Somewhere between a blackberry, a strawberry, and a blackcurrant: the raspberry note has a decidedly berry-like nuance. It’s sweet as candy, and yet has a rather soft effect. This fruity note is most often found in feminine fragrances. Raspberry’s bright red, sugary smile is best in feminine scents, where it’s vivid juiciness can play off against heavy, full florals or warm spices like pink pepper, basil, etc. Raspberry is also a fantastic note in gourmand perfumes, as it naturally heightens anything with chocolate, caramel, vanilla, or coffee notes. Raspberry blends in best with other berry fruits like blackberry, strawberry, etc, but it can also shine as a contrast to green, dewy notes and earthier vetiver and oakmoss. Raspberry fragrances are just the ticket for spring and summer, and if they’re blended with aromatic spices, a lovely fall option as well.

Patchouli is a deeply spiced, thickly herbal and immediately recognizable note - it’s “dirty hippie” reputation doesn’t do it justice. Patchouli’s scent lies somewhere between cumin’s sharp and acrid tang and nutmeg’s smooth, sweet warmth, and it can carry a fragrance or blend easily with other, spicier notes. It is ideal in heated, spicy perfumes that feature leather, smoke, resins, and lighter aromatic notes like lavender and geranium. Patchouli’s exotic strength can be an acquired taste in perfume, but it’s many moods and blends make it an endlessly fascinating note to explore in the spicy end of the scent spectrum.

Peonies bright floral spark brings a note of joy into a composition unlike any other. Peony’s exquisitely soft, green, and airy qualities create an aura of youth, curiosity, and vitality and are just the ticket for anyone looking for anything other than “another grandma” perfume. Peony notes are similar to violets, only without the candy pastille edge, and work best with other light-hearted, sunlit floral notes like rose, orange blossom, and muguet. It’s a floral that’s all about spring and summer, and it’s upbeat, energetic persona is an absolute must to dispel winter’s doldrums.

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.