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Signature -
The ethereal mark of a fragrance that makes a distinct impression on those who encounter it. Some perfumers’ works contain a singular signature, which is as individual as a fingerprint.

Solvents -
Volatile fluids used to extract water insoluble, odorous substances from plant material. The solvent extract of a plant material is called a concrete.

Specialties -
Natural oils, natural isolates or synthetics, either alone or in combination, which are used as building blocks for fragrance compounds. They are less complex than a finished fragrance compound. They may be an end-product of special processing treatments or unique raw materials. A single company under a trade name usually supplies them.

Spicy -
Piquant or pungent notes such as clove oil, cinnamon; characteristic of notes of carnation, ginger, lavender or the chemical spicy notes of eugenol or isoeugenol.

Stability -
A reasonable length of time for a fragrance to remain stable before the product is affected by certain raw materials, heat, light and air.

Strength -
The relative intensity of a fragrance impression.

Sweet -
Can be used to describe a fragrance that has richness and ambrosial characteristics associated with sweet taste.

Synergism -
The ability of certain perfumery ingredients to work together to produce an effect greater than the ingredients could achieve independently.

Synthetics -
May be derived or isolated from natural products or manufactured in the laboratory. Some synthetics are superior to the natural in uniformity, stability and availability. Synthetics may be as costly as naturals.