Arabiyat Prestige notes, explained
The 99 Arabiyat Prestige scents with a note list name 153 different notes between them. 66 notes return in three or more scents and have a page of their own; every note is explained below in a sentence.
The most listed notes
With the number of scents that list each: Musk leads with 59.
Musk (59)Amber (53)Vanilla (46)Bergamot (42)Patchouli (40)Jasmine (31)Cedarwood (28)Rose (25)Sandalwood (25)Mandarin (22)Tonka bean (17)Caramel (16)Orange blossom (14)Cardamom (13)Cinnamon (13)Incense (13)Pink pepper (13)Lemon (12)Oakmoss (12)Oud (12)Ginger (11)Raspberry (11)Geranium (10)Lavender (10)Leather (10)Saffron (10)Grapefruit (9)Lily of the valley (9)Vetiver (9)Violet (9)Blackcurrant (8)Pear (8)Benzoin (7)Coconut (7)Labdanum (7)Pepper (7)Ambroxan (6)Freesia (6)Guaiac wood (6)Hazelnut (6)Iris (6)Milk (6)Nutmeg (6)Apple (5)Cashmeran (5)Mango (5)Mint (5)Tuberose (5)Clary sage (4)Cypriol (4)Elemi (4)Heliotrope (4)Orange (4)Peach (4)Tea (4)Ylang-ylang (4)Ambergris (3)Coffee (3)Cypress (3)Davana (3)Lychee (3)Magnolia (3)Praline (3)Rosemary (3)Sage (3)Tobacco (3)
Citrus
Bergamot
Grown mainly in Calabria in southern Italy, this citrus fruit gives a peel oil that smells bright, fresh and faintly bitter, with a floral edge.
Listed by 42 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with bergamot
Mandarin
Pressed from the peel of a small, loose-skinned citrus fruit, mandarin oil smells sweet, juicy and gentler than lemon or grapefruit.
Listed by 22 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with mandarin
Lemon
Sharp, zesty and clean, lemon peel oil is one of the most recognisable fresh smells in perfumery.
Listed by 12 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with lemon
Grapefruit
Tart, juicy and slightly bitter, grapefruit peel oil gives a vivid citrus smell with a sparkling edge.
Listed by 9 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with grapefruit
Citrus fruits
As an umbrella term, citrus fruits names a group of peels such as lemon, orange or mandarin, not one material, and usually stands for a fresh, zesty, juicy effect.
Listed in Fahad Gaze (top), Fahad Regal (top), Hamdan The Brave (top), Raees Twilight Aura (top), Swar Serpentine (top) and Yumun (top).
Orange
Orange oil comes from the peel of the sweet orange and smells juicy, sunny and sweet, with only a hint of bitterness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with orange
Petitgrain
The leaves and young twigs of the bitter orange tree are distilled to give petitgrain, which smells green, woody and citrusy rather than fruity.
Listed in Marwa (top) and Marwa Extrait (top).
Bitter orange
The peel of the bitter or Seville orange gives an oil that is sharper and greener than sweet orange, with a pleasantly bitter bite.
Listed in Ramad (top).
Blood orange
Blood orange has the sweetness of ordinary orange with a darker, berry-like tang, juicy and a little tart.
Listed in Bahiya Ruby (top).
Verbena
Lemon verbena is a herb with a bright, lemony and green smell, fresher and less sharp than lemon peel.
Listed in Asha'a Neroli (heart).
Fruit
Raspberry
A sweet and tart red berry smell with a faint violet-like floral facet, built from aroma molecules rather than extracted from the fruit.
Listed by 11 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with raspberry
Berries
An umbrella term for small soft fruits rather than one material, berries usually stand for a mix of red and dark fruit that smells sweet, tart and juicy.
Listed in Attar Al Youm Black (heart), Bedour (top), Elaf Splendid (top), Floret (top), Habiba (heart), Mahd Al Dhahab (top), Safa (top) and Uhud (top).
Blackcurrant
The dark berry of a shrub also known as cassis, blackcurrant smells tart, juicy and a little green.
Listed by 8 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with blackcurrant
Pear
Lightly sweet and juicy, pear has a gentle, watery fruit smell with a slightly green freshness.
Listed by 8 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with pear
Coconut
Creamy, sweet and softly nutty, coconut gives a tropical, milky note drawn from the white flesh of the nut.
