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.

Bergamot’s sheer, dry, citrusy feel is one of the most popular perfume notes, especially in mens’ cologne. It’s a Mediterranean fruit grown mainly in Calabria, Italy, and its aroma and taste is slightly between grapefruit and orange. Bergamot is a year-round pleasure to wear, and will blend well with any other note, making bergamot fragrances versatile and a sophisticated option for citrus fragrance fans.

Benzoin’s sensual, enveloping, vanilla-like sweetness is a popular feature in perfumery, especially in gourmand compositions. It’s a resin secreted by the Styrax plant, a type of shrub native to Southeastern Asia and South America. The Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used it for its disinfectant properties, and oftentimes in religious ceremonies. It is a base note that’s used to bind other notes together, thus creating a fragrance that oozes warmth and sultriness. Benzoin offers distinctly rich scents of woody, sweet vanilla. Its layered composition unfolds in warm, honeyed facets not dissimilar to caramel, almond or freshly roasted coffee. Subtle floral notes awaken slight nuances of carnations in soft, wispy or even powdery tones. Benzoin is renowned for its qualities as a perfume fixative, providing a fullness and warmth to compositions with its round, buttery-smooth tones. Benzoin can most commonly be found in ambery or gourmand accords.

Moss