Rayhaan notes, explained
The 50 Rayhaan scents with a note list name 136 different notes between them. 50 notes return in three or more scents and have a page of their own; every note is explained below in a sentence.
The most listed notes
With the number of scents that list each: Bergamot leads with 25.
Bergamot (25)Musk (22)Vanilla (22)Patchouli (19)Amber (18)Sandalwood (17)Rose (12)Cedarwood (11)Tonka bean (11)Cardamom (10)Jasmine (10)Lavender (10)Mandarin (10)Orange blossom (10)Lemon (9)Vetiver (8)Cinnamon (7)Ambergris (6)Amberwood (6)Pink pepper (6)Cypress (5)Ginger (5)Labdanum (5)Leather (5)Mint (5)Oud (5)Ambroxan (4)Benzoin (4)Coconut (4)Coriander (4)Elemi (4)Freesia (4)Geranium (4)Grapefruit (4)Incense (4)Iris (4)Orange (4)Tuberose (4)Ambrette (3)Clary sage (3)Cocoa (3)Cumin (3)Fig (3)Guaiac wood (3)Oakmoss (3)Pear (3)Pineapple (3)Plum (3)Praline (3)Violet (3)
Citrus
Bergamot
Grown mainly in Calabria in southern Italy, this citrus fruit gives a peel oil that smells bright, fresh and faintly bitter, with a floral edge.
Listed by 25 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with bergamot
Mandarin
Pressed from the peel of a small, loose-skinned citrus fruit, mandarin oil smells sweet, juicy and gentler than lemon or grapefruit.
Listed by 10 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with mandarin
Lemon
Sharp, zesty and clean, lemon peel oil is one of the most recognisable fresh smells in perfumery.
Listed by 9 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with lemon
Grapefruit
Tart, juicy and slightly bitter, grapefruit peel oil gives a vivid citrus smell with a sparkling edge.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with grapefruit
Orange
Orange oil comes from the peel of the sweet orange and smells juicy, sunny and sweet, with only a hint of bitterness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with orange
Citrus fruits
As an umbrella term, citrus fruits names a group of peels such as lemon, orange or mandarin, not one material, and usually stands for a fresh, zesty, juicy effect.
Calamansi
Calamansi is a small citrus fruit from Southeast Asia that smells sharp, juicy and tangy, somewhere between mandarin and lime, with a bright, slightly sour freshness.
Listed in Palawan (top).
Citron
Citron is a large, thick-skinned citrus fruit whose peel smells fresh, lemony and slightly sweet, with a more floral, softer and less sharp character than ordinary lemon.
Listed in Pacific Aura (top).
Lime
Green, sharp and zesty, lime peel gives a more tart and slightly bitter citrus smell than lemon or orange.
Listed in Aquatica (top).
Fruit
Coconut
Creamy, sweet and softly nutty, coconut gives a tropical, milky note drawn from the white flesh of the nut.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with coconut
Fig
Fig covers both the green, milky smell of the leaves and branches and the soft, sweet, slightly seedy smell of the ripe fruit, giving a note that is part fruity, part woody and part green.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with fig
Pear
Lightly sweet and juicy, pear has a gentle, watery fruit smell with a slightly green freshness.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with pear
Pineapple
Tropical, juicy and sweet with a tangy, slightly sharp edge, pineapple brings a sunny fruit note to a blend.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with pineapple
Plum
Plum smells of ripe, juicy and sweet fruit with a dark, jammy depth, and often has a slightly tart skin and a faint almond-like hint from the stone.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with plum
Apple
Crisp, juicy and fresh, the apple note can lean green and tart or round and sweet, depending on the variety it suggests.
Blackcurrant
The dark berry of a shrub also known as cassis, blackcurrant smells tart, juicy and a little green.
Listed in Pacific Aura (top) and Pretty in Pink (top).
Raspberry
Sweet, tart and jammy, raspberry gives a bright red-fruit smell with a faint floral side.
Apricot
Warm and velvety, apricot has a soft, juicy fruit smell with a little floral note, gentle rather than tart.
Listed in Pacific Aura (heart).
Blackberry
Blackberry is a dark berry note that smells sweet, tart and juicy, with a deep, jammy facet and a slightly green, woody edge from the leaves and canes.
Listed in Dahliya (base).