Listed by 7 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with coconut
Fruity notes
A collective term for an accord of several fruits that the listing does not name one by one, often juicy and sweet.
Listed in Al Shujae (top), Ishatar Roses Vanilla (top), Lady Bird (top), Lady Way (top), Nyla (top) and Oud Al Layl (top).
Apple
Crisp, juicy and fresh, the apple note can lean green and tart or round and sweet, depending on the variety it suggests.
Listed by 5 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with apple
Mango
A tropical fruit note, sweet, creamy and a little resinous, recalling the ripe flesh of the fruit and built from aroma molecules.
Listed by 5 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with mango
Peach
Velvety, sweet and juicy, peach has a soft fruit smell with a creamy, slightly floral side.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with peach
Lychee
A pale, translucent fruit with a sweet, juicy and slightly floral smell that recalls rose and grape, usually reconstructed from aroma molecules.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with lychee
Apricot
Warm and velvety, apricot has a soft, juicy fruit smell with a little floral note, gentle rather than tart.
Listed in Mutheer (heart) and Ramad Earthy (top).
Cherry
Cherry in perfumery usually recalls the sweet, juicy fruit with a hint of almond-like bitterness from the stone, and is often built from aroma materials rather than extracted from the fruit.
Listed in Asha'a Amethyst (top) and Swar Venin (top).
Date
Date is a gourmand fruit note, sticky and honeyed, with a warm caramel and dried-fruit sweetness.
Listed in Swar Seduire (top) and Swar Serpentine (base).
Fig
Fig covers both the green, milky smell of the leaves and branches and the soft, sweet, slightly seedy smell of the ripe fruit, giving a note that is part fruity, part woody and part green.
Listed in Al Noor (heart) and Bahiya Garnet (heart).
Passion fruit
A tropical fruit with a tart, juicy and slightly sulphurous sweetness; the note is recreated with aroma molecules rather than extracted.
Listed in Bahiya Ruby (heart) and Qissat Al Najah Nedawi (top).
Pineapple
Tropical, juicy and sweet with a tangy, slightly sharp edge, pineapple brings a sunny fruit note to a blend.
Listed in Habib (heart) and Portrait Azure (top).
Blackberry
A dark, juicy berry note, sweet and slightly tart with a hint of green stalk, recreated from aroma molecules rather than extracted from the fruit.
Listed in Blueberry Musk (top).
Blueberry
Blueberry is a reconstructed fruit note, sweet and jammy with a soft, slightly tart edge; it is made with aroma materials rather than pressed from the berry.
Listed in Asha'a Mauve (top).
Cranberry
Cranberry is a reconstructed berry note, tart and bright, with less sugar than raspberry or strawberry.
Listed in Cranberry Musk (top).
Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit is a reconstructed exotic fruit note, mildly sweet and watery, closer to melon or kiwi than to tropical fruits with more acidity.
Listed in Elaf Splendid (top).
Grape
Grape is a reconstructed fruit note, juicy and sweet with a faint wine-like tartness.
Listed in Lamsat Harir (top).
Physalis
Physalis, the Cape gooseberry, is a small orange fruit; as a note it is tart, juicy and lightly tropical.
Listed in Nashwa (heart).
Pomegranate
A tart, juicy red-fruit note, sweet and a little sour with a faint woody seed edge, recreated with aroma molecules.
Listed in Ramad Earthy (top).
Rhubarb
A tart garden stalk that is cooked like a fruit, rhubarb smells crisp, green and a little sour.
Listed in Kohl Luminous (top).
Strawberry
A sweet, juicy berry note with a creamy, faintly caramel-like facet, recreated from aroma molecules because the fruit gives no usable oil.
Listed in Gelato Raspberry Ripple (top).
Flowers
Jasmine
Small white jasmine flowers are picked for their heady fragrance, which is rich, warm and honeyed, with a touch of fruit and a faintly animal warmth.
Listed by 31 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with jasmine
Rose
The petals of the rose give a classic floral smell that can be fresh and dewy, honeyed and rich, or slightly peppery, depending on the variety.
Listed by 25 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with rose
Orange blossom
The white flower of the orange tree gives a note that is honeyed, fresh and soft, with a slightly citrusy, green edge.
Listed by 14 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with orange blossom
Geranium
The leaves of the scented pelargonium give an oil that smells green, rosy and slightly minty, with a lemony freshness.
