There are over 300 ingredients in perfume I’ve selected for this post. They make up fragrances as we know them today.
Ingredients of perfume are diverse and they range from organic compounds on synthetic budget-friendly and environmentally-friendly alternatives.
If you’re interested in these ingredients for perfume making, feel free to come back to this post as I’ll update the list as I encounter these aromas in perfumes.
List of ingredients in perfume
This list of ingredients in perfume is going to be updated as more ingredients surface in the perfumes reviewed on fragranspotter.com. Many of them are used in various combinations and a good part of these ingredients are synthetic variations of the original more expensive naturals.
Acetoin
Made from fermentative bacteria, it is a perfume ingredient which adds buttery-caramel flavor to the composition.
Agave amica
Also called French tuberose, the ingredient is used on its own or in combination with floral ingredients such as orange blossom and iris.
Agrumen
A type of aldehyde with greenness and muskiness.
Aldehyde
Natural compounds which can be synthetized in artificial alternatives.
Amber
A warm note with heaviness with resinous character.
Ambergris
Used to tie ingredients, it adds longevity to perfumes. Today, the fixative is replaced by synthetic ambroxan.
Ambrein
It is am ambergris extract responsible for the aphrodisiac effects of the sperm whale digestive system sperm whale.
Ambrette
Essential oil derived from ambrette seeds.
Ambroxan
Also called ambroxide, it’s an ingredient in perfume extracted from ambergris and it is used to isolate its odor.
A compound that has the smell of an odor.
Amyris
A white woody note used as a cheap sandalwood alternative.
Artemisia pallens
Aromatic herb perfume ingredient.
Balm of Gilead
Balm extract from terebinth trees.
Balsam of Peru
Sweet scent originating in El Salvador. It has an allergenic profile.
Bdellium
An Indian resin extract from trees. It’s also known under the name of myrrh.
Beeswax
The wax of bees.
Benzaldehyde
Bitter almond ingredient from almonds.
Benzoin (resin)
Resin obtained from the bark of trees such as Styrax.
Benzyl acetate
Fruity strawberries extract.
Benzyl alcohol
Solvent with an aromatic odor with a clear profile.
Benzyl benzoate
Fixative ingredient in perfumery.
Benzyl cinnamate
Fixative mainly used in oriental fragrances.
Benzylacetone
Floral ingredient from cocoa.
Bergamot
A citrusy opening note, popular in summer perfumes.
Beta-Pinene
Woody green smell with pine aroma.
Bisabolol
Characterized by a weak floral aroma from German chamomile.
Bourgeonal
Floral green with aldehydic nuances, similar to Lily of the Valley.
Brown sugar
Calone
Derived from algae, the ingredient is used in fragrances to offer a marine and aldehyde effect.
Camphene
Synthetic compound made from alpha-pinene.
Camphor
Camphor scent from Camphor laurel.
Earthy nutty scent with sweetness sourced from cardamom seeds highly popular as an ingredient in perfume.
Carvone
Caraway scent from spearmint.
Cashmeran
Musk indanone chemical fragrance ingredient.
Castoreum
A Castor beaver secretion with musk-leather heaviness.
Chavicol
The aromatic compound is extracted from anise or gardenia.
Cinnamyl alcohol
Sweet, spicy, and green, and powdery, is mainly made from cinnamaldehyde.
Citral
Lemon extract from lemon myrtle or lemongrass.
Citron
The zest from a lemon tree, used in perfume opening notes.
Citronellol
Lemon citrusy scent from lemongrass or rose.
Civet (perfumery)
Glandular secretion from African civet.
Civetone
Civetone is its safe Civet synthetic alternative (Civet is linked to SARS in the US).
Clary sage
Bittersweet aroma with amber and hay nuances.
Copaiba
Oleoresin stimulant.
Coumarin
Vanilla-like aroma derived from tonka bean ingredients.
Cyclododecanone
Organic compound cyclic ketone.
Cyclopentadecanolide
Synthetic musk used in perfumery.
Cyclopentanone
Jasmine precursor.
Cyperus articulates
Green water herb.
Damascenone
Rose ketone chemicals.
Damascone
Low concentration rose synthetic perfume ingredient.
Deer musk
Persistent smell derived from musk deer caudal glands.
Diethyl malonate
Ester naturally sourced from grapes or strawberries.
A type of alcohol usually made from corn starch.
Estragole
Tarragon perfume ingredient.
Ethyl acetate
Sweet solvent derived from wine.
Ethyl benzoate
Sweet scent with a medicinal influence.
Ethyl butyrate
Fruity ingredient derived from orange and pineapple.
Ethyl maltol
Dried fruit scent with a caramelized sugary scent.
Ethyl methylphenylglycidate
Wintergreen odor.
Eucalyptol
Eucalypt extract.
Eugenol
Clove profile made from cloves.
