Scent and Fragrance are Not Synonymous: What’s the Difference? +Anniversary Draw

 

Judging Creative Perfumery

Sherri working on a fragrance formula

It sounds way sexier and more natural to say, “I am attracted to his/her scent” vs. “I am attracted to his/her fragrance,” doesn’t it? We don’t often think about the subtle differences in the meaning of the words when speaking about scent, aroma, fragrance, etc., and even according to the dictionary definitions, there is not much of a difference. But from an industry standpoint, they are not the same. After all, it’s called the “fragrance industry” for a reason. Honestly, I have to admit that when I worked in the fragrance industry, I didn’t give it much thought, even though I was deeply and specifically immersed in the creation of fragrances, not aromas or scents. Although they have similarities, there are subtle differences in the industry between the meanings of these words that make them not-quite-interchangeable.

Fragrance samples lined up for analysis.

Fragrance samples lined up for analysis 

What is Fragrance?

When we speak about fragrance, we’re specifically referring to the composition (formula) that we mix or “compound” in labs using neat ingredients. These ingredients can be a combination of aroma chemicals (natural or synthetic), essential oils distilled from botanicals, crystals, resins, gums, and other fractions of natural materials derived from various manufacturing processes. The combination of these neat ingredients is called a fragrance oil. The fragrance oil is then mixed with a product base like lotion, wax (for a candle), shampoo, etc. to produce a finished product.  If the oils are mixed with alcohol the result is a perfume, cologne, eau de toilette, or parfum extrait depending on the concentration of fragrance oil.

FRagrance vs Scent what is the difference

Although there’s no hard rule on the percentage of fragrance for each application the following is a rough guideline:

shampoo and conditioner—0.5 to 2%

candles—5 to 10%

body lotion—0.5 to 2%

eau de parfum—18 to 22%

cologne—12 to 15%

eau de toilette—4 to 6%

parfum extrait—25% and higher

'Pyrazines' are the naturally occuring chemicals responsible for coffee's aroma.

 

‘Pyrazines’ are the naturally occurring chemicals responsible for coffee’s aroma.

Scent and aroma are much more subjective in the world of perfumery; these words represent an individual’s interpretation rather than a chemical or aromatic composition.  For instance, you might smell a jasmine flower and think it has the “scent” of, perhaps, a muguet (lily of the valley). Upon chemical analysis, the composition would reveal the true compositional nature of the flower in question.

If you think about it, you’ll notice that upon smelling a new perfume or unknown fragrance most people’s natural reaction will be to ask the question, “What is this?” or “What’s in this scent?”  You’d think this seemingly simple question would be easy for me or any other perfumer with decades of experience as a professional “nose” to answer.

What is the difference between scent and fragrance

“Scent” blotters used for testing Fragrance

Instead, I still have to pause when asked this question because I’m not sure if the question is “what are the ingredients or notes in this” or “what is this scent?” Although I could list ingredients, it probably wouldn’t help much since many of them have long chemical names that most people aren’t familiar with. And since how someone perceives scent is subjective, it would be impossible for me to describe what they are perceiving.  This leaves me with the dreaded and misleading “fragrance descriptions” you find in marketing materials, packaging, and advertisements used to describe a scent.  I’ve always had a problem with those, since they are misleading and give people a false sense of knowledge about fragrance. The truth is, industry perfumers rarely use the term “scent” when speaking about a scent. Like a detective putting together clues to solve a mystery, we’re focused on the structures and notes that make up a formula.

FRagrance vs Scent what is the difference

My own belief about all of this is that we don’t always need to figure everything out. Fragrances are designed to elicit emotions and feelings, and lend a perspective to an experience.  And sometimes it’s those little mysteries that remain and keep us wondering that add to the enjoyment of life.

–Sherri Sebastian, Contributing Editor, founder and perfumer for  Provision Scents

Sherri Sebastian is an independent professional perfumer working in Los Angeles. She holds a seat on the board of directors for the American Society of Perfumers

 

Provision Scents Anniversary Gift Set.