Listed by 10 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with geranium
Lily of the valley
Fresh, green and softly floral, lily of the valley, also called muguet, smells of a spring garden after rain, with a dewy lightness.
Listed by 9 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with lily of the valley
Violet
Soft, sweet and powdery, violet has a cool floral smell with a green, leafy side and a faint hint of fruit.
Listed by 9 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with violet
Freesia
Freesia is a delicate flower that smells fresh, light and slightly peppery, with a soft, clean floral sweetness and a hint of citrus and green.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with freesia
Iris
The dried root of the iris plant gives the note usually called orris, which is cool, powdery and slightly earthy, with a buttery floral softness.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with iris
Floral notes
A collective term for a bouquet of flowers that the listing does not name one by one.
Listed in Floret (base), Marwa Extrait (heart), Nyla (heart), Raees Twilight Aura (heart) and Yumun (top).
Tuberose
Tuberose is a white flower with a rich, creamy and heady scent, combining sweet floral notes with a green, slightly rubbery and spicy edge.
Listed by 5 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with tuberose
Heliotrope
A sweet, powdery floral note with a soft almond, vanilla and cherry-like character, rebuilt from aroma molecules such as heliotropin.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with heliotrope
White flowers
Jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, orange blossom and ylang-ylang are the creamy, often indolic blossoms this collective term points at, not a single flower.
Listed in Habiba (heart), Lychee Musk (heart), Mutheer Elixir (heart) and Rihla (top).
Ylang-ylang
Ylang-ylang flowers come from a tropical tree and give a creamy, sweet and heady smell, with a banana-like fruitiness and a jasmine-like richness.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with ylang-ylang
Magnolia
Recalling the large blossoms of the magnolia tree, this note is creamy and softly floral, with a lemony, slightly woody freshness, and is typically built from aroma molecules.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with magnolia
Frangipani
Frangipani, also called plumeria, is a tropical white flower with a creamy, sweet and slightly fruity smell, close to gardenia and tiare.
Listed in Elaf Splendid (heart) and Hypnotic Vanilla (heart).
Neroli
Distilled from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, neroli oil smells fresh, floral and gently bitter, with a hint of citrus and green.
Listed in Asha'a Mauve (heart) and Asha'a Neroli (heart).
Peony
Soft, rosy and lightly fresh, peony gives a fluffy, watery floral smell with a delicate green and slightly fruity side.
Listed in Elaf Splendid (heart) and Nisma (heart).
Carnation
A spicy floral note taken from the clove-like scent of carnation petals, usually built from eugenol-rich materials and other aroma molecules.
Listed in Asha'a Mauve (heart).
Cyclamen
Cyclamen gives no usable oil, so perfumers recreate it: a cool, watery and slightly green floral note.
Listed in Portrait Oud (heart).
Gardenia
A creamy white floral note with green, mushroomy and coconut-like facets, recreated with aroma molecules because the blossom cannot be extracted well.
Listed in Mutheer (top).
Hyacinth
Hyacinth is a spring flower with a green, sappy and intensely floral smell; in perfume it is recreated from several materials.
Listed in Lady Bird (heart).
Lotus
Lotus is a water flower; its scent is recreated by perfumers from soft, green and slightly watery floral materials, because the blossom gives no usable oil.
Listed in Cranberry Musk (top).
Marigold
Marigold smells green, bitter and slightly herbal, with a dry, sunny floral facet and a hint of fruit and tea-like warmth.
Listed in Swar Seduire (top).
Orchid
Orchid blossoms hold little extractable oil, so the note is a composed accord, usually soft, creamy and floral with a faint vanilla-like or chocolatey sweetness.
Listed in Mutheer (top).
Osmanthus
The small flowers of the osmanthus shrub give an absolute that smells of apricot and leather, with a floral, tea-like sweetness.
Listed in Swar Serpentine (heart).
Tiare flower
Tiare is the Tahitian gardenia, a white flower with a creamy, coconut-tinged and sweet smell.
Listed in Nyla (heart).
Wallflower
Wallflower is a cottage-garden flower with a warm, honeyed and slightly spicy smell, close to carnation.
Listed in Portrait Oud (heart).
Water lily
Water lily is recreated in perfume as a soft, watery and green floral note, cool and transparent.
Listed in Bedour Extrait (heart).
