The words of perfume: a small dictionary

You don't need a technical vocabulary to choose a perfume, but a few words can help you understand what's going on, both in boutiques and on product pages. Here are the most common ones, explained simply.

How it's made

• Notes: the scents you can recognize in a perfume, such as bergamot, rose, or vanilla.
• Olfactory pyramid: the top, heart, and base notes. See the structure of a perfume.
• Accord: several raw materials combined to create a new scent, such as a leather or marine accord.
• Olfactory family: the group to which a perfume belongs. See the olfactory families.

How it behaves

• Longevity (persistence): how long it lasts on the skin. On our product pages, this is rated from 1 to 5.
• Sillage: the trail you leave behind as you move. This is also rated from 1 to 5.
• Projection: how far the perfume can be smelled while you are standing still.
• Skin scent: a perfume that stays close to the skin.

Concentrations

• Eau de toilette, eau de parfum, extrait: from the lightest to the most concentrated. See the guide to perfume concentrations.
• Intense, Absolu, Elixir: versions of a perfume. See the different versions of a perfume.

Raw materials

• Essential oil, absolute, resinoid: different ways of extracting fragrance from a plant. See how raw materials are extracted.
• Synthetic molecule: an ingredient created in a laboratory. See perfume molecules.

The people

• Nose: the perfumer who creates the perfume. See the nose.
• Maison: the house that produces the perfumes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between sillage and projection?

Sillage is the trail you leave behind as you move; projection is how far the perfume can be smelled around you while you are standing still.

What does "accord" mean in a perfume?

A combination of raw materials that, when combined, create a new scent: a leather, marine, or tobacco accord.