Thanks to Provision Scents and perfumer Sherri Sebastian there is a draw for a USA registered  CaFleureBon reader (if you are not sure if you are registered click here (you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid) for the ‘Anniversary Gift Set’, which Sherri curated to celebrate love (and her recent  wedding anniversary). It includes: a sample of Las Flores eau de Parfum, Maitri eau de parfum, and Manifest body oil, plus a full size of the new Maitri black charcoal and amla bath soap

And

Rich Rixaby artist

 a handprinted heart card from NY Artist Rich Rickaby.  To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed or learned from Sherri’s article on Scent and Fragrance. Do you think the words are interchangeable? Draw closes 2/3/21

all photos Sherri Sebastian©

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22 comments

  • drjedi says:

    Very informative post by Sherri. It was interesting to know how fragrance and scent mean very different things, and how fragrance is much more objective compared to subjective scent, though both are important, in different ways to different people. Thank you. Appreciate the article and the draw. Writing from the USA.

  • Carboytony826 says:

    Sherri, thank you so much for penning this article!
    The interchangeability (or assumed interchangeability) of these words never crossed my mind. Now that you have explained it, it makes total sense. A fragrance is a composition of notes and/or accords coming from either naturals or synthetics or both.

    Aroma and scent are trickier. I think of scent as the definite smell of something, be it chocolate, a flower, dirt, ozone, etc. Aroma to me is a mixture of scents from afar – i.e. the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking, the aroma of a bridal bouquet. But that’s just my interpretation, and quite frankly, I agree, if we spend too much time trying to figure everything out, the pleasures of life pass us by.

    Thank you so much for the generosity of the draw!

    I’m in Massachusetts

  • Kristin Baker says:

    Very interesting article talking about the fascinating difference between the scientific nose of fragrance creation vs the ephemeral, subjective, emotional experiencing of a scent.

  • Dami C says:

    This was a very informative article that explained the differences between fragrance, scent, aroma, and other terms very clearly. I agree that we don’t always need to figure everything out about a fragrance. Their way of eliciting emotions and memories may be enough. I am in the DFW area.

  • Jake Dauod says:

    This was really insightful and I completely agree. Sometimes I forget how subjective perfumery is, and the words I use to describe what I’m smelling may not be the same that someone else may use. I think that having a scent is much more appealing than simply having a fragrance, and I appreciate niche perfumery that crafts formulas that can perform and smell differently on different skin types (creating a scent, not just acting as a fragrance). I really enjoyed this article. Kind regards from Illinois, USA.

  • xoe says:

    What I especially liked about Sherri’s article is her admission that sometimes the subtle distinctions between scent, fragrance and armoa have not meant much to her. And her conclusion that we don’t always need to figure everything out. I think that though they may not mean exactly the same thing, the words can often be used interchangeably.

  • pimpompompam says:

    This is one of those things you somewhat know but don’t know how to explain. Sheri’s explanation was spot on. I always wanted to work in fragrance industry, I’m such a bad chemist thou 🙁

  • audesko1 says:

    That was an extremely informative article by Sherri. I really did not know the difference between scent and fragrance. I do understand now. I loved this statement ” Fragrances are designed to elicit emotions and feelings, and lend a perspective to an experience. And sometimes it’s those little mysteries that remain and keep us wondering that add to the enjoyment of life.” Thank you Sherri for the lesson. Thank you for the chance to win. California

  • Hasan Shah says:

    Very informative post by Sherri. It was interesting to know how fragrance and scent mean very different things, and how fragrance is much more objective compared to subjective scent, though both are important, in different ways to different people. Thank you.

