aurantifolia |
Locking A phenomenon where two or more ingredients interact to create an overwhelmingly strong scent that overtakes a blend. |
MacerateTo steep or soak aromatic plant material in a liquid (usually water or a plain vegetable oil) to create a plant extract containing the water or oil soluble constituents. The macerate will usually differ chemically from an essential or expressed oil made from the same plant material due to this. It is possible to create a macerate from plants that do not usually yield an essential oils by distillation. Examples are Meadowsweet and Comfrey. Macerates are also known as Infused or herbal oils. |
Massoia barkMassoia bark cryptocaryo massoio – prohibited (should not be used in fragrance) |
Middle Note(same as heart note)notes which normally classify or identify the perfume family or theme of the composition; for instance, if your theme is a white floral, then you would blend some combination of jasmine, neroli, tuberose, gardenia tinctures and other ‘white’ flower oils as the main component of this note |
Mossytypified by oak moss, tree mosses and forest floor essences |
Narcoticintense and intoxicating essences such as rose, jasmine, hyacinth and other rich florals |
Note/Notesrefers to the melody within the composition, the song of the perfume, the theme, or to a particular part of a perfume or aromatic used within the composition ('galbanum is a note in this perfume'), or it refers to how the composition is perceived, i.e. ‘floral notes’, ‘woody notes’, ‘green notes’ |
Odor DescriptionAccording to Steffen Arctander in Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural origin: " Part of the "romance" or "thrill" in perfumery work lies in the fact that, not only are all the materials different in odor but hardly ever will two perfumers give identical descriptions of the same material or the same perfume" |
Olfactoryrelating to the sense of smell |
Opoponax
Opoponax Resinoid is used in perfumery as a fixative. It is used most often in oriental style perfumes or perfumes with mossy forest base notes. High grade opoponax essential oil is worth looking for if preparing your own resinoid is not possible. Make sure that good quality opoponax is used in the distillation process. Myrrh and opoponax are very closely related. Opoponax is spicy and animalic compared to myrrh which is fresh and clean. Opoponax must be used with great care in perfumery as it can quickly take over a blend. |
Organsystem of storing bottles of perfume making materials typified by stepped shelving |
Orientaltypified by amber notes and spice |
Orris![]() The powdered aged root is used in cosmetic preparations and as a fixative in herbal sachets and pot pourri. Orris absolute is one the most expensive perfumery materials and is rarely found in todays perfumes. The absolute is extracted by solvent washing the orris butter from which the resulting liquid absolute is carefully vacuum distilled. Orris absolute is described as a very pale yellow oil with a delicate floral smell. Orris concrete is produced by steam distillation of the prepared orris root which have been aged 3 years. Because it is steam distilled it is not technically a concrete, rather it is so called because of its solid consistency. Orris butter is produced in France, Italy and Morocco. The smell of aged orris is warm, sweet and violet like due to the high percentage of alpha-irones it contains. Orris resin, which is extracted from the aged root using a solvent like ethyl alcohol, is technically a true concrete. It is called a resin due to it honey like consistency. The 'resin' is cheaper than the steam distilled butter. Sources: Steffen Arctander's Perfume and Flavor materials of natural origin. |
Otto results of steam-distilled rose petals, particularly Bulgarian and Turkish rose |
Palettecollection of raw materials used by the perfumer to create perfume |
Parfum/Perfume(see Extrait) highest concentration of scent to diluent in perfume making; 15 to 30% composition blend to alcohol or diluent |
Perfumeran artist who creates perfume |
Persistence This term is used to describe the longevity or staying-power of a particular perfume on the skin. For example: "this scent has remarkable persistence". |
Phototoxicity![]() |
Phytotherapy"This term is a compound of two Greek words meaning "plant" and "healing" and is used to describe all forms of treatments using plants. In France this term is used to describe what we would call Medical Herbalism but aromatherapy is often included under the same heading"...Patricia Davis in "Aromatherapy, an A to Z". It can be argued that perfumes created using vibrant, natural plant materials and extracts with no synthetic or chemical additives could also be regarded as a branch of Phytotherapy. |
PommadeFatty substance obtained through enfleurage; the pomade is then used for solid perfume making, or it is further processed by soaking the pomade in high proof alcohol for several weeks to obtain a fragrant tincture which is filtered and used to make alcohol based perfume. |
Powderya note obtained through the blending of sweet, woody notes with fruity, green or citrus notes; typified by the use of vanilla, patchouli, benzoin, labdanum, cananga/ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood and/or bergamot |