Everlasting
Evernia prunastri
Lichen oakmoss.
Farnesene
Complex green apple scent.
Farnesol
The ingredient emphasizes sweet floral accords.
Filbertone
Hazelnuts compound.
Fixative (perfumery)
Equalizes vapor pressure in perfume-making.
Fragrance oil
Blended natural or synthetic aroma oils.
Frangipani
A floral aroma called the Jasmine of India.
Aromatic gum resin specific to Arabia similar to myrrh.
Freesia
Galaxolide
Synthetic musk odor.
Galbanum
A type of resin with an atypical plant-based smell.
Gardenia
Gardenia (tiare) petals macerated in coconut oil. Sometimes called Monoi de Tahiti.
Geraniol
Rose-like scent. Rosy smell from geranium or lemon.
Geranyl acetate
Fruity floral ingredient from roses.
Gourmand (fragrance)
A perfume made from edible ingredients such as honey and chocolate.
Grapefruit mercaptan
Synthetic grapefruit aroma.
Guaiac wood
Resin extracts from the South American Guaiac tree.
Hedione
A perfumery scent characterized by a mellow jasmine smell.
Heliotrope
Floral scent with sweetness and vanilla-like nuances used as a natural or a synthetic ingredient in perfumes.
Heptyl acetate
Fruit essence flavor.
Herbal distillate
Aqueos products or floral waters.
Hexyl acetate
Floral fruity profile made from apple and plum extract.
Hexyl cinnamaldehyde
Chamomile essential oil.
Hydroxycitronellal
Citrus and melon aroma.
Hydroxymethylpentylcyclohexenecarboxaldehyde
Soapy scent also known as Lyral.
Hyraceum
Urine and feces excreted from Cape hyra.
Indole
Synthetic perfume ingredient with a floral profile.
Ionone
Low concentration roses ingredient.
Irone
Sweet floral iris.
Iso E Super
A woody amber with velvet undertones made chemically.
Isoamyl acetate
Fruity perfume ingredient of perfumes made from banana or pear extract.
Isobornyl cyclohexanol
Synthetic oil with sandalwood aroma.
Isovanillin
Inhibits aldehyde oxidation.
Ivy
Jasmine
A floral note found in men’s and women’s perfumes.
Jasmone
Spicy floral scent with fruitiness from jasmine or honeysuckle.
Labdanum
The main ingredient in amber perfumes with some resembled to ambergris.
Lilial
Aromatic aldehyde.
Lily
Lily of the Valley
A delicate white floral scent sometimes characterized as sweet, but rather fresh. It is used in lily of the valley perfumes for women the most.
Lime
Lime blossom – linden
Limonene
Citrusy scent extracted from orange or lemon.
Linalool
Floral sweet scent with woodiness extracted from coriander, lavender, honeysuckle, or sweet basil.
Menthol
Menthol mint scent from mentha extract.
Menthone
Peppermint-like oil.
Methyl acetate
Sweet solvent, normally used in nail polish.
Methyl anthranilate
Fruity grape extract.
Methyl benzoate
Sweet scent with the fruit of the feijoa tree.
Methyl butyrate
Fruity ingredient normally extracted from apple or pineapple.
Methyl formate
Etheral ingredient.
Methyl isobutyrate
Colorless solvent from organic compounds.
Methyl pivalate
Colorless ingredient from pivalic acid.
Methyl propionate (propanoate)
Sweet ingredient with a fruity-rum aroma.
Monoi
A gardenia scent with coconut oil additions.
Muguet
Lily of the Water in France made with synthetic ingredients.
Muscone
Organic compound in natural musk.
Deer musk gland extracts with an initial natural source which then turned towards synthetic alternatives.
Musk xylene.
Synthetic cologne ingredient that mimics natural musk.
Myrcene
Semi-synthetic ingredient from myrcia.
Nag champa
Sandalwood combined with champark or frangipani.
Narcissus
White flowers aroma dating back to the early days of perfumery.
Nardostachys jatamansi
Himalayan flower extract also called muskroot.
Nectarine
A sweet juicy fruity aroma.
Nerodiol
Nerol
Sweet rose flowery scent made from neroli and lemongrass.
Nerolidol
Fresh bark aroma made from neroli, ginger, or jasmine.
Oakmoss
Extracts from tree lichen with oriental opening and earthy drydown.
Ocimene
Fruity floral ingredient from mango or curcuma.
Octyl acetate
Fruity orange extract.
Olive
An oily extract from olives.
Orris
An iris plant extract
Orris root
Ortho-Vanillin
Osmanthus
A flowering tree from China, with a mild apricot-like sweetness and juiciness.
Oud (Oudh)
Agarwood resin extract from the tree of Agar. It’s specific to oriental perfumes and it’s also very expensive to source.
