Notes of Expressive Aromas
Take our signature scent quiz and learn about each of our notes, from top to base.
A typical perfume, or signature scent, has elements of three types of notes…
Any robust fragrance can be boiled down to its most elementary singular notes or accords. Understanding the basics of fragrance notes helps you better determine which scent is right for you and which notes will match with your personal preference and personality.
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Top notes form the first impression of an aroma.
This includes floral notes.
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The final note of an aroma is the base note, which is the scent you experience as the perfume oils warm up to your body temperature and mellow over time.
This includes woody notes.
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The middle notes, which are referred to as heart notes, are the main aromas experienced after the top note fades.
This includes flavor and citrus notes.
Browse Expressive Aroma’s Notes
Expressive Aromas utilizes single notes from our high-quality fragrance oils. This ease and simplicity of use allow for the creation of your personalized scent.
We categorize our notes into four classifications: Floral, Citrus, Flavor, and Woody. This provides more options for those with varying scent preferences to create their signature scent.
Floral Notes
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![A blue essential oil bottle labeled "Gardenia & Tuberose" from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by illustrations of gardenia flowers and tuberose flowers on a light background.]()
Gardenia & Tuberose
Fresh-cut grass notes, followed by floral nuances of two magnificent white flowers in a fresh, modern bouquet.
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![Blue bottle labeled 'Ginger Verbena' from Expressive Aromas, with ginger root and verbena plant in the background.]()
Ginger Verbena
Pleasant, lemony scent. Delicate and crisp, balanced with sweet floral notes.
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![Bottle of essential oil labeled 'Hibiscus & White Amber' positioned in front of a pink hibiscus flower and a piece of yellow amber.]()
Hibiscus & White Amber
A delicate and distinct musk with a note of fresh amber and fruity floral hibiscus.
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![Blue bottle of jasmine fragrance with white flowers and petals in the background.]()
Jasmine
Sweet, white floral scent that is exotic and sensual.
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![A small blue bottle of lavender essential oil surrounded by illustrated lavender flowers.]()
Lavender
Aroma from French lavender with pine note woody undertones.
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![A small blue bottle labeled "Lily of the Valley" from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by illustrated lily of the valley flowers and leaves.]()
Lily of the Valley
Delicate, spring floral that smells of rain and fine linen.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Expressive Aromas Orchid' surrounded by illustrated purple orchids and green floral accents.]()
Orchid
Gentle, Vanilla-y, light and clean scent.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Peony' from Expressive Aromas, placed in front of a background illustration of pink peony flowers.]()
Peony
Powdery, delicate, and uplifting aroma that works well with the equally delicate petalled rose.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Expressive Aromas Rose' surrounded by red roses and green leaves on a white background.]()
Rose
Wake up in the morning and walk barefoot on fresh grass across a Bulgarian Rose Garden. This scent is soft, delicate, sensual, and utterly romantic. One of my favorites!
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![A bottle of Sweet Pea essential oil from Expressive Aromas placed over a watercolor illustration of pink sweet pea flowers and green leaves.]()
Sweet Pea
Feminine, delicate, sugary scent of sweet peas along the garden fence.
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![A dark blue bottle of Vetivar essential oil from Expressive Aromas placed in front of a clump of green Vetiver grass.]()
Vetiver
Nutty, exotic, Indian Grass makes for an excellent gentler woody-floral note.
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![A blue glass bottle labeled 'Violet' from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by purple violet flowers and green leaves.]()
Violet
Soft, sweet floral aroma similar to Iris.
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![A digital illustration of a blue essential oil bottle labeled 'Yuzu' with a lemon and a yuzu fruit in the background.]()
Yuzu
Botanical, Zesty, grapefruit-like with powdery hints of white flowers to round out this note.
