Glossary & Fragrance terminology
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Calone:
An aroma chemical that adds a sea breeze or marine note. Camphoraceous: Camphor like. The fresh cooling aroma of eucalyptus and rosemary, lavandin and herbal notes. It is an odor resembling camphor to some degree. The essential oil spike lavender is a good example of a common aromatic material with a camphorous note. It is a material made synthetically or derived from natural sources like camphor laurel. Camphorous notes are present in many herbal oils such as eucalyptus and lavender as well as in patchouli. Also the fresh, clean, cooling character displayed by eucalyptus but also descriptive of rosemary and other herbal notes. Cannelle: French for cinnamon. Carambole: Star fruit. Cashmeran: An aroma chemical with a spicy, ambery, musky, floral odor. Meant to add a powdery, velvet nuance that invokes the smell or feel of cashmere. Carrier Oil: A vegetable oil base in which essential oils are diluted to create massage oils and body care products. Examples include sweet almond, apricot kernel, jojoba and grape seed. Cassie: It is a floral note from acacia farnesiana (sweet acacia), a member of the mimosa family. Cassis: Cassis is black currant, or a liqueur made from black currant. Castoreum: It is a secretion from the Castor beaver, or a synthetic substitute. Used to impart a leathery aroma to a fragrance. Cedrat: French term for citron Champaca: It is a flowering tree of the magnolia family, originally found in India. Traditionally used in Indian incense as well . Character: The defining idea of a fragrance also can be described as a recognizable effect obtained in a fragrance. An effect that should be a faithful translation of the generating concept. Chevrefeuille: French for honeysuckle. Choya Nakh: A smoky aroma made from roasted seashells. Chyphre: Refers to woodsy, mossy, earthy scents. It is pronounced “sheepra” French for Cyprus and first used by François Coty to describe the aromas he found on the island of Cyprus. He created a woody, mossy, citrusy perfume named Chypre which was launched by Coty in 1917. Classic chypre fragrances generally had sparkling citrus and floral notes over a dark, earthy base of oak moss, patchouli, woods and labdanum. In Modern Chypres the fresh notes may be modified or even replaced with fruity or green combinations. Frequently Chypres display a Leather character Cilia. Short, hairlike cytoplasmic projections from the free surface of certain cells. Found on the olfactory bulb and thought to be where the odour receptors are held. They are constantly in a state of motion. Citron: A citrus fruit tree (citrus medica), sometimes referred to as a Cedrat lemon. It is not a true lemon, although it is related to both lemons and limes. The peel is the source of the note citron which is used in perfumery; the leaves and twigs are used to distill cedrat petit grain. Citrus: Most typically found in the top note of the fragrance composition and may contain: bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin orange, petit grain, and/or tangerine. Citrus Citrus Note: The fresh, light notes of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit and bergamot. Cilia: Short, hairlike cytoplasmic projections from the free surface of certain cells. Found on the olfactory bulb and thought to be where the odour receptors are held. They are constantly in a state of motion. Citron: A citrus fruit tree (citrus medica), sometimes referred to as a cedrat lemon. It is not a true lemon, although it is related to both lemons and limes. The peel is the source of the note citron which is used in perfumery; the leaves and twigs are used to distill cedrat petitgrain. Civet: The African civet cat looks like a fox, and is related to the mongoose. Civet musk is produced by a gland at the base of the cat’s tail. Pure civet is said to have a strong, disagreeable odor, but in small quantities it adds depth and warmth to a fragrance. In addition, civet acts as an excellent fixative. Most modern fragrances use synthetic substitutes. Clary sage: An herb of the salvia family; the essential oil is described as smelling sweet to bittersweet, with nuances of amber, hay and tobacco. Classic: A classic fragrance can be considered in the same vein as classic literature or architecture. A fragrance that has been widely accepted by generation after generation and has enjoyed popularity for a minimum of 15 years .They’re classic. They survive the years, remaining popular.. A style of fragrance structure that has depth and usually a higher percentage of floral absolutes (3-10%) than are found in modern style fragrances. Clou de girofle: French for clove. Cloying : An odour that is excessively sickly sweet and clinging. Can be an effect where a perfumes note does not change, as in a linear perfume that seems to last too long and becomes unpleasantly clinging. Coffret: A gift box or set. A coffret might include several fragrances, or a fragrance and matching body products. Cologne: Cologne is a term derived from name of the German city of Cologne, where this product was popular earlier. Originally, it was the condensate from the steam distillation of a water-alcohol infusion of citrus peels (bergamot, lemon, orange), herbs, leaves (rosemary, thyme, lavender), and flower petals (rose, orange blossom). With the modern advent of a wide selection of other essential oils and synthetics, this cologne has been considerably altered. Today, cologne is usually a diluted version of a perfume using diluted alcohol as its solvent and contains from 3-10% fragrance oil in the finished product. A less expensive fragrance oil is generally used for cologne than for perfume. After-shave lotions and toilet waters are technically considered to be in the cologne category. After-shave lotions usually contain 2-3% fragrance oil, while toilet waters sometimes utilize as much as 15% fragrance oil. Cologne ( Classical ) : A term reserved for those fragrances which are basically citrus blends and do not have a perfume parent. Modern colognes, however, are often a lighter extension of the perfume. Cologne ( Men's ): Not like the women’s colognes, slightly more concentrated than women’s colognes (5-8%), similar to the strength of toilet water (Eau de Toilette). Men’s After Shave by comparison will usually only have 3 - 5%. Cologne ( Women's ): The lightest form of fragrance with a low concentration of perfume oils mixed with diluted alcohol water base. Compound: A compound is a completed perfume formulation ready to be used in a product such as perfume, toilet water, etc to make the finished perfume. Also called perfume oil. It is also the name used in the industry for the concentrated perfume or flavor mixture before it is diluted or used in products. Concrete: During the process of extraction, flowers are subjected to solvents of various types like Hexane by which the oils are removed. What remains is very concentrated oil known as a “concrete.” The concrete is usually a solid, waxy substance representing the closest odor duplication of the flower from which is derived. Since the perfumer cannot use the concrete as such, it is further processed into absolutes that have already been described.. The term refers to the fact that after the solvent is removed the mass is solid and waxy. Coniferous: Cone-baring trees and shrubs such as pine. Cool: Some perfumes feel cool because of their association with freshness and marine vistas, while others have an actual cooling sensation thanks to materials like mint or patchouli. Copahu (balm): Also known as Copaiba balsam; an oil obtained from trees of family Copaifera, which grow wild in South America. Described as having a mild, sweet, balsamic peppery smell. Coumarin: A compound that smells like vanilla. Usually derived from the tonka bean but also found in lavender, sweet grass and other plants. Coumarin is banned as a food additive in some parts of world due to toxicity issues, but is used to produce anti-coagulant medicines, rat poison, and as a valuable component of incense and perfumes. Cuir: French for leather. Creamy : Few perfumes smell creamy due to the higher composition of vanillic, musky and milky notes. Creative Perfumery: The process of discovering or making new combinations and perfumes as opposed to copying perfumes or reconstructing naturally occurring fragrance materials. Cypriol: An essential oil derived from the roots of Cyperus scariosus, aka Indian papyrus, aka nagarmotha grass. |