Earthy

Mandrake

Note Profile

Botanical

About

Mandrake is the root of plants in the genus Mandragora, native to the Mediterranean region. It is toxic and rare, so perfumers use accords or synthetic versions. It smells earthy, rooty and slightly bitter, with green and aniseed touches. It recalls damp soil and cellar moss, with an uneasy medicinal edge. It is a fantasy note for niche work.

Scent Profile

Mandrake has a complex herbal scent profile, often described as earthy, rooty, and slightly bitter with subtle green and anisic undertones. The aroma evokes damp soil, dank cellar moss, and a faint but unsettling medicinal-narcotic edge. As it evolves, it may reveal nuances reminiscent of parsnip or ginseng.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~21h lasting

Family Woody & Earthy, Green & Aromatic

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

What this is made of

Mandrake names no single substance

Reconstructed

Mandragora is toxic and not extracted; the note is a dark-botanical image.

How the layers join

Origin

Mandrake refers to the roots of plants in the Mandragora genus, native to the Mediterranean region. Historically, the roots have been harvested and dried, but due to toxicity and rarity, mandrake is seldom used in modern perfumery and is typically represented through accords or synthetic recreations.

Usage in Perfumery

In perfumery, mandrake is used as a fantasy note to impart a mysterious, earthy-herbal character, often in niche or conceptual fragrances. It is usually placed in the heart or base to anchor compositions and pairs well with woody, mossy, and spicy notes. Its use is primarily symbolic or evocative rather than literal due to safety considerations.