    Reach us : https://beautebar.ca/

  • Gsweet says:

    I really enjoyed reading about the less physical aspect To scent/fragrance, like the perception/reception/emotional side to it. There has always been something very magical about scent, I think we all agree, and it’s something we don’t get to explore often enough. It’s nice to see it verbalized. I’m in NYC
    Much love
    Xx

  • mronhubbard says:

    The difference between scent and fragrance probably doesn’t matter much to people not in the fragrance world, but I like getting an expert’s point of view on the distinction between what a perfumer puts together and what a consumer subjectively experiences. On a related topic, I read recently that upper-class British people supposedly use the word “scent” instead of “perfume.”
    I liked The Series’s page on FB. SoCal, USA

  • Niinocka says:

    A very insightful and informative article! It made me realize that I am sometimes »guilty of« using both words – scent and fragrance – interchangeably when referring to a certain fragrance.
    I appreciate the stand on the purpose of the fragrances – to elicit emotions and lend a perspective to an experience. Sometimes I find the dissecting of a fragrance to the last note has nothing to do with appreciating and enjoying the fragrance. And when I think of both versions of Gentle Fluidity by MFK, which are made from the same notes, but smell completely different, there is obvious that the artistry and chemistry might be decisive contributors to the end result.
    I live in the EU, so I am not participating in the draw, but I wanted to post the comment thanking for highly educational content.

  • Princess Anna says:

    Fragrances are so much more than nice smell. Fragrances are a form of art, a form of feeling and a form of memory. They include not only some smells from nature or oils from plants, but the emotions, imagination and feelings of the creator. Sherri Sebastian seems able to integrate all that in just a drop of scented liquor. CA, USA

  • smm13 says:

    I very much enjoyed this very informative and well reasoned article. I do like the idea that the words aren’t interchangeable so that we can be more specific with language. It also made me think a little bit more about how science can still have a little magic. I’m very curious to try her fragrances to see what scent I perceive.

  • Lauren Yamasaki says:

    I’ve never thought of the difference either but it makes “scents”. Haha. Great information for the lay person.

  • LightOfJoy says:

    Sure, it’s a romantic idea to be captivated by a fragrance without analyzing its components. In general, more people are blind buying or spending good money on samples due to limited access to retail environments where we could previously test them for free. Because of that reason alone, I think it’s a good idea to have a general idea of notes or accords, and which ones one likes or are averse to.

    *In the USA

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thank you for the great review Sherri.

    I think the point in your article is greatly exemplified by (in my mind) Dr. Ellen Covey from Olympic Orchids, who sought to replicate the fragrance of the Orchids that she grew, to make beautiful scents for us to wear.

    I do not think the words are interchangeable. Case in point – you always hear about someone’s scent trail, not their fragrance trail.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • citlallinrg says:

    Piggybacking off of what is said about industry perfumers making misleading fragrance descriptions with marketing, packaging, and color I feel as if sometimes they trick the market with the notes as well. So many times I smell a scent and am so sure I smell a specific note and I check online and there is that very vague “white floral” or “solar note” that doesn’t fit the scent at all and seems to be there just for the aesthetic?

    Perhaps this is still me looking way too much into it though haha. After all, I do agree that in the end the notes really don’t matter, it just matters if you like the scent and enjoy smelling it. Writing from California!

  • patrick_348 says:

    I liked this distinction between “fragrance” and “scent.” I take it that fragrance refers to the product. Scent is the result or effect for the wearer. Or on another level, the component scents of a formula would be combined to make a fragrance. Each term has its connotations. The gift set sounds great! Thanks for the drawing. I am in the US, in NC.

  • Chris B says:

    Sound like a lot of thought went into the article as well anniversary set. Definitely enter me in to win.

    Thanks,

  • sherri sebastian says:

    Thank you everyone for your thoughtful feedback. I always enjoy hearing what everyone is thinking about fragrance and their relationship to it. In some ways I long for my ‘fragrance innocence’, which I can never get back after working as a professional perfumer for all these years. One of my greatest pleasures is enjoying a fragrance without thinking much about ‘what’s in in’. Thanks again and have a nice weekend! Warmly, Sherri