Night-blooming jasmine

What Does It Smell Like?

Night-blooming jasmine smells like intoxicating sweetness with an almost indolic richness—imagine honeyed gardenia crossed with something more animalic and sensual. There's a creamy, almost fleshy quality to it, with whispers of coconut and ripe stone fruit. It's heavier and more voluptuous than day jasmine, with an unmistakable warmth that borders on powdery. If you've walked past a night garden in summer, that headily fragrant air clinging to your clothes captures it perfectly: deeply floral but with an underlying earthiness and a hint of something intriguingly bodily and human.

Origin & History

Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) is native to the Caribbean and Central America, where it releases its most potent fragrance after sunset. The plant's flowers produce minimal scent during daylight but become intensely aromatic at dusk—an evolutionary strategy to attract nocturnal pollinators. Perfumers extract this note through enfleurage (fat absorption) traditionally, though modern perfumery relies heavily on aromachemical synthesis. The indolic compounds—particularly indole itself—give it that creamy, slightly animalic character. Many commercial "night jasmine" accords are entirely synthetic creations, blending indole with hedione, benzyl acetate, and other white florals.

In Perfumery

Perfumers deploy night-blooming jasmine as a seductive base or heart note, lending sensuality and depth to compositions. Its indolic richness adds mystery and intrigue, while its sweetness provides approachability. It bridges the gap between delicate florals and animalic orientals, commonly anchoring evening fragrances. Often blended with tuberose, gardenia, or amber notes to amplify its narcotic quality, it's particularly favoured in niche and luxury fragrances.

Pairs Beautifully With

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