Fragrance Glossary: 50+ Scent Terms Every Fragrance Lover Should Know

Quick Answer: This glossary covers 50+ fragrance terms every scent lover should know. From accords and base notes to sillage and top notes — bookmark this page and reference it whenever you discover a new fragrance at R3VIVE Vault.

Whether you are new to fragrance or a seasoned collector, understanding the language of scent helps you discover fragrances you will truly love. This glossary explains the most important terms used in the fragrance world.

A

Absolute — A highly concentrated aromatic oil extracted from plants using solvent extraction. More potent than essential oils, absolutes capture the truest representation of a flower or plant scent. Common examples include rose absolute and jasmine absolute.

Accord — A blend of two or more notes that combine to create a single, harmonious scent impression. Think of it like a chord in music. A fougère accord typically combines lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin.

Aldehydic — Describes fragrances containing synthetic aldehydes, which add a sparkling, effervescent quality. Chanel No. 5 is the most famous aldehydic fragrance.

Ambergris — A waxy substance historically sourced from sperm whales, now almost exclusively produced synthetically. It adds a warm, sweet, marine quality to fragrances.

Anosmia — The inability to detect a particular scent or all scents. Temporary anosmia to a specific ingredient is common — your nose simply stops registering it after prolonged exposure.

Atomiser — A spray mechanism for applying fragrance. At R3VIVE Vault, our 8ml discovery atomisers let you live with a fragrance for 30 days before committing to a full bottle.

B

Base Notes — The foundation of a fragrance that emerges after the top and heart notes fade. Base notes are the longest-lasting part of a fragrance, often lingering for hours. Common base notes include sandalwood, vanilla, musk, and amber.

Balsamic — Sweet, warm, resinous notes reminiscent of tree resins and balms. Examples include benzoin, Peru balsam, and tolu balsam.

Blind Buy — Purchasing a fragrance without smelling it first. R3VIVE Vault exists to eliminate blind buying — our discovery atomisers let you try before you commit.

C

Chypre — A classic fragrance family built on an accord of bergamot, oakmoss, and labdanum. Named after the island of Cyprus, chypre fragrances are sophisticated and complex.

Concentration — The percentage of aromatic compounds in a fragrance, which determines its strength and longevity. From lightest to strongest: Eau Fraîche, Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Parfum/Extrait.

Compliment Getter — A fragrance that consistently generates positive reactions from others. Popular compliment getters include Dior Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel.

D

Decant — A portion of fragrance transferred from the original bottle into a smaller container. Decants are perfect for trying fragrances without buying a full bottle.

Designer Fragrance — A fragrance produced by a fashion house or well-known brand, typically widely available and marketed to a broad audience. Examples include Dior, Chanel, and Versace fragrances.

Dry Down — The final stage of a fragrance after it has fully developed on your skin. The dry down reveals the base notes and is often the truest representation of how a fragrance will smell throughout the day.

E

Eau de Cologne (EdC) — A light fragrance concentration typically containing 2-4% aromatic compounds. Lasts 1-2 hours.

Eau de Parfum (EdP) — A moderate-to-strong concentration containing 15-20% aromatic compounds. Lasts 6-8 hours. The most popular concentration for fine fragrance.

Eau de Toilette (EdT) — A moderate concentration containing 5-15% aromatic compounds. Lasts 3-5 hours.

Extrait de Parfum — The highest concentration, containing 20-40% aromatic compounds. Also called pure parfum. Lasts 8-12+ hours.

F

Flanker — A new fragrance released as a variation of an existing popular scent. For example, Dior Sauvage Elixir is a flanker of the original Dior Sauvage.

Fougère — A fragrance family characterised by lavender, coumarin, and oakmoss. French for fern, fougère fragrances are a cornerstone of men's perfumery.

Fresh — A broad category describing clean, light, invigorating scents. Includes citrus, aquatic, green, and ozonic sub-categories.

G-H

Gourmand — Fragrances featuring edible-smelling notes like vanilla, chocolate, caramel, coffee, and honey. Modern gourmands are hugely popular in the UK fragrance scene.

Green — Notes that evoke freshly cut grass, leaves, stems, and herbs. Green fragrances feel natural and outdoorsy.

Heart Notes — The middle layer of a fragrance that emerges as the top notes fade, typically appearing 15-30 minutes after application. Heart notes form the core character of a fragrance.

I-L

ISO E Super — A widely-used synthetic molecule that adds a smooth, woody, velvety quality. It is the sole ingredient in Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules.

Layering — Wearing two or more fragrances simultaneously to create a unique scent combination. A popular technique among fragrance enthusiasts.

Longevity — How long a fragrance remains detectable on the skin after application. Longevity varies based on concentration, skin chemistry, and environmental factors.

M-N

Maceration — The ageing process of a fragrance after blending, allowing the ingredients to fully meld together. Like wine, many fragrances improve with maceration.

Musk — Originally derived from the musk deer, modern musks are synthetic. They add warmth, sensuality, and a skin-like quality to fragrances.

Niche Fragrance — A fragrance created by a specialist perfume house focused on artistry rather than mass-market appeal. Niche houses include Creed, Tom Ford Private Blend, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian.

Nose — An informal term for a perfumer — the person who creates fragrances. Also called a nez (French for nose).

Notes — The individual scent components that make up a fragrance. Notes are typically categorised as top, heart, and base.

O-P

Olfactory Fatigue — When your nose becomes temporarily desensitised to a scent after prolonged exposure. This is why you might stop smelling your own fragrance after a few hours, even though others can still detect it.

Oriental — A rich, warm fragrance family featuring notes like amber, vanilla, spices, and resins. Now sometimes referred to as ambery in modern fragrance classification.

Projection — How far a fragrance radiates from the wearer's body. Strong projection means others can smell your fragrance from a distance.

Pyramid — The traditional way of describing a fragrance structure, with top notes at the peak, heart notes in the middle, and base notes at the foundation.

R-S

Reformulation — When a fragrance house changes the formula of an existing fragrance, often due to ingredient regulations, cost, or supply changes. Reformulations can significantly alter how a fragrance smells.

Sillage — The trail of scent left behind as you move. Pronounced see-yazh. A fragrance with strong sillage leaves an impression in a room even after you have left.

Skin Chemistry — How your individual body chemistry interacts with a fragrance, affecting how it smells on you versus someone else. This is why trying fragrances on your own skin is essential — and exactly what R3VIVE Vault discovery atomisers are designed for.

Soliflore — A fragrance designed to highlight a single flower, such as rose, jasmine, or tuberose.

T-W

Top Notes — The initial scents you smell immediately after spraying a fragrance. Top notes are the lightest and most volatile, typically lasting 15-30 minutes. Common top notes include citrus fruits, light herbs, and fresh aldehydes.

Unisex — A fragrance designed to be worn by anyone regardless of gender. The fragrance industry is increasingly moving toward genderless scents.

Vintage — A fragrance that is no longer in production or an older formulation that differs from the current version. Vintage fragrances are highly sought after by collectors.

Woody — A fragrance family characterised by warm, dry wood notes like sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and oud.

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