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Woody Notes

Q: Is Woody Notes natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Varies: steam distillation (cedarwood, sandalwood, pine), solvent extraction (guaiac, oud), CO2 extraction. Synthetics dominate commercial use..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · warm · fresh

Woody Notes

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · warm · fresh
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	N/A — perfumery accord category
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	N/A — perfumery accord category
Pyramid	Base

The broadest olfactory family after florals. Woody notes span from pencil-sharpener cedar to creamy sandalwood to smoky oud.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

The category is too broad for a single description. Cedar: dry, pencil-sharp. Sandalwood: creamy, milky. Guaiac: smoky, slightly sweet. Oud: dark, animalic, fermented. Pine: resinous, fresh.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Varies by wood type

After a few hours

Woody heart develops warmth and density

After a few days

Long-lasting woody base, structural and persistent

The Full Story

Woody notes constitute one of the largest fragrance families. The category includes hardwoods (oak, teak), softwoods (cedar, pine), tropical woods (sandalwood, rosewood), resinated woods (oud, guaiac), and synthetic wood molecules (Iso E Super, Cashmeran, Javanol).

The chemistry comes from three sources: cellulose degradation products, terpene content, and resin deposits. Each wood has a unique ratio of these three.

Woody notes function primarily as base elements providing structural backbone, fixation, and warmth.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Almond Tree · Ambrox Super · Amburana Wood · Amyris · Blonde Woods · Caoutchouc · Cashalox · Cashmir Wood

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Iso E Super, the most used woody molecule, was discovered accidentally at a major aroma-chemical supplier in the 1970s during cedarwood chemistry research. Some people are anosmic to it, while others find it overwhelming.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Varies: steam distillation (cedarwood, sandalwood, pine), solvent extraction (guaiac, oud), CO2 extraction. Synthetics dominate commercial use.

Molecular Formula	N/A — key representatives: iso e super C₁₆H₂₆O, santalol C₁₅H₂₄O, cedrene C₁₅H₂₄
CAS Number	N/A — olfactory accord category
Botanical Name	N/A — perfumery accord category
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	WOOD NOTES · TIMBER NOTES · BARK NOTES
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium

In Perfumery

Foundational base-note family. Key naturals: cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, guaiac, oud. Key synthetics: Iso E Super, Cashmeran, Javanol, Sandalore. Essential across all fragrance families.