What hinoki and osmanthus smell like
Hinoki and osmanthus are two names that may be new to you on a notes list. One is a wood and the other is a flower. Both come from East Asia, where people have lived with their smell for a very long time.
Hinoki is a Japanese cypress
Hinoki is a cypress tree that grows in Japan. Its pale wood has long been used there for temples, shrines and bathtubs. The wood is fragrant on its own, and the smell rises when it is warm and damp, as it is in a bath. On a notes list it may also appear as Japanese cypress.
How hinoki smells
Hinoki smells clean, dry and woody, with a light lemony side and a trace of resin. It is airier than sandalwood, which is creamy, and brighter than the dark woods that often sit in the Base, the part of a perfume that stays longest. Among woods, it is one of the quiet ones.
What hinoki goes with
Hinoki pairs easily with citrus, green notes, tea, cedar and incense. It usually sits in the Middle, the body of the scent, or in the Base. It suits people who like woody scents that are not sweet, and it is easy to wear at work and in warm weather.
Osmanthus is a small flower with a large scent
Osmanthus is an evergreen shrub with tiny flowers that range from creamy white to orange. In China the dried flowers are used to scent tea. In Japan the autumn bloom is a familiar sign of the season. In Vietnam the plant is known as hoa mộc. The flowers are so small that the scent often reaches you before you see them.
How osmanthus smells
Osmanthus smells floral with a clear fruity side, close to apricot or peach. Underneath there is a soft, leathery tone, a little like suede. It is gentler and less heady than jasmine or tuberose, which makes it easy to like.
What osmanthus goes with
Osmanthus is often paired with tea, stone fruit, light woods, musk and leather. It usually sits in the Middle. It suits people who want a flower in their perfume but find jasmine or tuberose too strong.
When the two meet
The two notes also work together. The dry wood of hinoki keeps the fruit of osmanthus from turning too sweet, and the flower gives the wood some color. If you see both on one list, expect a soft scent with wood underneath and a touch of apricot above.
One more habit
NOTE suggests learning one new note at a time. Pick hinoki or osmanthus, smell a perfume in which it leads, and the name will mean something the next time you read it.