Pleats Please
Eau de Parfum
Issey Miyake
Note Profile
Floral-animalic with jasmine and narcotic character
Indole has a distinctive scent that is both floral and animalic, with narcotic, slightly fecal undertones at higher concentrations. In trace amounts, it lends a rich, heady, and naturalistic facet to white florals like jasmine and orange blossom. Its character evolves from sharp and pungent to velvety and enveloping as it diffuses.
Indole is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound originally isolated from coal tar and also found naturally in many flowers, especially jasmine, as well as in animal matter. In perfumery, it is almost exclusively produced synthetically for consistency and purity.
Perfumers use indole in minute quantities to add depth and realism to floral accords, particularly in heart notes. It is essential in recreating the narcotic aura of jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia, and can enhance animalic or musky compositions. Indole is often blended with other white florals, musks, and woody notes.
Synthetic
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Indole appears prominently.