Dates
Dates are the dried fruit of the date palm and smell dark, sweet and sticky, with notes of caramel, raisin and a faint woody, tobacco-like depth.
Listed in Pacific Aura (base).
Lychee
With translucent flesh and a tropical origin, lychee smells juicy, light and sweet, and has a delicate rose-like floral side.
Listed in Divine (top).
Mango
Mango is a tropical fruit note that smells juicy, sweet and slightly resinous, with a sunny, peachy quality and sometimes a faint green or turpentine-like edge from the skin.
Listed in Tropical Vibe (top).
Melon
Melon is a juicy, watery fruit note that smells fresh, sweet and slightly green, often with a cucumber-like coolness, and is usually made from aroma materials rather than extracted from the fruit.
Listed in Dahliya (top).
Peach
Velvety, sweet and juicy, peach has a soft fruit smell with a creamy, slightly floral side.
Listed in Dahliya (top).
Pomarose
Pomarose is a modern aroma material that smells of rose, apple and plum together, with a fruity, slightly dark and honeyed floral character.
Listed in Palawan (heart).
Sapodilla
Sapodilla is a tropical fruit with soft, brown flesh that smells sweet and malty, like a mix of caramel, brown sugar and pear, with a gentle, creamy warmth.
Listed in Nava Sol (top).
Strawberry
Sweet and juicy with a light caramel-like warmth, strawberry gives a ripe, rounded red-fruit smell.
Listed in Kiss (top).
Watermelon
Watermelon smells light, watery and sweet, with a crisp green freshness that recalls the juicy flesh and the rind, and it is usually built from aroma materials.
Listed in Pacific Aloha (heart).
Flowers
Rose
The petals of the rose give a classic floral smell that can be fresh and dewy, honeyed and rich, or slightly peppery, depending on the variety.
Listed by 12 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with rose
Jasmine
Small white jasmine flowers are picked for their heady fragrance, which is rich, warm and honeyed, with a touch of fruit and a faintly animal warmth.
Listed by 10 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with jasmine
Orange blossom
The white flower of the orange tree gives a note that is honeyed, fresh and soft, with a slightly citrusy, green edge.
Listed by 10 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with orange blossom
Freesia
Freesia is a delicate flower that smells fresh, light and slightly peppery, with a soft, clean floral sweetness and a hint of citrus and green.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with freesia
Geranium
The leaves of the scented pelargonium give an oil that smells green, rosy and slightly minty, with a lemony freshness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with geranium
Iris
The dried root of the iris plant gives the note usually called orris, which is cool, powdery and slightly earthy, with a buttery floral softness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with iris
Tuberose
Tuberose is a white flower with a rich, creamy and heady scent, combining sweet floral notes with a green, slightly rubbery and spicy edge.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with tuberose
Violet
Soft, sweet and powdery, violet has a cool floral smell with a green, leafy side and a faint hint of fruit.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with violet
Carnation
Carnation smells spicy and floral, with a clove-like warmth, a peppery edge and a soft, sweet, slightly powdery floral background.
Listed in Bluetiful (heart) and Imperia Legacy (heart).
Heliotrope
Sweet, soft and powdery, heliotrope has a smell close to vanilla and almond, with a light floral warmth.
Lily of the valley
Fresh, green and softly floral, lily of the valley, also called muguet, smells of a spring garden after rain, with a dewy lightness.
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large, creamy flower with a smell that combines soft floral, lemony and slightly woody facets, giving a clean, rounded and gently fresh white floral impression.
Neroli
Distilled from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, neroli oil smells fresh, floral and gently bitter, with a hint of citrus and green.
Listed in Adonis Icarus (heart) and Fresh Wave (heart).
Peony
Soft, rosy and lightly fresh, peony gives a fluffy, watery floral smell with a delicate green and slightly fruity side.
White flowers
Creamy, heady blossoms such as jasmine, gardenia or tuberose fall under white flowers, an umbrella term that names a floral effect rather than a single material.
Listed in Kiss (heart) and Tropical Vibe (heart).
Grapefruit blossom
Grapefruit blossom is the flower of the grapefruit tree, and as a note it smells softly floral and citrusy, with a fresh, slightly bitter greenness and a clean, delicate sweetness.
Listed in Azul (heart).
