GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES / green · fresh · earthy
Grass
Category
GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES
Subcategory
green · fresh · earthy
Origin
Volatility
Heart Note
Botanical
Poaceae family (various species)
Appearance
pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength
Medium
Producing Countries
Worldwide
Pyramid
Heart
The universal green: freshly mown lawn, torn blades, wet earth at the edge. Grass smells like a suburban Saturday morning -- sharp, vegetal, alive, instantly recognisable.
Sharp, raw, universally green. The most elemental green smell: no flower, no herb, just torn plant tissue releasing its volatile arsenal. Wetter and juicier than dried hay, less bitter than galbanum, less herbal than basil. A faintly sweet undertone sits underneath the sharpness.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Sharp green burst, raw torn-leaf, vivid and wet
After a few hours
After a few hours
Green fades rapidly, faint sweet-grassy trace
After a few days
After a few days
Absent -- extremely volatile, no tenacity
The Full Story
Grass in perfumery refers to the freshly-cut-lawn impression -- the specific blend of green-leaf volatiles (GLVs) released when grass blades are mechanically damaged. The key molecule is cis-3-hexenol (leaf alcohol, CAS 928-96-1), supported by cis-3-hexenal (leaf aldehyde), trans-2-hexenal, and cis-3-hexenyl acetate (leaf acetate).
These C6 compounds are produced enzymatically via the lipoxygenase pathway within seconds of cell damage -- a biochemical distress signal that attracts predatory insects to attack herbivores feeding on the plant. The smell of cut grass is literally a chemical cry for help.
In perfumery, grass works as a top-note green modifier of very high volatility. It provides an immediate, vivid green impact that dissipates rapidly. The note is central to green, aquatic, fresh, and outdoor compositions. Cis-3-hexenyl salicylate extends the green impression into the heart with better tenacity.
This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Cis-3-hexenol, the primary molecule of freshly cut grass, is produced by virtually every green plant on Earth. It is estimated that terrestrial vegetation releases approximately 1 billion tonnes of green-leaf volatiles per year -- making cut-grass smell a abundant biogenic volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: No grass essential oil is commercially used. The note is achieved synthetically: cis-3-hexenol (CAS 928-96-1), cis-3-hexenyl acetate (CAS 3681-71-8), and related C6 green-leaf compounds.
Molecular Formula
Key compound: cis-3-hexen-1-ol C₆H₁₂O
CAS Number
N/A — natural extract, no single CAS
Botanical Name
Poaceae family (various species)
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
green grass, hay
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Appearance
pale yellow clear liquid
In Perfumery
Grass is a top-note green modifier providing the most elemental freshly-cut-plant impression. Key molecule: cis-3-hexenol (leaf alcohol, CAS 928-96-1), supported by cis-3-hexenal and cis-3-hexenyl acetate. Extremely volatile with minimal tenacity. Cis-3-hexenyl salicylate extends the green impression into the heart. Central to green, aquatic, fresh, and outdoor compositions.
