Absolute - An extraction from a concrete using alcohol. The essential oil of scented flowers and other aromatic plant parts in its purest and most concentrated form. It is extremely expensive. A few important oils used in an absolute form are: geranium, lavender, lily, and rose.
Accord - A combination of a number of different scents which blend together to produce a new fragrance.
Agrestic - "Of the countryside"; odours of heather, forest depths, and the meadow.
Aldehydes - Aromatic chemicals isolated for the first time in the 19th century, but that also occur naturally. Certain aldehydes provide an increased diffusiveness, sparkle, and lift to perfumes, most famously in Chanel No. 5.
Almondy - Bittersweet, soft, and nutty scent.
Amber - An accord in perfumery that is supposed to recall the qualities of ambergris. It is often constructed with labdanum, Tolu balsam, or Peru balsam. Often an accord in Oriental perfumes.
Ambergris - A highly prized perfume ingredient consisting of the oxidized excretion from a sperm whale. It is rarely used in its natural form in perfumery because of its rarity, exorbitant cost, and concerns about sourcing ambergris from live whales rather than from shore-found ambergris. It’s said to have an earthy, sweet, tobacco, and pleasantly animalic scent. It primarily works to bring out other notes in perfumery rather than to impart a particular scent on its own.
Ambrein - The primary scented molecule in ambergris, isolated and used in perfumery. It’s warm, sweet, vanillic, and ambery, with facets of spice and tobacco.
Animalic - Describes fragrances with animal ingredients in natural or synthetic form, including civet, castoreum, musk, or ambergris. The voluptuous, erotic, and sometimes disturbing quality of animalic perfumes can register in an olfactory way, as something “dirty” or animal-smelling, or as a feeling, a mood, or a quality. Sometimes, it can be both.
Aromatic - Having a strong or distinctive smell.
B—E
Balance - A combination of different fragrance notes so adjusted in proportion to one another that none of the individual notes is more prominent than any of the others.
Balsamic - The resin from the bark of trees and shrubs (Peru, Tolu, styrax) that have a rich vanilla scent. Balsamic is a term used to describe perfumes with the soft, ambery aspects these resins impart.
Benzoin - A sweet, balsamic resin used in incense and as a base note in perfume for its vanillic scent and fixative properties. Also known as styrax because it comes from the bark of the styrax tree.
Bergamot - The essential oil from the peel of the nonedible Citrus aurantium fruit that looks like a small orange. Its sweetish, mellow lemony scent is a crucial top note in perfumery.
Calone - A synthetic “marine” note that is supposed to evoke the freshness of the ocean. It has a slight watermelon facet.
Camphoraceous - Describes a fresh, clean, medical fragrance.
Caramel - Sweet, rich, creamy, buttery scent.
Cardamom - An intensely aromatic, sweet spice from the ginger family, in the form of a pod filled with seeds.
Carnation - A smoky, sweet, and clove-like scent, the latter facet due to Eugenol, the primary component of clove.
Cassis - (or black currant bud) A sharp, fruity, almost cat-urine-like scented perfume note.
Cistus - (or Labdanum) A resin from the rockrose bush, traditionally gathered from goats’ beards as they fed on the plant. Labdanum is said to be the note closest to the scent of ambergris. Creamy, soft, vanillic.
Citrus - Fresh, light fragrance characteristic of citrus fruits, but also imitated synthetically.
Civet - In classical perfumery, the cream harvested from the anal gland of the mongoose-like civet animal, often described as cat like. Fecal-smelling when undiluted, civet “rounds” out other notes when used judiciously. Famous as an overdosed note in Guerlain’s Jicky (1889), it is considered one of the first abstract modern scents. Civet is primarily in synthetic form now.
Clove - An aromatic spice similar to cinnamon, but less sweet. Its primary component is Eugenol.
Coniferous - The fragrance note of pine, spruce, juniper and similar such trees, often used in men's fragrances.
Diffusive - A perfume whose fragrance quickly becomes apparent in the air surrounding the wearer.
Dry - The aromatic effect of perfume ingredients such as woods and mosses in contrast to sweet and warm fragrances.