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a tropical flower that smells lightly floral and fruity, with a tart, berry-like freshness and a faint green, watery quality.
Listed in Aquatica (heart).
Lily
Lily is a large white flower whose scent is creamy, fresh and slightly spicy, with a clean, waxy and green character; the note is typically built from aroma materials.
Listed in Bluetiful (heart).
Marigold
Marigold smells green, bitter and slightly herbal, with a dry, sunny floral facet and a hint of fruit and tea-like warmth.
Listed in Bluetiful (heart).
Narcissus
Narcissus is a spring flower whose absolute smells green, heady and slightly animalic, with a hay-like, leathery depth under a cool floral sweetness.
Listed in Bluetiful (heart).
Orchid
Orchid notes are usually a soft, creamy floral accord rather than an extract, with a smooth, slightly sweet and sometimes vanilla-like feel.
Listed in Dahliya (heart).
Osmanthus
Osmanthus is a small Asian flower that smells of apricot and peach with a soft, leathery, tea-like floral warmth, and a fruity, creamy sweetness.
Listed in Ayka (heart).
Ylang-ylang
Ylang-ylang flowers come from a tropical tree and give a creamy, sweet and heady smell, with a banana-like fruitiness and a jasmine-like richness.
Listed in Aquatica (heart).
Spices, herbs and tea
Cardamom
The seed pods of a plant related to ginger give cardamom its smell, which is spicy, aromatic and slightly sweet, with a cool, eucalyptus-like freshness.
Listed by 10 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cardamom
Lavender
Lavender is a purple-flowered Mediterranean herb whose oil smells fresh, herbal and floral, with a slightly camphor-like edge.
Listed by 10 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with lavender
Cinnamon
Cinnamon comes from the dried inner bark of a tropical tree and smells warm, sweet and spicy, with a faintly woody edge.
Listed by 7 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cinnamon
Pink pepper
Despite the name, pink pepper comes from the dried berries of the Peruvian pepper tree and smells fresh, lightly peppery and a little rosy and citrusy.
Listed by 6 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with pink pepper
Ginger
The knobbly root of a tropical plant, ginger smells warm, peppery and zesty, with a fresh, slightly lemony sparkle.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with ginger
Mint
Cool, sweet and green, mint comes from the leaves of aromatic herbs and gives a lively, refreshing smell.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with mint
Coriander
Coriander smells fresh, citrusy and lightly spicy, with a clean, woody and slightly floral facet that comes from the seeds rather than the leaves.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with coriander
Clary sage
Clary sage is an aromatic herb that smells herbal, slightly sweet and musky, with green, tea-like and hay-like facets and a soft, warm depth.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with clary sage
Cumin
Warm, earthy and savoury, cumin is the seed of a small herb, with a dry, slightly animal edge.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cumin
Anise
Anise smells of sweet, warm liquorice, with a spicy, slightly herbal freshness; star anise has a similar but rounder and more resinous character.
Listed in Imperia Intense (top) and Terra (heart).
Artemisia
Artemisia is a family of aromatic plants, and as a note it smells herbal, bitter and green, with a dry, slightly camphorous and tea-like depth.
Listed in Elixir (top) and Imperia Legacy (top).
Davana
Davana is an aromatic plant from India whose oil smells fruity and herbaceous, with warm facets of dried fruit, apple and sweet spice, and a slightly boozy, tobacco-like depth.
Juniper
Juniper berries smell crisp, green and resinous, with a piney, slightly peppery freshness and a faint sweetness that recalls gin.
Listed in Dark Leather (top) and Vantage (heart).
Pepper
Dry, sharp and warm, pepper comes from the dried berries of a climbing vine, and has a woody side with a touch of citrus.
Listed in Imperia Intense (top) and Nocturno (top).
Rosemary
Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb whose needle-like leaves smell fresh, herbal and camphorous, with a green, slightly woody and pine-like clarity.
Listed in Fresh Wave (top) and Ocean Rush (heart).
Saffron
Saffron consists of the dried stigmas of a crocus flower, and it smells dry, warm and leathery, with a honeyed, slightly metallic edge.
Sage
The silvery leaves of the sage herb give a dry, green and aromatic note, with a faint camphor-like and earthy quality.
