A versatile note of many facets, ambrette seed is musky and animalic, slightly fruity pear and floral powdery, iris-like. It is considered the best natural/non-synthetic alternative to musk. However, this note comes with a rather lavish price tag—relegating its usage to fine perfumery.

Lavender is one of the oldest, and most common perfume ingredients in the world. It’s gentlemanly, scrubbed, soapy/powdery feel is a staple of men’s colognes. Lavender has a slightly spicy edge as well, which makes it a universally blendable note in perfume. It can add a clean edge to aromatic or animalic scents, and deepen zesty citrus notes with its subtle, herbal facets. But most of all, lavender is associated with fresh, clean, pure, old-school elegance. It’s well-heeled sophistication is appropriate for any time of year, and it makes an excellent choice for either sex to wear casually or formally.

Virginia Cedar

Fruity, fresh and fragrant, apple notes are commonly used as heart notes in both functional and fine perfumery to evoke a sweet and juicy essence. The green, fruity tonic fragrance blends easily with other notes, offering versatility in all its crisp and smooth complexity. Apple notes are often used across both men’s and women’s fragrances. Pear’s exotic, sugary sparkle enhances citrus and floral perfumes and opens up more palate possibilities in your scent wardrobe. It’s melon-y sweet, but very crisp and dry, making it an excellent punctuation point in fragrance. Pear goes best with other tropical citrus notes like yuzu fruit, litchee, peach, and pineapple. But it’s also fantastic with sharp spices like ginger and cinnamon - spices whose dry, crisp flair will allow pear’s natural juiciness to come forward. So if you enjoy fruity floral scents, but with a more sophisticated, tailored, and exotic edge, pear perfumes are worth seeking out.