Spices, herbs and tea
Cardamom
The seed pods of a plant related to ginger give cardamom its smell, which is spicy, aromatic and slightly sweet, with a cool, eucalyptus-like freshness.
Listed by 13 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cardamom
Cinnamon
Cinnamon comes from the dried inner bark of a tropical tree and smells warm, sweet and spicy, with a faintly woody edge.
Listed by 13 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cinnamon
Pink pepper
Despite the name, pink pepper comes from the dried berries of the Peruvian pepper tree and smells fresh, lightly peppery and a little rosy and citrusy.
Listed by 13 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with pink pepper
Ginger
The knobbly root of a tropical plant, ginger smells warm, peppery and zesty, with a fresh, slightly lemony sparkle.
Listed by 11 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with ginger
Lavender
Lavender is a purple-flowered Mediterranean herb whose oil smells fresh, herbal and floral, with a slightly camphor-like edge.
Listed by 10 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with lavender
Saffron
Saffron consists of the dried stigmas of a crocus flower, and it smells dry, warm and leathery, with a honeyed, slightly metallic edge.
Listed by 10 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with saffron
Pepper
Dry, sharp and warm, pepper comes from the dried berries of a climbing vine, and has a woody side with a touch of citrus.
Listed by 7 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with pepper
Nutmeg
The seed of a tropical evergreen tree, nutmeg smells warm, sweet and slightly nutty, with a soft, woody spice.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with nutmeg
Aromatic notes
Naming a group of materials rather than one of them, aromatic notes stands for herbal, fresh and slightly camphor-like ingredients such as lavender, sage or rosemary.
Listed in Bois Blanc (heart), Hamdan The Brave (heart), Ishatar Citrus Oud (top), La Di Da for Him (heart) and Raees Twilight Aura (heart).
Mint
Cool, sweet and green, mint comes from the leaves of aromatic herbs and gives a lively, refreshing smell.
Listed by 5 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with mint
Spices
An umbrella term that names a group, not one material, spices usually stand for warm, aromatic seasonings such as cinnamon, clove, cardamom and pepper.
Listed in Al Shujae (heart), La Di Da for Her (top), Lady Way (top), Omniya (top) and Raees Twilight Aura (top).
Clary sage
Clary sage is an aromatic herb that smells herbal, slightly sweet and musky, with green, tea-like and hay-like facets and a soft, warm depth.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with clary sage
Green notes
Green notes is an umbrella term for a group, not one material, standing for fresh, leafy and grassy smells such as cut grass, crushed leaves and stems.
Listed in Bois Blanc (heart), Fahad Gaze (top), Habiba (top) and Lychee Musk (top).
Tea
Tea notes come from extracts of tea leaves or accords built to match them, and smell green, slightly smoky, dry and lightly floral.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with tea
Davana
An Indian herb related to wormwood provides davana oil, which smells fruity, sweet and herbal, like dried apricot with a boozy, tea-like warmth.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with davana
Herbal notes
A collective term for green, aromatic herbs such as basil, sage or thyme, not named one by one.
Listed in Aariz (heart), Bois Blanc (top) and Fahad Regal (top).
Rosemary
Rosemary is a woody Mediterranean herb whose leaves give a camphor-like, green and resinous aroma.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with rosemary
Sage
Made by distilling the leaves of common garden sage, the oil smells herbal, camphoraceous and dry, with a slightly bitter green freshness.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with sage
Bay leaf
The leaf of the bay laurel smells green, slightly spicy and clove-like, with a dry herbal edge that recalls the kitchen.
Listed in Mutheer (top) and Oud Al Layl Midnight Edition (heart).
Clove
Dried from the flower buds of a tropical tree, clove smells warm, sweet and sharp, with a faintly medicinal edge.
Listed in Hamdan The Hero (heart) and Hypnotic Oud (top).
Juniper berry
Juniper berry gives a fresh, piney and slightly peppery oil, best known as the flavour of gin.
Listed in Asha'a Oud Noir (top) and Mahd Al Dhahab (top).
Violet leaf
Violet leaf is the foliage of the violet plant, and it smells green, cool and slightly watery, with a fresh, cucumber-like crispness and a faint metallic, earthy edge.
Listed in Fahad Gaze (heart) and Nayel Oud (top).
Artemisia
Artemisia is a family of aromatic plants, and as a note it smells herbal, bitter and green, with a dry, slightly camphorous and tea-like depth.