Sichuan pepper
Sichuan pepper is a spice that smells citrusy and peppery, with a bright, zesty, slightly floral and woody freshness rather than the biting heat of black pepper.
Spices
An umbrella term that names a group, not one material, spices usually stand for warm, aromatic seasonings such as cinnamon, clove, cardamom and pepper.
Listed in Corium (top) and Tonquin Giza (top).
Basil
Green, fresh and slightly peppery, basil is a leafy kitchen herb with a gentle sweetness and a hint of aniseed.
Listed in Pacific Aura (heart).
Carrot seeds
Carrot seeds give an oil that smells earthy, woody and slightly sweet, with a dry, root-like depth and a faint floral, orris-like softness.
Listed in Pacific Aura (heart).
Clove
Dried from the flower buds of a tropical tree, clove smells warm, sweet and sharp, with a faintly medicinal edge.
Listed in Tiger (top).
Green notes
Green notes is an umbrella term for a group, not one material, standing for fresh, leafy and grassy smells such as cut grass, crushed leaves and stems.
Listed in Bluetiful (top).
Laurel
Laurel is the bay leaf, and it smells herbal, green and slightly spicy, with a camphor-like freshness and a warm, dry, aromatic depth.
Listed in Pacific (heart).
Mate
Mate is the leaves of the yerba mate plant, and it smells grassy and tea-like, with a green, slightly smoky and herbal freshness.
Listed in Dark Leather (heart).
Nutmeg
The seed of a tropical evergreen tree, nutmeg smells warm, sweet and slightly nutty, with a soft, woody spice.
Listed in Tiger (top).
Tarragon
Tarragon is a culinary herb that smells green, fresh and sweet, with a clear anise-like warmth and a slightly spicy, hay-like facet.
Listed in Cádiz (heart).
Tea
Tea in perfumery suggests the dry, leafy smell of an infusion, soft and slightly bitter, without naming a particular variety.
Listed in Equinox (heart).
Violet leaf
Violet leaf is the foliage of the violet plant, and it smells green, cool and slightly watery, with a fresh, cucumber-like crispness and a faint metallic, earthy edge.
Listed in Jungle Vibe (heart).
Wormwood
Wormwood is a bitter herb that smells green, herbal and dry, with a cool, camphor-like freshness and a slightly anise-like edge.
Listed in Terra (heart).
Woods and moss
Patchouli
The leaves of a tropical herb give patchouli its smell, which is earthy, dark and woody, with a damp, sweet and slightly camphor-like side.
Listed by 19 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with patchouli
Sandalwood
The heartwood of the sandalwood tree gives a creamy, soft and slightly milky woody smell with a faint sweetness.
Listed by 17 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with sandalwood
Cedarwood
Dry, clean and lightly resinous, cedarwood has the scent of freshly sharpened pencils, with a warm woody sweetness underneath.
Listed by 11 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cedarwood
Vetiver
Extracted from the roots of a tall tropical grass, vetiver smells earthy, smoky and woody, with a green, slightly bitter freshness.
Listed by 8 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with vetiver
Amberwood
Amberwood is a modern aroma material that smells woody and ambery, with a dry, warm, slightly earthy and mineral depth.
Listed by 6 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with amberwood
Cypress
A tall evergreen conifer, cypress gives a fresh, green and resinous smell that is woody, slightly piney and aromatic.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cypress
Oud
Formed in agarwood trees as a reaction to a fungal infection, oud is a dark, resinous wood that smells deep, smoky and slightly animalic.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with oud
Woody notes
An umbrella term for a group, not one material, woody notes stands for the dry, warm or creamy smells of woods such as cedar or sandalwood.
Listed in Cordova (base), Nocturno Elixir (base), Pacific (base) and Pretty in Pink (base).
Guaiac wood
Guaiac wood oil is distilled from the wood of a South American tree and smells smoky, sweet and slightly tea-like, with a soft rosy tone.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with guaiac wood
Oakmoss
A pale lichen that grows on oak trees, oakmoss smells earthy, damp and mossy, with a sweet, slightly leathery forest-floor depth.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with oakmoss
Birch
In perfumery, birch is usually the tar distilled from the bark, which smells smoky, dry and leathery, with a hint of burnt wood.
Listed in Dark Leather (base) and Terra (base).
Cashmere wood
Soft and warm, cashmere wood is a woody-musky note usually built from modern aroma materials rather than taken from a single tree.
