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Red Wine

Q: Is Red Wine natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Wine absolute (from grape pomace/lees) exists but is niche. Most wine notes are synthetic reconstructions combining fruit esters, oak lactones, and fermentation compounds..

BEVERAGES / rich · fruity · earthy

Red Wine

Category	BEVERAGES
Subcategory	rich · fruity · earthy
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	Vitis vinifera
Appearance	Pale to dark amber liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia
Pyramid	Base

Tannic, fruity-dark, barrel-aged. Red wine smells of fermented grape, oak, and time — polyphenol-rich, slightly acidic, complex with age.

Scent
Terroir & Origins
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Dark, fruity-tannic, slightly acidic. Fermented grape with oak-barrel warmth — woody-vanilla undertones, astringent tannins, dark berry fruit. Complex and layered like an aged wine itself. More structured than grape juice, more alive than fruit notes.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Dark berry-fruit, vinous, tannic-astringent, oak

After a few hours

Warm barrel-aged depth, fruit softens, woody emerges

After a few days

Persistent tannic-woody warmth, faint vinous memory

Terroir & Post-Harvest Process

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Red wine as a perfumery note captures the aromatic complexity of Vitis vinifera: fermented dark grape, oak barrel influence, tannin astringency, and the volatile esters that develop during aging.

The key molecules include ethyl octanoate (fruity-vinous), oak lactones (woody-vanilla from barrel aging), anthocyanins (not volatile but conceptually important), and various esters and aldehydes. The accord also requires tannin-astringent character — the mouth-drying quality translated to scent.

In perfumery, red wine functions in boozy, warm, and structured compositions. It provides fruity darkness with woody complexity. Works alongside tobacco, leather, dark fruits, and spice notes. The vinous-fermented quality adds a living, decisive dimension.

Wine absolute exists (from grape pomace) but is not common. Most perfumery wine notes are synthetic reconstructions.

This note in Première Peau. Insuline Safrine. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Absinthe · Beer · Cognac · Rum · Sake · Wine Must

Did You Know?

Did you know?

The color difference between red and white wine comes entirely from skin contact during fermentation — not from different grape varieties. White wine can be made from red grapes (Champagne's Pinot Noir proves this). The skin's anthocyanin pigments leach into the juice during maceration.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Wine absolute (from grape pomace/lees) exists but is niche. Most wine notes are synthetic reconstructions combining fruit esters, oak lactones, and fermentation compounds.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	N/A — complex natural extract
CAS Number	91082-91-6
Botanical Name	Vitis vinifera
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale to dark amber liquid

In Perfumery

Concept note providing vinous, tannic-fruity darkness. Built from wine-type esters, oak lactones, dark fruit elements, and tannin-astringent accords. Functions in boozy, warm, and structured compositions. Works with tobacco, leather, spice.