Citrus Notes
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Aventus' amidst blackcurrant berries, a white jasmine flower, a green lime slice, and a green leaf.]()
Aventus
Dry, musky, and fruity. Base notes of bergamot, black currant and apple, Middle notes of patchouli, dry birch, rose and jasmine. Top notes of Madagascar, musk and oak moss.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Bergamot' from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by bergamot fruit slices and green bergamot leaves.]()
Bergamot
Fresh and Herbal scent that blends well with citrus notes.
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![A small blue bottle of aromatic oil labeled 'Birds of Paradise' by Expressive Aromas, surrounded by watercolor illustrations of orange and green tropical leaves and flowers.]()
Birds of Paradise
More herbal, grassy, and clean-smelling than flowery. Layers well with other floral scents.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Coriander' from Expressive Aromas, placed among coriander leaves and seeds, with a wooden bowl of coriander seeds and a sprig of coriander plant.]()
Coriander
This is scent from coriander flowers, sweetish floral, green herbaceous and citrusy.
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![Blue bottle labeled 'French Lime Blossom' surrounded by lemon half, lime leaves, lemon blossoms, and sprigs of herbs on a light background.]()
French Lime Blossom
The scent is fresh with top notes of Linden blossoms with undertones of bergamot and tarragon.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Lemon Balm & Rosemary' surrounded by fresh rosemary sprigs, a lemon, and lemon slices.]()
Lemon Balm & Rosemary
Alpine Lemon balm and lemon peel mixed with herbaceous rosemary and ambergris base tones. This is an addictively fresh scent.
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![A bottle of lemon grass essential oil with a bunch of fresh lemon grass bundles tied with string and a few lemon grass slices laid on a light background.]()
Lemon Grass
Grassy, sharp and zingy notes that round out more spicy base notes.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Mandarin' from expressive aromas, placed in front of illustrated mandarin oranges with green leaves and pink flowers.]()
Mandarin
Bright and fizzy Orange. Less sweet than other citrus notes.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Orange Blossom' perfume with an orange slice, white blossoms, and leaves surrounding it on a light background.]()
Orange Blossom
Richer, sweeter, headier. Bewitching white floral aroma close to its cousin neroli.
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![A bottle of peach-flavored Sangria flavoring, a glass of Sangria with fruit pieces, and a pitcher filled with sliced peaches, oranges, and other fruits.]()
Sangria White-peach
Similar to the refreshing and fruity drink. The flavor profile of this note is characterized by its juicy, ripe peach notes, which are complemented by a range of other fruit and citrus flavors.
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![Bottle of essential oil labeled 'White Ginger & Amber' in front of an illustration of orange slices and white flowers.]()
White Ginger & Amber
Uplifting, sensual aroma that blends musk, sandalwood, jasmine, and orange citrus together.
Flavor Notes
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Acai' surrounded by fresh raspberries, blackberries, oranges, and blueberries on a white background.]()
Acai
A bevy of sweet, succulent Acai Berries that smell straight from the Amazon. A cross between juicy blackberry and clementine, sweet raspberry note, and a hint of pepper blends.
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![A green apple with a leaf, a bottle labeled 'Apple & Oak,' and a watercolor illustration of an oak leaf in the background.]()
Apple & Oak
A blend of tart granny smith apples with soft notes of a McIntosh apple mixed with woodsy fresh oak leaves and oak moss.
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![Blue bottle labeled 'Blackberry Bay' surrounded by fresh blackberries.]()
Blackberry Bay
Fresh, fruity, and green like sticking your nose in a blackberry bush. Mixture of tart blackberry juice and some not-so-ripe berries come up with the earthiness of the wood. A very gentle scent.
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![A bottle labeled 'Champagne' surrounded by two flutes filled with champagne, a yellow pear, and a bunch of green grapes.]()
Champagne
Complex with a range of fruity, floral, and yeasty notes. On the nose, Champagne can have aromas of apple, pear, citrus, and white flowers.
