It’s no coincidence that much of the vocabulary that is used to describe olfactive qualities stems from the musical world.
We describe fruity fragrances as having “notes” of apple, berries or melon; while a “medley” of bergamot, Meyer lemon and Valencia oranges that work in “unison” might be called a citrus “accord”. Fragrances are described as scented “compositions” made up of ingredients that work in “harmony”.
During the creative and development process, “dissonant” notes or accords are refined until an ideal balance is achieved. Perfumers aim to avoid creating fragrances that are either too “flat” or too “sharp”, striving instead for “interpretations” that are vibrant, that have “movement”, with a scent “signature”, and that make a long-lasting impression.
Only when all elements of a fragrance are deemed to be in perfect balance of “tempo” and “tone”, does it make its way into the market for everyone’s enjoyment!
Fragrance Insights 