Listed in Portrait Oud (top).
Basil
Green, fresh and slightly peppery, basil is a leafy kitchen herb with a gentle sweetness and a hint of aniseed.
Listed in Lutfah Ever After You (top).
Black tea
Fermented, dried tea leaves give black tea a note that smells dry, slightly smoky and gently sweet, with a faint malty warmth.
Listed in Asha'a Blanc (heart).
Cumin
Warm, earthy and savoury, cumin is the seed of a small herb, with a dry, slightly animal edge.
Listed in Portrait Oud (top).
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus leaf oil smells sharply cool and camphorous, clearing the head like a menthol sweet.
Listed in Bois Blanc (top).
Fig leaf
Fig leaf smells green, milky and slightly coconut-like, the scent of a fig tree on a warm day rather than of the fruit itself.
Listed in Aariz Intense (top).
Hay
Hay smells of dried grass: warm, sweet and slightly tobacco-like, mostly thanks to coumarin, the same material that sweetens tonka bean.
Listed in Mouda High End (base).
Spearmint
A milder, sweeter relative of peppermint, spearmint smells green, cool and slightly sugary, like fresh leaves crushed between the fingers.
Listed in Swar Serpentine (top).
Tarragon
Tarragon is a culinary herb that smells green, fresh and sweet, with a clear anise-like warmth and a slightly spicy, hay-like facet.
Listed in Marasi for Her (base).
Woods and moss
Patchouli
The leaves of a tropical herb give patchouli its smell, which is earthy, dark and woody, with a damp, sweet and slightly camphor-like side.
Listed by 40 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with patchouli
Cedarwood
Dry, clean and lightly resinous, cedarwood has the scent of freshly sharpened pencils, with a warm woody sweetness underneath.
Listed by 28 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cedarwood
Sandalwood
The heartwood of the sandalwood tree gives a creamy, soft and slightly milky woody smell with a faint sweetness.
Listed by 25 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with sandalwood
Woody notes
An umbrella term for a group, not one material, woody notes stands for the dry, warm or creamy smells of woods such as cedar or sandalwood.
Listed in Bois Blanc (base), Fahad Gaze (heart), Fahad Regal (heart), Floret (heart), Ishatar Citrus Oud (heart), Kohl Opulence (heart), Lady Bird (base), Lady Glamour (base), Mutheer (base), Omniya (heart), Portrait Azure (heart), Raees Aurum (base) and Raees Twilight Aura (heart).
Oakmoss
A pale lichen that grows on oak trees, oakmoss smells earthy, damp and mossy, with a sweet, slightly leathery forest-floor depth.
Listed by 12 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with oakmoss
Oud
Formed in agarwood trees as a reaction to a fungal infection, oud is a dark, resinous wood that smells deep, smoky and slightly animalic.
Listed by 12 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with oud
Vetiver
Extracted from the roots of a tall tropical grass, vetiver smells earthy, smoky and woody, with a green, slightly bitter freshness.
Listed by 9 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with vetiver
Guaiac wood
Guaiac wood oil is distilled from the wood of a South American tree and smells smoky, sweet and slightly tea-like, with a soft rosy tone.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with guaiac wood
Cypriol
Also called nagarmotha, cypriol is distilled from the roots of an Indian sedge and smells smoky, earthy and woody, with a leathery, slightly spicy edge.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cypriol
Cypress
A tall evergreen conifer, cypress gives a fresh, green and resinous smell that is woody, slightly piney and aromatic.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cypress
Akigalawood
Among modern woody aroma ingredients, akigalawood smells dry, woody and peppery, with a hint of spice and a slightly earthy undertone.
Listed in Bedour Extrait (base) and Hypnotic Oud (heart).
Earthy notes
A collective term for damp, soil-like and rooty facets, usually carried by patchouli, vetiver or cypriol.
Listed in Al Shujae (base) and Bois Blanc (base).
Birch
In perfumery, birch is usually the tar distilled from the bark, which smells smoky, dry and leathery, with a hint of burnt wood.
Listed in Mouda High End (base).
Driftwood
Driftwood is a note for dry, pale, sun-bleached and weathered wood, and it smells woody, slightly salty and faintly smoky, with a dry, mineral, sea-washed feel.
Listed in Fahad Gaze (base).
