Fragrance has its own vocabulary, and it can feel like learning a new language. But most of these terms are simpler than they sound. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you hit a word you don't know.
The Basics
Atomizer. The spray mechanism on a decant or perfume bottle. A fine-mist atomizer gives you an even, controlled spray — as opposed to a dabber, which has no spray and requires you to apply with your finger or a wand.
Blind buy. Purchasing a full bottle of fragrance without testing it on your skin first. Based purely on reviews, notes lists, or recommendations. Sometimes a win, often a gamble. There's a better approach.
Decant. A portion of fragrance transferred from an original full-size bottle into a smaller container, usually a spray atomizer. That's what we sell — and that's what this whole series is about.
Full bottle. The original retail-size bottle of a fragrance, typically 50ml or 100ml. What you'd buy at a department store or from the brand's website.
House. A fragrance brand or manufacturer. Tom Ford is a house. Creed is a house. Maison Francis Kurkdjian (MFK) is a house. Used interchangeably with "brand" in casual conversation.
Juice. Informal term for the actual fragrance liquid. "How's the juice?" means "how does the fragrance smell and perform?" Used mostly in enthusiast conversations.
Scent Terminology
Accords. A combination of notes blended together to create a single, unified impression. A "leather accord" isn't actual leather — it's a mix of synthetic and natural materials that together smell like leather.
Base notes. The final stage of a fragrance's dry-down, appearing after 30 minutes to a few hours. These are the deepest, longest-lasting components — typically woods, musks, ambers, and resins. The base is what you'll smell for the rest of the day.
Dry-down. How a fragrance smells after the initial application fades and the deeper notes emerge. The dry-down is where you really get to know a scent. First impressions are top notes; the dry-down is the truth.
Heart notes (mid notes). The middle layer of a fragrance, emerging after the top notes fade — usually 15–30 minutes in. Florals, spices, and fruits often live here. The heart is the core personality of most fragrances.
Nose. A perfumer — the person who creates fragrances. Also called a "perfumer" in less casual contexts.
Notes. Individual scent components in a fragrance. When a listing says "notes of bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood," those are the identifiable elements in the composition. Notes are usually grouped into top, heart, and base.
Top notes. The first thing you smell when you spray a fragrance — bright, volatile molecules that evaporate quickly. Citrus, light herbs, and sharp spices are common top notes. They're attention-grabbing but short-lived, usually fading within 15–30 minutes.
Performance Terms
Longevity. How many hours a fragrance remains detectable on your skin. Anything under 4 hours is considered light; 6–8 hours is solid; 10+ hours is a beast. Longevity varies wildly depending on skin chemistry, concentration, and specific fragrance.
Projection. How far from your body a fragrance radiates. Strong projection means people across the room can smell you. Low projection means it stays close to your skin. Neither is better — it depends on context.
Sillage (pronounced "see-yazh"). The scent trail you leave behind as you move through a space. Think of it as the wake of a boat. A fragrance with strong sillage leaves a noticeable trail; light sillage means it barely extends beyond your personal space.
Skin scent. A fragrance that sits very close to the body, detectable only when someone is right next to you. Some people prefer this intimate quality. Many modern fragrances are designed as skin scents.
Types and Concentrations
Cologne (EDC — Eau de Cologne). The lightest concentration, typically 2–5% fragrance oil. Fresh, short-lived, and subtle. Not to be confused with the generic use of "cologne" to mean any men's fragrance.
Designer fragrance. A fragrance from a fashion or luxury brand that also makes clothing, accessories, etc. — Dior, Chanel, YSL, Prada. Typically mass-produced, widely available, and moderately priced ($80–$200).
Eau de Parfum (EDP). A higher concentration, typically 15–20% fragrance oil. The most common concentration for niche fragrances. Longer-lasting and more developed than EDT.
Eau de Toilette (EDT). A moderate concentration, typically 5–15% fragrance oil. Common in designer fragrances. Lighter and less expensive than EDP.
Extrait de Parfum (Parfum). The highest standard concentration, typically 20–40% fragrance oil. Rich, long-lasting, and usually the most expensive format from any house.
Niche fragrance. A fragrance from a house that focuses primarily or exclusively on perfumery — not fashion, not accessories. Creed, MFK, Xerjoff, and Zoologist are niche. Niche fragrances tend to be more creative, less mass-market, and more expensive. But the line between niche and designer is blurry and getting blurrier.
Community Terms
SOTD. Scent of the day. What someone chose to wear today. You'll see this in forums and on fragrance Instagram.
FB. Full bottle. As in, "this is FB-worthy" — high praise meaning a fragrance is good enough to justify buying the full-size bottle.
Dumb reach. A fragrance you can grab without thinking — safe, reliable, works in any situation. It's not an insult; it means a fragrance is versatile and low-risk.
Clone / Dupe. A fragrance made by a different company that attempts to replicate the scent of an existing fragrance. Not the same as a decant, which is the actual original liquid. More on that distinction here.
Scent flight. A guided fragrance exploration session where you smell multiple fragrances in a structured way. At Santa Cruz Scent, our scent flights are free and appointment-based — 15 minutes, no pressure, no cost.
Keep Exploring
This glossary covers the terms you'll encounter most often, but fragrance is a deep world. The best way to build your vocabulary is to smell things and talk about them. And if you ever hit a term that doesn't make sense, come in and ask — that's what we're here for.