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Learn

The core ideas of perfumery — notes, the pyramid, accords and fragrance types — in four short, interactive modules. Then try it in the Builder →

1. Notes

The heart of most perfumery — from soft to heady.

2. The Pyramid

top
heart
base
5 min after application

The bright opening — citrus and fresh notes are in full force.

3. Accords

Individual notes are like single musical notes; an accord is the chord they form — several notes the nose hears as one smell. Pick one to watch it come together:

LavenderOakmossCoumarin
Fougère

Fresh-aromatic and 'barbershop' clean.

4. Types of Fragrance

By smell — families

FloralBuilt around flowers — soft to opulent.
WoodyDry, warm woods at the core.
Amber / OrientalSweet, resinous, sensual.
FreshCitrus, aquatic and green — light and clean.
FougèreLavender + oakmoss + coumarin; classic 'masculine'.
ChypreCitrus top over a mossy-woody base.
GourmandEdible, dessert-like sweetness.
LeatherSmoky, dry, suede-and-tobacco character.

By strength — concentration

Parfum / Extrait20–30% oil
Longevity
Projection
Price

Strongest and longest-lasting; richest and most expensive.

Eau de Parfum (EdP)15–20% oil
Longevity
Projection
Price

Strong and long-lasting — the common premium format.

Eau de Toilette (EdT)5–15% oil
Longevity
Projection
Price

Lighter and fresher; great for daytime and warm weather.

Eau de Cologne (EdC)2–5% oil
Longevity
Projection
Price

Light and brief — a refreshing splash.

Eau Fraîche1–3% oil
Longevity
Projection
Price

The lightest — very subtle and short-lived.

Glossary

Note
The smallest building block of a fragrance — a single recognizable smell, like one ingredient in a recipe.
Accord
A blend of notes the nose perceives as one unified smell — like a chord made of musical notes.
Top / Heart / Base
The three tiers of the pyramid: first impression, the character, and the long-lasting foundation.
Sillage
The scent trail a fragrance leaves behind you — how far it projects.
Longevity
How long a fragrance lasts on skin.
Family
The broadest way to describe a scent's overall character (floral, woody, fresh…).
Concentration
How much perfume oil is in the bottle — drives longevity, projection and price.