Vetiver is a profoundly earthy note with dry, woody facets that recall a soft, smoky warmth. It is an intense, grounding scent with surprising undertones of mildew and even grapefruit. For the perfume fan that loves the earthy smell of the woods, nothing beats vetiver. Vetiver is grass whose roots create a smoky, mossy, mineral scent when distilled. It is one of the most complex ingredients found in fragrance, with over 150 separate aromatic compounds, and it also acts as one of the best fixatives available to perfumers, which accounts for its frequent presence in fragrance. There’s also nothing quite like the scent of vetiver. It’s both immediate and ancient, with a similar smell to the soft earth of virgin forests.

Grapefruit’s juicy, zesty, and tart effervescence instantly refreshes any fragrance. It’s lip-smacking energy is a staple of both men’s and women’s perfumes, and it pairs well with nearly any other note in a scent, but is best blended with cedar, lilies, roses, oranges, limes, black or pink pepper and lotus flower. Grapefruit is naturally exuberant and will always leap out at first spray, inviting the wearer to experience its enthusiastic and playful personality. It’s also one of the most versatile notes in perfumery, and appropriate to wear in any season as a standalone scent or blended into citrus or floral fragrances.

Heady and suave, orange blossom is an utterly bewitching scent. Flittering floral facets recall notes of jasmine—honeyed and sweet. Its citrus twist melts seamlessly in floral accords and adds a sparkle to fruity notes like apricot. The oil distilled from orange blossoms is considered an aphrodisiac, and the blossom itself has been a bridal symbol for many years. Orange blossoms are native to Southeast Asia, and grown all over the world - as well as being the state flower of Florida in the U.S. Orange blossom has a powdery, orange-citrusy, and very plush scent, like powdery orange suede. It is often used in fruity floral perfumes along with jasmine, rose, and other heavier floral notes. It’s part citrus, part floral scent is ideal in hotter weather, but tends to dissipate quickly in colder months.

A spritz of petitgrain entices with spritely citrus facets. It’s lively and a bit bitter, and blends boldly in Eau de Colognes. Petitgrain balances floral notes with deeply green facets in an accord that is unmistakably fresh.