Fresh

Metallic notes smell like the crisp, ionised air after lightning strikes—think ozone mixed with the cool tingle of licking a battery (not that you should). Imagine the sharp, almost electric scent of fresh pennies, or standing near high-voltage electrical equipment. There's an ozonic, slightly mineral quality, like inhaling deeply at the moment rain begins, yet cleaner and more synthetic. It's not unpleasant; rather, it's futuristic and startlingly fresh, almost salty-sharp, with an ethereal, airy quality that feels almost metallic on your olfactory nerves.

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.