What does cypress smell like in perfume? Cypress smells fresh, green and woody, with a resinous, slightly smoky edge. It brings the clean scent of Mediterranean evergreens to a fragrance.
| Botanical name | Cupressus sempervirens |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Needles and twigs |
| Origin | France and Spain |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Base |
| Scent family | Woods & Resins |
| Odour | Fresh, green and woody, with a resinous, slightly smoky edge |
| Perfume uses | Woody, chypre and fresh blends |
| Key molecules | α-pinene, δ-3-carene, cedrol |
| Odour impact | Medium |
| Odour life on a strip | Long: a day or more |
| Found in | Oud Octavo |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Cypress?
Cypress oil is distilled from the needles and twigs of Cupressus sempervirens, the tall, slender tree that lines roads in Tuscany and Provence.
What Does Cypress Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of cypress comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Green
Fresh, coniferous needles.
Woody
Dry, clean wood.
Resinous
A sticky, balsamic note.
Smoky
A soft, smoky edge.
How Perfumers Use Cypress
Perfumers use cypress to add freshness and woody depth. It pairs well with oud, cedarwood, citrus and incense.
The tree of the Mediterranean
The Italian cypress has symbolised eternity since ancient times, and its silhouette is one of the most recognisable in Mediterranean landscapes.
Smell Cypress in Prosody London Perfumes
For cypress at its most expressive, try Oud Octavo. Cypress adds a fresh, woody edge to an oud base with angelica root and vetiver.
Oud OctavoWhat Blends Well With Cypress?
Questions About Cypress
Does cypress smell like pine?
It is fresh and coniferous, but drier and woodier than pine.
Does cypress last long?
Yes, it is long-lasting.
What pairs with cypress?
Oud, cedarwood, citrus and incense.
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