Spicy

Black pepper smells sharp, dry, and almost peppery—obviously—but not like the dusty spice in your kitchen cupboard. Imagine biting into a fresh peppercorn: there's an initial brightness, almost citrusy, followed by a warming, slightly woody heat that tingles your nostrils. It's spicy without burning, with an almost piney, green undertone. The sensation is crisp and energising, like inhaling cool air that somehow feels warm simultaneously.

Floral

Moroccan jasmine absolute is intensely floral—think walking through a night-blooming garden at dusk, but concentrated and honeyed. It's sweeter and more animalic than delicate white florals; there's a creamy, almost buttery richness underneath the heady floral notes, with hints of indole that give it a slightly spicy, skin-musk quality. It smells expensive, sensual, and slightly intoxicating—less innocent than jasmine sambac, more darkly romantic.