Raw Materialbotanical or animal based material used in perfumery; essential oils, absolutes, tinctures, infusions, concretes, pomades, CO2 extractions, etc. are all examples of a raw material |
Resinoids(see Balsam and Gums)sweet, warm, woody, resinous materials; exudates of trees. |
Rose![]() Rose otto is the essential oil steam distilled from fresh roses. Rose concrete a solvent extraction of fresh roses. Rose absolute is extracted from the rose concrete using alcohol. Rose otto is distilled from the Bulgarian rose or rosa damscena. The otto is an almost clear pale yellow liquid. When it is very cold it solidifies but it is easily warmed to liquid again. Rose otto smells rich, floral, warm and spicy with honey undertones. The smell of fresh roses becomes more apparent at when the otto is diluted. Rose otto is the most expensive extract of roses. Rose concrete from Rosa Damscena is a deep orange colored mass of a jam-like consistency, can be greenish yellow. The smell is sweet rich floral very like fresh roses with warm honey spicy undertones. Rose Concrete from Rosa Centifolia a deep orange colored mass of a jam-like consistency, can be greenish yellow. The smell is sweet floral, rich woody tea like. According to Shiseido there are 6 scent classification of a rose scent:
|
RosewoodTree from the Hylea Brasiliensis, the Amazonian Jungle, from Lauraceae family, with the wood rich in linalol and smelling like rose. The species reaches 30m. Used as fixative in many perfumes, it sweetens the aroma of flowers, enlightening the dullest of blends. Used in Aromatherapy to stimulate the immune system. The tree is threatened with extinction because of its scent and many uses ( furniture, floors, guitar making, etc), but there are some self sufficient plantations like in Ducke Conservation Park in a river island called Silves where they extract ECOCERT essential oil of rosewood, preciosa and other scented trees of the Amazon forests, and the women make handcrafted goods with them. |
Saffron![]() The absolute or tincture is used in natural perfumery. It is a dark red gold colour. Saffron is obtained from the flowers of the crocus sativa. The crocus sativa is light purple itself but the thread like stamens are deep red. It is these stamens that are the saffron. Saffron is harvested in the Autumn, then the labourious work of separating the stamens from the flowers begins. Imagine that it takes 70,000 pounds of flowers to yield just one pound of the spice. The odor of saffron is reminiscent of the sea air. The spice is used to flavour and add a yellow colour to rice. It is also used as a a natural dye for fabrics. |
Sillage A term often used in perfumery to describe the trail of scent you leave behind you. The term is derived from the French language, and is defined as: wake, slipstream, or trail. |
Soluableraw materials (essential oils, resins, absolutes, concretes, etc.) which dissolve in a diluent (alcohol, solvent, oil, water, etc.) |
Solventsfluid materials used to dissolve and extract volatile elements of botanicals (water, alcohol, hexane, oil, etc.) |
SpicyNotes which are typically hot in character, such as clove, pepper and cinnamon. |
Styrax gum resin aka benzoinStyrax gum resin aka benzoin |
Sweetcharacterized by taste utilizing essences such as vanilla, honey and warm balsamic notes |
Tagettes/Tagetestagetes patula, T. minuta, T. erecta |
Tea AbsolutesTea absolutes Camellia sinensis , thea chinensis , thea sinensis |
Tenacitystrength of a scent or note characterized by the length of time it lasts on the skin |
TinctureA tincture is an alcoholic extract of natural raw materials. Common tinctures include: Tincture of vanilla, Tincture of Ambrette seed, Tincture of Orris, Tincture of benzoin, and Tincture of Labdanum. |
TreemossesTreemosses usnea / pseudoevernia furfuracea See Oakmoss |
Tuberose![]() (Authors note) When I smell tuberose I get a distinctly tuberous smell, reminds me of raw potatoes, it is only after this subsides that I get the floral heavy sweet scent which Arctander describes. |
Ultrasonic ExtractsTo make an ultrasonic extract the raw material which has been ground to a powder is suspended in a solvent. High frequency vibration is applied and in a short amount of time the extraction is complete. |
VerbenaVerbena ABSOLUTE lippia citriodora |
VetiverAbout Vetiver: Vetiver comes from the rootlets of the Vetiveria zizanoides which have been used for their fragrance since ancient times. The tall perennial grass grows wild in India, Ceylon, Burma, as well as the Caribbean Islands and many other tropical regions. Vetiver oil is classed as a base note in perfumery and is used as a fixative as well as for it’s sweet earthy quality. There are many different qualities of Vetiver to be had, ranging from the freshly distilled oil which has a moist cool potato like earthy smell to the rich woody earthy smell of aged vetiver. |
WintergreenWintergreen (toxic) |
WormwoodWormwood artemisia absinthium (sensitizer) – see conflicting information at www.thegoodscentscompany.com regarding artemisia absinthium l. Cuba, Artemisia absinthium l. oil Italy, Artemisia absinthium l. oil Poland |