Glossary of perfume terms
Short definitions of the terms used in fragrance descriptions: note pyramid, sillage, concentration, accord, flanker, batch code.
- Accord
- Several notes combined so they read as one smell. A leather accord, for instance, is built from birch tar, saffron and styrax.
- Batch code
- The production batch code on the box and the base of the bottle. It confirms the manufacturing date and that box and bottle match.
- Concentration
- The share of fragrance concentrate in alcohol. EDT is 5–15%, EDP 15–20%, extrait 20–30%.
- Flanker
- A variation on an existing fragrance: same line, altered composition. Usually marked by a word in the name — Intense, Noir, Elixir.
- Longevity
- How long a fragrance stays on skin. It depends on concentration, family and skin type — dry skin holds scent for less time.
- Note pyramid
- How a fragrance unfolds over time: top notes last 15–30 minutes, heart notes 2–4 hours, base notes until the scent fades.
- Sillage
- How far a fragrance reaches other people. Soft sillage stays close to the skin; strong sillage is noticed a couple of metres away.
- Unisex
- A fragrance with no pronounced gender address — typically citrus, woody, musk and amber compositions.