Evernyl
Evernyl is an aroma molecule that smells of oakmoss: earthy, slightly sweet and woody, used where natural oakmoss is restricted.
Listed in Ishatar Amber Vanilla (base).
Pine
Pine needle oil smells fresh, resinous and green, the smell of a forest walk in cool weather.
Listed in Ramad Louban (heart).
Amber, resins and incense
Amber
Not a single material but a warm, sweet accord, amber is typically built from resins such as labdanum and benzoin, with a soft, powdery, vanilla-like glow.
Listed by 53 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with amber
Incense
Incense comes from the dried resin of Boswellia trees, also called olibanum or frankincense, and smells smoky, dry and resinous, with a faint lemony freshness.
Listed by 13 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with incense
Benzoin
Warm, soft and vanilla-like, benzoin is a sweet balsamic resin from trees of South-East Asia, with a hint of cinnamon.
Listed by 7 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with benzoin
Labdanum
Gathered from the rock-rose shrub as a sticky resin, labdanum smells warm, ambery and sweet, with leathery, slightly animal and honeyed tones.
Listed by 7 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with labdanum
Elemi
Elemi is a tree resin from the Philippines that smells fresh, lemony and peppery, with a light, balsamic, incense-like character.
Listed by 4 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with elemi
Gurjun balsam
Gurjun balsam is a resin from a South-East Asian tree, woody and balsamic, often used to round out and fix a woody base.
Listed in Portrait Oud (base).
Myrrh
A gum resin from Commiphora trees, myrrh smells smoky, bitter, balsamic and slightly sweet, with a medicinal, earthy depth.
Listed in Ramad Louban (top).
Resin
A collective term for warm, balsamic tree resins such as benzoin, labdanum or myrrh, which give a sticky, ambery depth to a base.
Listed in Swar Serpentine (base).
Tolu balsam
Tolu balsam is a resin from a South American tree, sweet, warm and vanilla-like, with a hint of cinnamon.
Listed in Lady Bird (base).
Leather and tobacco
Leather
Built from smoky, resinous and tarry ingredients rather than real hide, the leather note smells dry, warm and slightly animalic.
Listed by 10 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with leather
Tobacco
Tobacco notes come from cured leaves and smell sweet, hay-like and honeyed, with a dark, slightly smoky warmth.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with tobacco
Suede
Softer and smoother than leather, the suede note is a powdery, velvety accord that feels warm, dry and slightly sweet.
Listed in Nayel Queen (base) and Swar d'Amour (top).
Vanilla and sweet notes
Vanilla
Cured pods of a climbing orchid give vanilla its smell, which is sweet, creamy, warm and comforting, with a soft, slightly smoky depth.
Listed by 46 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with vanilla
Tonka bean
The seed of a South American tree, tonka bean smells sweet and warm, like a mix of vanilla, almond and freshly cut hay.
Listed by 17 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with tonka bean
Caramel
Based on the smell of cooked sugar, the caramel note is sweet, toasty and buttery, with a faint burnt edge.
Listed by 16 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with caramel
Hazelnut
A warm, nutty note recreated with aroma molecules, smelling of roasted hazelnuts with a sweet, buttery and slightly woody character.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with hazelnut
Milk
Milk is a creamy note that smells soft, smooth and slightly sweet, with a warm, lactonic and gently fatty quality.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with milk
Gourmand notes
A collective term for edible, dessert-like facets such as caramel, sugar, praline or vanilla cream.
Listed in Bedour Extrait (heart), Lady Glamour (base), Rihla (heart) and Safa (base).
Coffee
Coffee notes come from roasted bean extracts and accords, smelling dark, roasted, bitter and slightly sweet, sometimes with a smoky or cocoa-like edge.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with coffee
Praline
Praline smells of caramelised nuts and sugar, with a sweet, roasted, buttery and slightly creamy gourmand character, much like a confectioner's nut paste.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with praline
Sweet notes
Gourmand effects such as sugar, vanilla or caramel fall under sweet notes, a broad umbrella term that names a feel and not one single material.
Listed in Floret (base), Fondue Velvet Dip (top) and Lady Way (base).
Honey
Honey notes come from beeswax absolute, honeycomb accords and molecules such as phenylacetic acid, smelling sweet, waxy, floral and slightly animalic.
Listed in Ramad Earthy (top) and Uhud (heart).