Earthy - The subtle fragrance impression of earth or earth-mould which is found in certain essential oils such as vetiver and patchouli.
Equine - Notes of hay and leather.
F—M
Floral - The general fragrance of flowers.
Fruity - Citrus, berries, tropical, and other non-citrus fruit scents.
Fungal - Molds, yeast, and mushroom scents.
Green - General fragrance of grasses and green plant parts.
Harmony - A pleasing combination of fragrance notes.
Hayfield notes - Usually based on coumarin, which have an odour of new-mown hay.
Heavy - Denotes a fragrance in which the least volatile ingredients, such as mossy or animalic ones, are dominant, giving a very strong effect. Such fragrances are mostly used in chypre and oriental-type perfumes.
Herbaceous - The characteristic general fragrance of herbs and herbal medicines. Sage, rosemary and lavender are examples.
Honey - Used as an ingredient in early Arab perfumes and appears in later European ones (e.g., Honey Water). In modern perfumery a substance providing the sweet aromatic effect of honey and known as Honey (or Miel) is manufactured synthetically.
Indolic - The disquieting, ripe, animalic, and almost excremental facet of scents.
Leather - A perfume accord and category of perfume constructed from various notes, including birch tar, styrax, castoreum, and a variety of synthetic notes.
Light - Delicate, clean, and fresh-laundry scent.
Marine - Iodized scent.
Mellow - Soothing and calming scent.
Metallic - A fragrance reminiscent of metal, providing a clean, cool effect. Metallic notes are used in perfumes to assist in promoting an effect, not as main fragrances.
Minty - A fragrance reminiscent of mint, e.g., peppermint or spearmint. Such fragances are usually used to provide a special, fresh effect in a top note.
Mossy - The general odour of oils obtained from mosses and lichens.
Musk - Produced by the musk deer and excreted by the male during mating season. Musk deer were killed almost to extinction for their valuable musk glands, which were dried, and whose musk “seeds” were removed and steeped in alcohol to create tinctures for perfume. The scent of real musk is warm, with depth and a dark animalic aroma. Many synthetics now can mimic musk scent, but one of the most superior musk synthetics, nitro-musks, which were in Chanel No. 5 and countless other vintages, has been banned due to toxicity concerns. Musk can also be substituted with plant ingredients including ambrette seed and angelica.
Musty - Damp, earthy, or stale odor.
N—W
Narcotic - Exceptionally strong and heavy fragrances obtained from some flowers (e.g. jasmine and tuberose) and animalic ingredients, which need to be used with careful discretion in a perfume.
Ozonic - A perfume accord that attempts to create the smell of fresh air after a thunderstorm.
Peppery - Odour of pepper.
Powdery - Soft and clean scent.
Rich - Fragrances that have numerous layers, notes, and accords in all stages (top, mid, base), creating a multifaceted feel.
Rounded - The overall smoothness and fullness of a fragrance.
Sharp - A strong scent.
Smoky - The slight smell of smoke created in a perfume by certain oils such as Birch Tar Oil. It is used in men's fragrances to provide a leathery effect.
Spicy - Describes in general the distinctive fragrance of essential oils which have been obtained from spices.
Sweet - A sweet and rather sugar-like fragrance such as vanilla.
Tobacco - Fragrances resembling cured tobaccos, which are particularly popular in masculine toiletries.
Wintergreen - Has a very powerful and fresh, medicinal odour.
Woody - Fragrances reminiscent of wood. These fragrances are provided by wood oils, such as cedar, by essential oils from other plants having a wood-like aroma, such as patchouli, and by synthetics.
Sources: Perfume: The Art and Craft of Fragrance by Karen Gilbert ⚜ The Perfume Handbook by Nigel Groom ⚜ Scent & Subversion by Barbara Herman ⚜ Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance by Elise Vernon Pearlstine ⚜ Introduction to Perfumery by Tony Curtis & David G. Williams ⚜ The Big Book of Perfume
I've heard what they say about me. They call me a "saint," and they say that I can "talk to Chaos." But I'm no saint. I can't talk back to the voices. Only listen.