Listed in Imperia Intense (base) and Vanilla Vibe (base).
Cade oil
Cade oil is distilled from juniper wood and smells smoky, tarry and leathery, with a dry, resinous and slightly sweet depth.
Listed in Pharaoh (top).
Driftwood
Driftwood is a note for dry, pale, sun-bleached and weathered wood, and it smells woody, slightly salty and faintly smoky, with a dry, mineral, sea-washed feel.
Listed in Granada (base).
Oak
Oak smells of dry, dark wood, with a slightly smoky, leathery and sweet depth, and it can also recall the barrels in which spirits are aged.
Listed in Valhalla (base).
Rosewood
Rosewood smells woody and softly floral, with a fresh, slightly spicy and citrusy edge and a smooth, rounded, rose-like sweetness.
Listed in Wood Noir (top).
Amber, resins and incense
Amber
Not a single material but a warm, sweet accord, amber is typically built from resins such as labdanum and benzoin, with a soft, powdery, vanilla-like glow.
Listed by 18 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with amber
Labdanum
Gathered from the rock-rose shrub as a sticky resin, labdanum smells warm, ambery and sweet, with leathery, slightly animal and honeyed tones.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with labdanum
Benzoin
Warm, soft and vanilla-like, benzoin is a sweet balsamic resin from trees of South-East Asia, with a hint of cinnamon.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with benzoin
Elemi
Elemi is a tree resin from the Philippines that smells fresh, lemony and peppery, with a light, balsamic, incense-like character.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with elemi
Incense
Incense comes from the dried resin of Boswellia trees, also called olibanum or frankincense, and smells smoky, dry and resinous, with a faint lemony freshness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with incense
Fir resin
Fir resin is the sticky sap of fir trees, and it smells fresh, balsamic and piney, with a sharp, clean coolness and a sweet, sticky resinous depth.
Listed in Floriana (base).
Lentisk
Lentisk is the mastic tree, and its resin smells fresh, pine-like and slightly bitter, with a clean, green and balsamic facet.
Listed in Ocean Rush (heart).
Myrrh
Tapped from Commiphora trees as a gum resin, myrrh smells warm, bitter and balsamic, with a slightly medicinal edge and a smoky sweetness.
Listed in Vantage (heart).
Opoponax
Opoponax is a gum resin, related to myrrh, that smells warm, sweet and balsamic, with a rich, honeyed, slightly spicy and animalic depth.
Listed in Terra (base).
Leather and tobacco
Leather
Built from smoky, resinous and tarry ingredients rather than real hide, the leather note smells dry, warm and slightly animalic.
Listed by 5 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with leather
Tobacco
Tobacco notes come from cured leaves and smell sweet, hay-like and honeyed, with a dark, slightly smoky warmth.
Listed in Fresh Wave (base) and Italia (base).
Suede
Softer and smoother than leather, the suede note is a powdery, velvety accord that feels warm, dry and slightly sweet.
Listed in Pharaoh (heart).
Vanilla and sweet notes
Vanilla
Cured pods of a climbing orchid give vanilla its smell, which is sweet, creamy, warm and comforting, with a soft, slightly smoky depth.
Listed by 22 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with vanilla
Tonka bean
The seed of a South American tree, tonka bean smells sweet and warm, like a mix of vanilla, almond and freshly cut hay.
Listed by 11 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with tonka bean
Cocoa
Cocoa smells of dark, slightly bitter chocolate, with roasted, powdery and faintly sweet facets that range from dry and earthy to rich and creamy depending on the other notes around it.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with cocoa
Praline
Praline smells of caramelised nuts and sugar, with a sweet, roasted, buttery and slightly creamy gourmand character, much like a confectioner's nut paste.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with praline
Boozy notes
Boozy notes is an umbrella term for a group, not one material, standing for the smells of spirits and liqueurs such as rum, whisky and cognac.
Caramel
Based on the smell of cooked sugar, the caramel note is sweet, toasty and buttery, with a faint burnt edge.
Honey
Honey smells sweet, warm and waxy, with a golden, sticky richness and sometimes a faint animalic, floral or tobacco-like facet.
Listed in Imperia Legacy (base) and Italia (heart).