Sugar
Sugar notes are accords built from caramel-like molecules such as maltol and furaneol, smelling sweet, warm and slightly toasty, like melted or brown sugar.
Listed in Fondue Lava Lush (heart) and Oud Al Layl (heart).
Almond
Nutty, creamy and sweet, almond often suggests marzipan, while its bitter form adds a slightly cherry-like edge.
Listed in Aariz L'Absolu (top).
Cotton candy
Cotton candy is a sugary gourmand note built around maltol and ethyl maltol, smelling of spun sugar at a fair.
Listed in Marasi for Him (heart).
Creamy notes
A collective term for soft, milky or buttery facets in a composition, usually built from lactones, vanilla and sandalwood rather than from one material.
Listed in Bedour (base).
Licorice
Licorice smells sweet, dark and anise-like, a gourmand note with a slightly medicinal edge.
Listed in Portrait Azure (heart).
Maltol
Maltol is an aroma material that smells of caramel and candy floss, with a warm, sugary and slightly fruity sweetness.
Listed in Nisma (base).
Pistachio
Pistachio is a nutty gourmand note, creamy and slightly salty, softer than hazelnut or almond.
Listed in Nisma (top).
Rum
Rum smells of a sweet, warm, boozy spirit, with notes of molasses, dark sugar and a faint wooden, vanilla-like depth.
Listed in Bahiya Ruby (top).
Sugar cane
Sugar cane smells sweet, grassy and slightly molasses-like, with a fresh, green sweetness that is lighter than caramel and closer to the juice of the plant.
Listed in Swar Seduire (heart).
Musk and aroma molecules
Musk
Synthetic molecules supply most musk today, and the note smells soft, smooth and skin-like, from clean and powdery to warm and slightly sweet.
Listed by 59 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with musk
Ambroxan
Warm, dry and slightly salty, ambroxan is a modern woody-ambery aroma molecule with a smooth, skin-like mineral quality.
Listed by 6 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with ambroxan
Cashmeran
A synthetic aroma molecule that smells woody, musky and warm, with spicy, powdery and slightly fruity facets and a soft, velvety feel.
Listed by 5 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with cashmeran
Ambergris
A waxy substance produced in sperm whales and matured by the sea, ambergris smells sweet, marine and skin-like, with a soft, earthy warmth.
Listed by 3 scents. All Arabiyat Prestige perfumes with ambergris
Powdery notes
Powdery notes are an umbrella term for a soft, dry effect like face powder, given by materials such as iris, violet or musk.
Civet
Civet is an animalic note that smells warm, musky and faecal when concentrated, with a sweet, leathery depth when diluted, and today it is made synthetically.
Listed in Portrait Oud (base).
Cotton accord
An accord that suggests clean cotton and fresh laundry, built from soft musks and aldehydes; airy, powdery and very clean.
Listed in Bedour Extrait (base).
Orcanox
A synthetic aroma molecule of the ambergris type that smells woody, dry, mineral and slightly musky, with an ambery warmth.
Listed in Portrait Oud (base).
Marine and mineral notes
Marine notes
A collective term for the effect of sea air rather than one material, marine notes stands for fresh, salty, watery and slightly mineral smells.
Listed in Fondue Lava Lush (top), Hamdan The Hero (heart), Oud Al Layl Midnight Edition (top), Raees (heart), Raees Aurum (top) and Raees Luxury (top).
Sea salt
Suggesting sea spray, the sea salt note is mineral, airy and faintly salty, with a clean, bright effect.
Listed in Hamdan The Brave (base) and Swar d'Amour (top).
Metallic notes
A collective term for cool, mineral facets that recall metal or flint, usually built from aldehydes and other aroma materials.
Listed in La Di Da for Her (top).
Solar notes
A collective term for warm, sunny facets that suggest skin in the sun, usually built from salicylates and soft floral materials.
Listed in Nayel Her Majesty (heart).
Notes and families
A note list tells you what a perfume is built from; the family tells you where it is heading. The range is sorted both ways: see Arabiyat Prestige perfumes by scent family.
Top, heart and base
Top notes are what you smell straight after spraying. Heart notes follow once those have faded. Base notes stay the longest. A note list tells you what a perfume is built from, not how it will smell on your skin; for that there is no substitute for trying it.
Collective terms such as woody notes, spices or powdery notes are in the glossary as well. They name an effect or a group without naming one material, so this guide does not count them when it compares two scents.
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