Spicy

Anise

Note Profile

Natural 86 perfumes

Also Known As

Aniseed

About

Anise has a sweet, spicy, and slightly herbal aroma, reminiscent of licorice and fennel. It is fresh and uplifting, adding a cooling and aromatic quality to fragrances. The note can evoke both culinary and nostalgic sensations, and is often used in spicy, gourmand, and aromatic compositions.

Scent Profile

Anise features a sweet, spicy, and slightly herbal aroma with pronounced licorice facets and a subtle green freshness. Its scent is aromatic and cooling, with nuances that can shift from sugary to mildly peppery as it evolves. The note is often associated with both culinary spices and classic herbal liqueurs.

Citrus 0%

Floral 5%

Fruity 0%

Green 20%

Sweet 55%

Warm 60%

Woody 0%

Earthy 5%

Animalic 0%

Fresh 10%

Origin

Anise is derived from the seeds of Pimpinella anisum, a flowering plant native to the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. The essential oil is typically obtained through steam distillation of the dried seeds. Its characteristic aroma is primarily due to the compound anethole.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use anise mainly as a top or heart note to impart freshness and a distinctive licorice-like sweetness. It blends well with spices, aromatics, citrus, and gourmand notes, and is often found in fougère, oriental, and gourmand compositions. Anise can add brightness and complexity to both masculine and feminine fragrances.