Here’s a quick glossary of 20 essential perfumery words every newcomer should know—because knowing the lingo makes the fragrant journey a whole lot sweeter:
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Note
Definition: Individual scent components in a fragrance (like citrus, rose, or vanilla). Think of them like “flavors” that combine to make the overall perfume.
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Top Note
Definition: The first scent you smell after spraying, often fresh or citrusy. These grab your attention but fade quickly—like a splashy opening act at a concert.
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Heart (Middle) Note
Definition: The core of the perfume that emerges once the top notes evaporate. This is the perfume’s main melody, usually floral, fruity, or spicy.
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Base Note
Definition: The grounding scents that linger the longest, like woods, musk, or amber. They’re the finale that sticks around on your skin.
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Accord
Definition: A harmonious blend of multiple notes that form a completely new and distinct scent—kind of like mixing colors to create a totally different shade.
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Sillage
Definition: The scented trail your perfume leaves behind (a.k.a. your fragrance “footprint”). High sillage = people can smell you coming (in a good way, hopefully).
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Projection
Definition: How far a perfume “projects” from your body. If sillage is the trail behind you, projection is how much the scent radiates around you.
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Dry Down
Definition: The final phase of the perfume once it’s fully settled on your skin. This is where base notes shine and you see the perfume’s true character.
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Olfactive Family
Definition: A classification system for fragrances (e.g., Floral, Oriental, Woody, Fresh). It’s like sorting your music playlists by genre.
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Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Definition: A lighter concentration of fragrance oils (around 5-15%). Typically more affordable and great for everyday spritzing.
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Eau de Parfum (EDP)
Definition: A stronger concentration (around 15-20%). Has better staying power than an EDT, so you can still catch whiffs of it by day’s end.
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Extrait de Parfum (Parfum/Perfume)
Definition: The most concentrated form (20-30% or more). Also the most luxurious (and often pricey), designed to last for hours without reapplication.
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Nose (Perfumer)
Definition: The mastermind behind the fragrance—essentially the “chef” who concocts the recipe. Their trained nose can detect and balance even the tiniest scent details.
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Essential Oil
Definition: Natural aromatic oils extracted from plants (like lavender or bergamot). Often used as building blocks in perfume formulas.
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Absolute
Definition: An ultra-concentrated, super-potent aromatic extract (e.g., jasmine absolute). It’s like the espresso shot of the perfume world.
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Resinoid
Definition: A thick, resin-like material extracted from plants or gums (e.g., myrrh, frankincense). Adds depth and richness to a fragrance.
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Gourmand
Definition: A fragrance style that smells edible or dessert-like—think vanilla, chocolate, caramel, or cotton candy. Perfect for the sweet tooth in you.
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Fougère
Definition: (Pronounced “foo-jair.”) A classic olfactive family meaning “fern-like.” Usually features lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin for a fresh, masculine vibe.
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Flanker
Definition: A new fragrance that’s based on an existing, popular one (like a sequel to your fave movie). Same DNA, but with a twist—different notes or concentrations.
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Layering
Definition: Wearing multiple fragrances (or matching body lotions and shower gels) to create a custom scent signature. It’s like perfume mixology for your skin.
Understanding these terms is like having a backstage pass to the perfumery world. Go forth, explore, and let your newfound vocab guide you to your perfect scent!