Patchouli
Small bushy white-pink flower with mustiness, sweetness, and spiciness from Malaysia or India.
Patchoulol
Patchouli extract.
Pelargonium graveolens
Aromatic or odorless African flower.
Pentyl butyrate
Fruity profile, extracted from pear and apricot.
Pentyl pentanoate
Fruity sweet profile made from apples.
Perillaldehyde
Perilla organic compound.
Phellandrene
Double bound isomers.
Phenethyl alcohol
Warm floral odor.
P-Menthane
Fennel-inspired odor.
Pomarose
Fruity rose odor.
Pulegone
Flavoring agents similar to pennyroyal, peppermint and camphor.
Raspberry ketone
Natural compound with red raspberries aroma.
Redcurrant
Ambery natural compounds sourced from trees and plants.
Rhodinol
Alcohol mixtures made from geranium or citronella.
Rhubarb
Rose
A seductive rose petal extract with intense aroma made through distillation or other extractive methods. Various types of roses are used in perfumes.
Rose de Mai
Rose essential oil also called rose absolute.
Rum
Fruity, medicinal, glue-like Phenethyl alcohol from rum.
Safrole
Candyshop perfume and food aroma.
Sandalore
Synthetic sandalwood aroma.
Soft and warm wood scent.
Skatole
Fecal ingredient diluted in orange blossom.
Thujone
Mint profile ingredient of perfumes extracted from wormwood or lilac.
Thymol
Thyme perfume ingredient.
Tonka Bean
Vanilla base notes with cinnamon, almonds, and cloves originating in Brazilian trees.
Trimethylamine
Fishy aroma.
Tuberose
A highly aromatic white flower ingredient.
Valeriana celtica
Vanilla
Vanilla orchid seed pods extract high in sweetness and ever-growing price.
Vanillin
Vanilla scent.
Verbana
Vetiver
A type of fibrous grass with earthy-leather undertones which is mainly used as a base note either by itself or in a composition with other long-lasting accords.
Wiseria
Various scents depending on the species ranging from musky to sweet.
Wormwood
Savory herb often compared to cooking herbs.
Heavy sweet-floral scent used to add nuances to perfumes.
Yuzu
An interesting smell compared to combinations of grapefruit and orange.
Α-Santalol
Sandalwood oil (55%) + santalol.
Β-Santalol
Allspice
Almond
Aloe Vera
Alpha-lonone
Also called Olibanum
Aluminum
Amaretto
Anethole
Angel’s Trumpet
Angelica
Anise
Anise extract.
Apple
Apricot
Aroma compound
Arum lily
Asafoetida
Avocado
Bacon
Balsam of Capaiba
Bamboo
Banana
Basil
Bay leaf
Belladonna
Bellini
Bitter orange
Black locust
Blackberry
Blackcurrant
Blood orange
Bluebell
Blueberry
Boronia
Camelia
Caraway
Cardamom
Carnation
Caviar
Cedar
Cedarwood
Celery
Chamomile
Cherry
Cherry blossom
Chocolate
Cinnaamaldehyde
Cinnamon
Dahlia
Daisy
Dandelion
Dates
Datura
Davana
Dill
Dried fruits
Driftwood
Dyer’s greenweed
Edelweiss
Elacampane
Elder
Elemi
Ethyl salicylate
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Fenugreek
Fern
Fig
Fir
Flax
Forget-me-not
Geosmin
Ginger
Goosberry
Grape
Grapefruit
Grass
Grenadine
Guava
Gum resin
Hawthorn
Hay
Heliotropin
Hemlock
Honey
Honeysuckle
Hyacinth
Immortelle
Incense
Ink
Iris
Isoeugenol
Jatamansi
Juniper
Juniper berries
Karo-karounde
Kephalis
Kiwi
Kumquat
Lavender
Leather
Lemon
Lemon verbena
Licorice
Lilac
Magnolia
Mandarin
Mango
Marigold
Marshmallow
Melon
Mignonette
Mimosa
Mint
Neroli
Night-blooming cereus
Oak
Opium
Opoponax
Orange
Orange blossom
Orchid
Putrescine Diaminobutane
Pyridine
Quince
Raspberry
Raspberry
Rosehip
Rosemary
Rosewood
Saffron
Sage
Salt
Santal oil (20%).
Seaweed
Sequoia
Spikenard
Star anise
Stephanotis
Storax balsam
Strawberry
Styrax
Suede
Sugar
Sweet pea
Synthetic musk
Syringa
Taif rose
Tangerine
Tea
Terpinol
Tetramethyl acetyloctahydronaphthalenes
Thyme
Tiare
Tincture of benzoin
Tobacco
Tolu balsam
Tolu balsam
Tomato leaf
Tonka
Violet
Violet leaves
Water
Water lily
Watermelon
West Indian bay
Wheat
Α-Vetivone