Perfumery school

Accords and notes

The difference between a material and an illusion

The olfactory idea

A note is a perceived or described smell. An accord is a combination of materials that forms a coherent olfactory effect. Neither term necessarily refers to one ingredient poured from one bottle.

Understanding the craft

A leather, sea-breeze or amber note can be built through a combination of materials. The perfumer is composing an impression, rather than assembling a literal collection of the objects named in a marketing description.

Explore it for yourself

Choose a perfume with a recognisable effect and ask which qualities make it convincing. A leather impression, for example, may feel smoky, dry, soft or polished.

Further reading: IFF Ingredients Compendium · Givaudan natural ingredient expertise. These resources offer broader technical context; they are not endorsements of CYDIVA.