Bergamot in Perfumery: The citrus note that does far more than sparkle
Fresh, bitter, floral and quietly indispensable: bergamot does far more than open a perfume. Five fragrances show how versatile this Calabrian citrus can be.
Guides
Practical perfume guides, recommendations and explanations designed to make fragrance easier to explore, without unnecessary rules.
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Neroli, Orange Blossom and Petitgrain: Same Tree, Different Mood
One tree, three genuinely different perfume materials. Here’s what actually separates neroli, orange blossom absolute and petitgrain, and why pyramids rarely explain it properly.
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The Strawberry Note: A Fruit Perfumery Had to Invent
Strawberry does not yield a conventional essential oil, yet its scent appears everywhere in perfumery. Here is how the accord is built—and why it deserves better than its candy-store reputation.
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Pistachio in Perfumery: From Green Nut to Gourmand Obsession
Pistachio can smell creamy, toasted, green, floral or completely gourmand. We explore how perfumers use the note and five fragrances that show its evolution.
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Amber in Perfumery:The Note That Doesn’t Really Exist
Amber is everywhere in perfumery, except it is not really a single ingredient. Here is what an amber accord actually is, how it smells and why amber, ambergris and Ambroxan are very different things.
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Iris in Perfumery: Powder, Lipstick and Quiet Drama
It may look delicate, but iris has roots, patience and considerably more personality than a polite purple flower has any…
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The Story of Tuberose: A Flower With Many Personalities
Creamy, narcotic, green or almost bubble-gum sweet: tuberose is one of perfumery’s most dramatic shape-shifters. Here is its story, plus five fragrances that show its different personalities.
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How to Test a Perfume
Testing perfume should be simple, but first impressions, hype and beautiful bottles complicate everything. Here is how to smell more clearly.
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8 Shocking perfume myths that need to retire
Coffee beans are not magic, natural does not automatically mean better, and more sprays cannot rewrite a weak formula. Let us retire eight perfume myths with facts, nuance and a little fragrant nonsense.
