Quince has a fruity smell that is citrusy and powdery. Its scent is mostly compared to a hybrid between a pair and an apple. Ripe quince is also a bit more sweet-smelling than an apple.
Have you ever wondered how does quince smells like? This unusual fruit is sometimes associated with no smell at all, mainly because it’s picked when not fully ripe. It finds its way to the stores when it’s not ripe and its scent is not fully developed.
However, quince is a special note in perfumes for a good reason. It smells like no other fruit. Better said, it smells like a combination of fruits but extra powerlines due to its dry nature,
What is Quince?
Quince is the fruit of the Cydonia quince tree. The tree is part of the Rosaceae family which includes apples and pears. It grows on the outer edges of Eastern Europe, particularly in Turkey, Serbia, Romania, Georgia as well as in Morocco, Iran, and Azerbaijan.
The fruit is known for growing in areas where apples don’t grow. However, it has been acclimatized to areas known for their high apple production. Turkey is the main producer of quince today. This is also why the roots of this fruit go deep into the history of the Ottoman Empire.
What Does Quince Smell Like?
Only ripe quince has a smell. This is a powdery fruity smell resembling pears, apples, and lemon. It has sweet honey undertones with a bit of sourness. Its smell is piercing and persistent.
Quince smells fruity
The first impression of quince’s smell is fruitiness. This fruitiness is somewhat similar to most people smelling it. In part, it’s a pear smell. As it develops it starts to smell more like apples. The combination of pear and apple is often mentioned when describing how quince smells. However, this is a fruity scent first which means it goes well with other fruity notes such as pear and oranges.
Quince smells a bit citrusy
Quince aroma active compounds include citrusy undertones. This makes it an ideal headnote in perfumes and one of the ideal fruits to combine with other essential oils when making perfume or in aromatherapy. Quince is used in fall and wintertime foods and drinks exactly due to this citrusy nature.
Quince smells of honey
Ripe quince always smells of honey. Only 2 ripe pieces of quince are sufficient to fill a room with a sweet aroma that resembles honey. Quince fruits can be fragrant for weeks and even months at a time, especially when kept indoors.
Quince has a sour smell
The sour taste of quince translates to its smell as well. This is interpreted as a powdery scent instead of the zesty scent of pear. The sourness of quince is typically turned into extra sweetness by cooking. Quince is one of those fruits that can’t be eaten raw.
Quince has is powdery due to its astringent profile
The powdery taste of quince is astringent. This can be interpreted as piercing in the aroma. As with myrrh, quince smell has an astringent nature to it which makes it highly memorable.
The sour smell of quince is sometimes hard to digest to some people. Its nature is ideal in perfumes that are made for the winter or cold fall days. Quince is a fruit that still has some degree of sourness to it even after being cooked since it’s not eaten raw.
Quince benefits
Like any sour fruit, quince is associated with positive gut health benefits as well as good immune system support. Eating quince also offers a boost of antioxidants.
- Quince has anti-viral properties
Quince has proven anti-viral properties. Its traditionally used in drinks to treat colds and to prevent colds. It can be one of those fruits that are mostly consumed in the fall and the winter.
- Quince aids weight loss
Quince is high in antioxidants which recommend it for those looking to lose weight. Its astringent nature also shrinks tissues of the gut.
- Quince makes you smell fruity, but not overly sweet
The smell of quince is what interests us the most. In perfumes, quince makes you smell fruity but not too sweet. Those who don’t like sweet perfumes now have an alternative with quince fragrances such as the ones made by Demeter Fragrance.
FAQ
What does quince taste like?
The taste of quince resembles pears, apples, lemon, and honey. The dry powdery taste of quince is characteristic even after being cooked as the fruit can’t be eaten raw. Its cooking method widely affects its final taste.
Do quince perfumes last long?
Quince tends to last very long in perfumes compared to other scents. Quince essential oil is mostly used in fall perfumes and winter perfumes which last long by definition as they need to pierce through the cold air.
Are quince perfumes still in?
Quince was never a mainstream note in perfumes. It’s not a mainstream note today. Its scent is actual as of the scent of most fruits. Quince is used to adding depth to perfumes that often combine multiple fruity notes.
What perfume smells like quince?
Popular quince perfumes include Demeter Fragrance Quince, Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (see the best Chanel perfumes ranking for a better idea on the scent), John Varvatos Vintage, Xerjoff Ipnotica, etc.
Some of the best pear perfumes also smell of quince. The smell of quince is often taken for the smell of pear in perfumes. This is why a wide number of people looking for perfumes that smell like pear end up wearing perfumes that smell like quince.
What does quince go best within perfumes?
Quince smells similar to pears, apples, exotic guava, lime, and honey. All of these notes mix well with quince. The fruity note can also be mixed with specific cold weather notes such as frankincense, mint, and sandalwood.