Spicy

Clove smells like a warm spice cabinet on a winter's day—sharp, almost peppery, with a sweet undertone reminiscent of honey and wood smoke. Imagine biting into a clove bud: your mouth tingles with a slightly numbing sensation, and your nose fills with something both comforting and assertive. It's less fruity than cinnamon, less heat-forward than chilli, with an almost medicinal cleanliness beneath the spice. Picture the aroma drifting from mulled wine or a freshly opened jar of pickling spices.

Woody

Imagine walking through damp earth after rain, then crushing dried autumn leaves in your hands. That's patchouli's essence: earthy, almost animalic, with a subtle sweetness lurking underneath. It smells vaguely like rich soil mixed with dried tobacco and a whisper of chocolate. There's a dark, slightly musty quality—think opening an antique wooden chest. It's grounding and intensely aromatic, never delicate. Fresh patchouli has peppery brightness; aged patchouli becomes deeper, warmer, almost leather-like.