Milk
Milk is a creamy note that smells soft, smooth and slightly sweet, with a warm, lactonic and gently fatty quality.
Rum
Rum smells of a sweet, warm, boozy spirit, with notes of molasses, dark sugar and a faint wooden, vanilla-like depth.
Listed in Aquatica (base) and Tropical Vibe (top).
Almond
Nutty, creamy and sweet, almond often suggests marzipan, while its bitter form adds a slightly cherry-like edge.
Listed in Tonquin Giza (heart).
Chestnut
Chestnut smells of roasted nuts, with a sweet, soft, slightly smoky and earthy warmth that recalls autumn and a rounded, mealy, almost creamy sweetness.
Listed in Corium (top).
Coffee
Coffee smells roasted, dark and slightly bitter, with a warm, nutty and sweet edge, and it ranges from sharp and dry to smooth and creamy.
Listed in Pharaoh (heart).
Cognac
Cognac smells of a warm, fruity and woody spirit, with notes of dried fruit, oak and a soft, boozy sweetness.
Listed in Valhalla (top).
Coumarin
Coumarin is an aroma material found in tonka beans and many plants, and it smells of sweet hay and almonds, with a warm, soft and slightly vanilla-like sweetness.
Listed in Tonquin Giza (heart).
Maltol
Maltol is an aroma material that smells of caramel and candy floss, with a warm, sugary and slightly fruity sweetness.
Listed in Terra (base).
Sugar cane
Sugar cane smells sweet, grassy and slightly molasses-like, with a fresh, green sweetness that is lighter than caramel and closer to the juice of the plant.
Listed in Aquatica (base).
Musk and aroma molecules
Musk
Synthetic molecules supply most musk today, and the note smells soft, smooth and skin-like, from clean and powdery to warm and slightly sweet.
Listed by 22 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with musk
Ambergris
A waxy substance produced in sperm whales and matured by the sea, ambergris smells sweet, marine and skin-like, with a soft, earthy warmth.
Listed by 6 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with ambergris
Ambroxan
Warm, dry and slightly salty, ambroxan is a modern woody-ambery aroma molecule with a smooth, skin-like mineral quality.
Listed by 4 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with ambroxan
Ambrette
Ambrette comes from the seeds of a hibiscus plant and smells soft, musky and slightly fruity, with a warm, pear-like, floral and woody nuance.
Listed by 3 scents. All Rayhaan perfumes with ambrette
Aldehydes
Aldehydes are a family of aroma materials that give a sparkling, soapy, waxy or citrus-peel lift, ranging from clean and metallic to fatty and fresh.
Listed in Cedrus Blanc (top) and Imperia Legacy (top).
Cashmeran
Cashmeran is a modern aroma material that smells woody, musky and softly spicy, with a warm, slightly fruity and velvety character often described as like a soft cashmere wool.
Listed in Italia (heart) and Royal Wood (base).
Civet
Civet is an animalic note that smells warm, musky and faecal when concentrated, with a sweet, leathery depth when diluted, and today it is made synthetically.
Listed in Imperia Legacy (base).
Marine and mineral notes
Marine notes
A collective term for the effect of sea air rather than one material, marine notes stands for fresh, salty, watery and slightly mineral smells.
Listed in Granada (heart), Pacific (base) and Tropical Vibe (heart).
Aquozone
Aquozone is a modern aroma material used for fresh, airy, watery and slightly green effects, giving a clean, marine-like lift.
Listed in Ocean Rush (top).
Calone
A watery-marine aroma molecule, calone smells fresh, airy and slightly melon-like, and is used to create a sea-breeze effect.
Listed in Azul (base).
Cascalone
Cascalone is a modern aroma material used for fresh, airy, green and watery effects, giving a light, clean and slightly floral lift.
Listed in Ocean Rush (top).
Notes and families
A note list tells you what a perfume is built from; the family tells you where it is heading. The range is sorted both ways: see Rayhaan perfumes by scent family.
Top, heart and base
Top notes are what you smell straight after spraying. Heart notes follow once those have faded. Base notes stay the longest. A note list tells you what a perfume is built from, not how it will smell on your skin; for that there is no substitute for trying it.
Collective terms such as woody notes, spices or powdery notes are in the glossary as well. They name an effect or a group without naming one material, so this guide does not count them when it compares two scents.
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