Fragrance Glossary of Terms

Fragrance Glossary

A fragrance glossary is a comprehensive list of terms used in the world of perfumery to describe the different aspects of fragrances. In this glossary, we will explore the most commonly used terms in the fragrance industry.

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1. Accord - An accord is a blend of two or more fragrance notes that create a unique scent. Accords are often used as the basis for creating perfumes.
2. Amber - Processed from Fir Tres giving a full-bodied warm fragrance. It’s an accord created with perfume notes such as labdanum, vanilla, and balsams such as benzoin and Tolu Balsam, which are sweet, warm resins that both come from tree barks. Amber is the cornerstone accord of Oriental fragrances.
3. Aquatic - Aquatic fragrances are made up of scents that are reminiscent of the ocean, such as sea salt and seaweed.
4. Aroma Chemicals - Synthetic compounds used in perfumery to create fragrance notes.
5. Balsams - Warm, ambery, soft vanillic notes such as benzoin, Tolu balsam, and tonka bean. They’re in most Oriental fragrances.
6. Base Notes - The foundation of a fragrance that is usually the longest-lasting and is the most noticeable when the top notes fade.
7. Bergamot - The essential oil from the rind of the Citrus aurantium, an inedible fruit that looks like a small orange.
8. Chypre - A fragrance family characterised by a combination of citrus, oakmoss, patchouli, and labdanum.
9. Citrus - A fragrance family that features the bright and refreshing scent of citrus fruits such as lemon, bergamot, and orange.
10. Dry Down - The final stage of a fragrance's evolution on the skin, after the top and middle notes have evaporated.
11. Essential Oils - A concentrated distillation of a fragrant plant material that is often used as an ingredient in fragrance. Usually extracted via steam distillation.
12. Floral - A fragrance family that features the scent of flowers such as rose, jasmine, and lily of the valley.
13. Fougere - A fragrance family characterized by the combination of lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin.
14. Fragrance Family - Fragrance families refer to the different categories of fragrances. The main fragrance families include floral, oriental, woody, and fresh.
15. Fresh - Fresh fragrances are made up of clean and crisp scents that are often associated with citrus and aquatic notes.
16. Gourmand - A fragrance family that features edible and sweet scents like vanilla, chocolate, and caramel.
17. Head Notes - The first impression of a fragrance that is the most noticeable when it is initially applied.
18. Heart Notes - The middle stage of a fragrance that becomes apparent after the top notes have faded.
19. Middle Notes - Also known as "heart notes," these are the scent components that emerge after the top notes evaporate and provide the body of the fragrance.
20. Musk - A fragrance note that is often used as a base note to give depth and warmth to a fragrance.
21. Oriental - A fragrance family characterized by the combination of spices, resins, and floral notes.
22. Perfume Oil - The concentrated fragrance mixture that is diluted with alcohol and other ingredients to create a perfume.
23. Perfumer - A professional who creates fragrances using a combination of natural and synthetic fragrance notes.
24. Sillage - The trail of scent that is left behind when someone wearing a fragrance passes by.
25. Top Notes - The first scent impression that is perceived when a fragrance is sprayed or applied.
26. Woody - A fragrance family that features the scent of wood and includes notes such as sandalwood, cedar, and vetiver.
27. Ylang-Ylang - A fragrant flower that is often used in perfumery to provide a sweet and exotic floral note.

Candle Chandler - Handmade Candles and Candle Accessories

A Candle Chandler? - "a handmade maker and seller of tallow, wax candles, and also usually soap". A chandlery was originally the office in a wealthy medieval household responsible for wax, candles and soaps as well as the room in which the candles were kept. 

We are a modern-day handmade candle chandler, hand pouring soy wax candles using traditional methods and skills but also other fragrance items such as reed diffusers, tealights and wax melts.

About FelinFach

     

Located in Pembrokeshire Wales, our ethos is defined in the three words...

NATURAL TRADITIONAL HANDMADE.

• Hand woven iconic Welsh blankets and Welsh tapestry blankets
• Handmade candles, fragrance, and candle accessories
• Natural Dyeing Craft courses
• Yarn shop, hand dyed yarn, yarn bowls, project bags, tools and accessories for knitters and crafters
• Welsh Gifts, souvenirs, made in Wales, handmade in Wales

We are a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool, All Things Wales, Global Welsh and Red Dragon America.

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Last update 14th April 2023