Woody

Dry, smoky, creamy, or earthy depending on the wood, this family includes sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, patchouli, guaiac, and oud-adjacent woods. Woods are foundation notes — they sit in the base of a composition and provide structure, longevity, and warmth. Sandalwood is creamy and milky; cedarwood is dry and pencil-sharp; vetiver is earthy and slightly smoky; patchouli is rich, damp, and slightly camphorous. Woods anchor almost every type of fragrance, from light florals to masculine fougères and rich orientals.