Olfactory Families, Supply Chain & Perfumery Lexicon
A filterable taxonomic directory of the seven classical French olfactory families, core formulation vocabulary, and the four-tier fragrance industry ecosystem from Madagascar growers to IFRA safety evaluation.
Interactive Olfactory Family Taxonomy
| Term / Family | Category | Defining Structural Skeleton | Benchmark Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chypre | Family | Bergamot top + Rose/Jasmine heart + Labdanum, Patchouli & Oakmoss base | Coty Chypre (1917), Chanel Cristalle (1974) |
| Fougère | Family | Lavender + Geranium + Coumarin (Tonka Bean) + Oakmoss drydown | Houbigant Fougère Royale (1882), Pour Un Homme |
| Boisé Épicé (Woody Spicy) | Family | Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver anchored by Piper borbonense or Cardamom | L'Artisan Dzongkha (2006), Dior Bois d'Argent |
| Ambré / Oriental | Family | Vanillin, Benzoin, Labdanum resin, Heliotropin, and warm spice facets | Guerlain Shalimar (1925), L'Heure Bleue (1912) |
| Hespéridé (Citrus) | Family | Cold-pressed Bergamot FCF, Bitter Orange, Petitgrain, Lemon peel oils | Eau de Cologne Impériale, Eau Sauvage |
| Mouillette (Blotter Strip) | Atelier Tool | Uncoated absorbent cellulose paper strip used to evaluate evaporation stages | Standard 15 cm Atelier Evaluation Strip |
| Maceration & Glaçage | Process | 12 C dark resting in ethanol followed by -4 C chilling to precipitate waxes | 21 to 90 day Fine Fragrance Maturation |
| Headspace & GC-MS | Analytics | Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry verifying IFRA allergen % w/w | EU 2023/1545 Compliance Certificate |
Fragrance Industry Actors & Value-Chain Architecture
Fine fragrances travel through four specialized tiers: agricultural botanical cooperatives (Grasse, Tuscany, Madagascar), extraction houses producing oils and concretes, international composition laboratories housing perfumers and regulatory toxicologists, and brand houses overseeing maceration, flacon filling, and IFRA compliance.
Academic linguistics reference: UNY French Perfumery Register Thesis (citing poivrebleu.com) · Version Française (/fr/lexique-olfactif)