Herbal

Woodruff or Galium Odoratum

Note Profile

Botanical 2 perfumes

About

Woodruff is a herb native to Europe and parts of Asia. Its scent is strongest in the dried leaves and flowering tops, taken by solvent extraction or infusion. It smells sweet and hay-like, with hints of vanilla, almond and fresh green. It dries to a warm, slightly spicy, powdery finish. Its coumarin gives it softness. It is used in the heart or base.

Scent Profile

Woodruff has a sweet, hay-like aroma with subtle notes of vanilla, almond, and a hint of green freshness. Its scent evolves from a fresh herbal opening to a warm, slightly spicy and powdery drydown. The coumarin content gives it a characteristic softness and mild gourmand nuance.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Amber · Musk · Leather, Sweet & Gourmand, Green & Aromatic

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

What this is made of

Woodruff or Galium Odoratum names no single substance

Reconstructed

Coumarin-rich in life; the note is carried by coumarin rather than any woodruff extract.

How the layers join

Origin

Woodruff, or Galium odoratum, is a perennial herb native to Europe and parts of Asia. The fragrant compounds are most concentrated in the dried leaves and flowering tops, which are harvested and then dried to develop their signature scent. Extraction for perfumery is typically done via solvent extraction or infusion.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use woodruff primarily in the heart or base of compositions to impart a soft, creamy, and slightly sweet herbal facet. It blends well with lavender, tonka bean, citrus, and fougère accords, and is valued for its ability to round out sharp green notes. Its coumarin-rich profile is especially popular in classic fougère and oriental fragrances.