There's this immense amount of energy ready to be directed towards a specific goal, the goal is you. They are definitely action takers they don't stay reluctant for long, it's part of who they are, they just like to see energy explode everywhere, they're passionate and so is the way they express themselves, they don't hold themselves back. They feel like you'd hesitate though, it makes them feel discouraged, it's like everytime they try to let you know proudly the kind of person they are you seem to back away, as if you're not so contented with what you see, they believe they're probably not your type, hence the reluctance from yourside. They try to change themselves sometimes to fit your standards, they try so hard to fit in what would seem like your ideal type. They think you're a perfectionist so you always look for people that share the same vibes with you
Pile 2:
This person feels like your business is their business, they're invasive. The reason is, they feel disconnected from you so they're using indirect ways to reach you, even if means spying or meddling in your business. It hurts them deep inside even if they appear rough. They cannot express their emotions for some reason. They feel lonely most of the time. It's hard for them to explain themselves because it seems like everything is not fine with them or they think that you'll see it this way, so they don't even try. Even if you think you know them they won't show you who they truly are. They're contradictory, they wanna know things about you but they won't let you even get close.
Pile 3:
This person is exited for what to come next with you, they talk about you to their friends. They put a lot of hope on you. They give a lot of value to this connection. With you they feel like they can let their walls down, they trust you. They do feel like your presence is important, they don't wanna miss it or make things harder so they try to go with the current to keep things calm. They believe that deep down you actually care for them, they know that you try to hide it from them but it's as clear for them as the sun. They try to sweep all of their negative emotions under the rug and keep up a good behaviour, they want to let you know that they are a good and reliable person so that maybe you can be more open to them.
Pile one : cards ( the devil, judgement, the lovers)
Pile one i’m hearing that it was a long time coming. Your future spouse feels truly intense about you, it’s weird you just provoke a reaction deep inside them. It’s not uncomfortable but it takes some time to get used to. I feel a sense of belonging and celebration, your fs feels like you’re a dream come true, the sexual tension between the both of you is intense. I could cut it with a knife. This person spends a lot of time watching you sleep, not in a creepy way but they like how in peace you look when you sleep. This person is experienced when it comes to sex, and they love taking charge and having you at their mercy. This person is quick witted and sharp when it comes to their mind. They would spend a lot of time looking at your pictures, they can’t get over how beautiful you are.They have a zest for life and a sense of freedom that truly inspires you. They would be amazing mentor to you ( you guys could have a big age difference, big for you at least). You are going to learn a lot from this person. I feel they get surprised by how much power you have over them, it truly feels like saying no to you is difficult, they just want to serve your desires.
message me for a personal reading <3
Pile two: cards ( the magician, three of coins, eight of cups)
Pile number two your future spouse manifested the sh*t out of you ! they truly feel like they did lol, down to the look i’m hearing. They truly find you enticing and sexy. They are going to love to show you off. You are going to meet your FS after a period of grief in your life, you were a bit depressed if i’m being honest. You might meet them at a social networking event, I feel like they’re just going to appear in your life and you’re going to just “know”.I didn’t get the tower card but it’s going to feel like a tower moment meeting this person, seeing this person. This person has so much power, they are a boss, manager, and could own their own business. But yet they find themselves kneeling in front of you. I LOVE THIS ENERGY! They have a lot of passion for you, and they will constantly compliment you. I feel like they notice the little details and it makes you feel seen. This person feels like you were the only missing piece in their life and i feel like everyday that goes by they realized how true this statement is.
message me for a personal reading <3
Pile three: cards ( Page of coins, The fool, Strength, Four of coins)
Pile three you will be friend with your FS before you guys get in a relationship, this person is really going to surprise you. The amount of joy in this relationship is uncanny. This person brings a lot of good things in your life, emotionally and financially. I see you guys going on several vacations together. Sometimes things could feel unclear and your person could spend a lot of time in their mind. But their love for you is real and you will feel like they have the key to your heart. You will keep your relationship private for the most part. People will know you guys are together but outside of this information I don’t feel like they would know much more. This is a powerful love that makes you appreciate the little things and life and someone for who they are not what you think they could be. A lot of trust in each other too. You guys stand like a pillar next to the other.
janainaart
kaledo-art
romaincrisis
areudirty
discoholicmusic
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
