Rosewood

What Does It Smell Like?

Rosewood smells like walking through a freshly sanded furniture workshop—warm, creamy, and gently sweet, but distinctly wooden rather than floral. Imagine the aroma of a pencil shaving mixed with subtle cinnamon warmth and a whisper of something almost creamy, like sandalwood's mellower cousin. It's soft and approachable, lacking harshness; rather like inhaling the scent of polished mahogany with a touch of honeyed spice underneath. There's an inherent smoothness that feels both elegant and grounding.

Origin & History

Rosewood comes from the Aniba rosaeodora tree, native to the Amazon rainforest. The fragrant wood is steam-distilled to extract its precious oil, yielding linalool as its primary aromatic compound—the same molecule found in lavender, making it botanically complex. Due to overharvesting and deforestation concerns, authentic rosewood is increasingly rare and expensive. Most modern fragrances use synthetic rosewood (created via chemical synthesis) to replicate that creamy-woody character whilst protecting remaining rainforest populations.

In Perfumery

Rosewood functions as a refined woody-floral bridge in compositions, softening heavier accords whilst adding depth without heaviness. Perfumers employ it as a mid-to-base note that creates subtle warmth and creaminess, particularly in chypres, florals, and aromatic fragrances. It's the sophisticated mediator—neither too sweet nor austere—that helps diverse notes blend harmoniously.

Pairs Beautifully With

Featured In 108 Fragrances