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![A bottle of Chardonnay essential oil, a bunch of green grapes, and a glass of white wine on a plain background.]()
Chardonnay
Ripe fruits, a touch of oak, and sparkling, crisp grape, just like the fine white wine.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Cinnamon' from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by cinnamon sticks, a star anise, and ground cinnamon on a white background.]()
Cinnamon
True cinnamon spice, like in grandma’s kitchen.
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![Small blue bottle labeled 'Cotton Candy' surrounded by pink cotton candy.]()
Cotton Candy
Sweet and fruity, like spun sugar. This note fades into a subtle sweet scent.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Fig' from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by fresh whole and sliced figs on green leaves.]()
Fig
Spicy-sweet, refreshing and balanced.
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![Vanilla ice cream cone with vanilla flowers, a vanilla bean, and a bottle of vanilla fragrance labeled "French Vanilla".]()
French Vanilla
A hint of rich egg custard adds a velvety smoothness to this classic vanilla bean fragrance.
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![A blue essential oil bottle labeled "Madagascar" with green leaves, a vanilla bean pod, and a white orchid flower around it.]()
Madagascar
This is a very addictive scent, like drinking warm vanilla milk on a crisp night.
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![Bottle of mango mandarin essential oil with fresh mango, orange, and orange slice in the background.]()
Mango Mandarin
Fruity, clean and tangy. Absolutely gourmand.
Woody Notes
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![Blue bottle of aromatic oil labeled 'Basil, Sage & Mint' surrounded by basil, sage, and mint leaves.]()
Basil, Sage & Mint
Fresh-picked scent of herbs conduce into a perfect blend of spice, bright and sharp.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Cedarwood Amber' from Expressive Aromas, surrounded by a pine cone, cedar branch, amber resin, and cedar wood shavings, on a light background.]()
Cedarwood Amber
A fresh scent with a sensation of texture, warmth, and sensuality.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Cuban Tobacco' surrounded by dried tobacco leaves, a cinnamon stick, and shredded tobacco on a light background.]()
Cuban Tobacco
Smoked tobacco leaves with cherrywood undertones. A harmony of toasted spices sweetened with warm vanilla and amber patchouli.
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![A bottle of juniper essential oil from Expressive Aromas, placed in front of a watercolor illustration of juniper branches with blue berries and green leaves.]()
Juniper
Spicy, peppery, woody, resinous scent with citrus undertones making it a very fresh scent.
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![Bottle of Musk essential oil surrounded by star anise, cinnamon sticks, green cardamom pod, and herbal sprigs.]()
Musk
Dry, light Indian musk with a blend of middle eastern spices and sandalwood.
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![A blue bottle labeled 'Oud' from Expressive Aromas, placed on a bed of bark and wood pieces.]()
Oud
Addictive, pleasing amber fragrance with dampened agarwood and even more. You wouldn’t want to put that perfume stick down…. Move over $1000 bottle of Le Labo
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Patchouli' from Expressive Aromas is placed in front of fresh patchouli leaves and flower spikes against a light background.]()
Patchouli
Not your classic 70s Patchouli. This scent is airy and light, natural and refreshingly woody.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Rain' from Expressive Aromas, placed in front of two green leaves covered in water droplets on a light background.]()
Rain
Clean, soft, soothing like air after the earth has been drenched in rain for a few days.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Expressive Aromas Red Currant' placed in front of a watercolor painting of red currant berries and green leaves.]()
Red Currant
This is a unique and intoxicating scent, charmingly rose-like. Pairs well with Champagne.
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![A blue bottle of sandalwood aroma oil labeled 'Expressive Aromas' is placed in front of several pieces of sandalwood logs on a light background.]()
Sandalwood
Creamy, Smooth, and Warm base note that is gentle but aromatic.
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![A small blue bottle labeled 'Tonka Bean' from Expressive Aromas, placed on a piece of driftwood with dried twigs, in front of a collage of orange blossoms and fruit, and a large wooden rock.]()
Tonka Bean
Warm, Creamy, Slightly wood with vanilla and orange flower.
What are the notes of your signature scent?
Take our signature scent quiz to find out.