Citrus

Lemon zest is the sharp, almost peppery brightness you experience when you scrape a microplane across fresh lemon skin—before the juice's sweetness enters the picture. It's intensely aromatic and slightly bitter, with a crisp, green edge that makes your mouth water just thinking about it. Imagine that thrilling moment when citrus oil bursts from the peel, releasing a piercing, almost metallic freshness that feels alive on your senses. It's zesty without being fruity, more like inhaling the pure essence of Mediterranean sunshine captured in a peel.

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.