top of page

Combinations of descriptors

An overview of combinations of descriptors for smells found across various sources of literature

Deep, tenacious, diffusive, musky, dirty or delicate, and slightly animalic = abroxan

​

Fresh, vivacious = anise

 

Green and anisic = basil

​

Honeyed, balmy = beeswax

​

Citrusy, bright, aromatic, raspy = bergamot

 

Yeasty, acidic, toasted = bread

​

Raspy and fatty = candle wax

​

Sweet (caramel), burnt and strawberry-fruity = candy floss

​

Mineralic, delicate, chalky = clay rhassoul

​

Candy, powedery, spiky = cinnamon

​

Pungent, medicinal, metallic = cloves

 

Dewy, fresh, fleshy = coconut

 

Roasted, warm, diffusive = coffee

​

Oily and waxy = crayons

​

Soft, fresh and clean = freesia

​

Green, tangy, fresh = freshly cut grass

​

Green, metallic, acidic = gardenias

​

Velvety, solar, edible = gourmand

​

Citrusy, raspy = grapefruit

​

Green and raspy = grape tomatoes

​

Heady, resinous = hair-removal wax

​

Warm, mineralic, haughty = incense

​

Fine, fruity, creamy, animalic, honeyed, sweet, balsamic = jasmine

​

Citrusy, bright and zesty = lemon

​

Animalic, smoky, fatty, dark, powdery, tarry = leathery

​

Fine, subtle, fresh = lily of the valley

​

Citrusy, fleshy, vegetal and green = neroli

​

Citrusy, bright, zesty and fruity = orange

​

Salty, sulphurous, green and aldehydic = oysters

​

Citrusy, vegetal and crispy = petitgrain

​

Aromatic, cool, minty = pine needles

​

Green, vegetal, herbaceous, juicy, acidic, earthy, sour = rhubarb

​

Petallly, dark, winey, spiky, airy = rose

​

Milky, suave, woody = sandalwood

​

Clean and ozonic = snow

​

Bright, clean, fluid, powdery, herbaceous, bitter = star anise

 

Suave and tart = strawberries

​

Crispy, juicy, soft, lush, velvety = suede

​

Warm, powdery, ambery = tobacco

​

unctuous, creamy = vanilla

​

bottom of page