Herbal

Hay

Note Profile

Botanical 185 perfumes

Also Known As

dry grass

About

Dry, warm green with coumarin and sun-dried grass character

Scent Profile

Hay has a dry, warm green scent with pronounced coumarin facets, evoking sun-dried grass, sweet tobacco, and subtle almond undertones. Its aroma can also reveal hints of honey, straw, and a faint earthy warmth as it evolves. The overall impression is both rustic and comforting, with a gentle natural sweetness.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeBase · ~36h lasting

Family Amber · Musk · Leather, Sweet & Gourmand, Floral, Fruity

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

Hay absolute

A natural extract

CAS 8031-00-3

Hay absolute (IFRA NCS). Coumarin-led.

How the layers join

Origin

Hay absolute is typically extracted from dried grasses, especially species such as Phleum pratense (timothy grass), using solvent extraction. The raw material is harvested after drying in the sun, which intensifies its coumarin content and characteristic scent. The absolute is a viscous, dark liquid used in perfumery.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use hay primarily in the heart or base of compositions to impart a natural, pastoral warmth and to reinforce fougère, chypre, and tobacco accords. It blends well with notes like lavender, tonka bean, tobacco, and woods, and is valued for its ability to add depth and a nostalgic countryside nuance. Its coumarin content makes it a key component in classic masculine fragrances.