Train your nose with four scent references
SESH Academy / Fragrance Academy · Beginner
Practice a repeatable four-reference smell exercise and make a useful scent log.
Rose petals are a botanical reference for a scent family. A rose note on a label does not prove the use of natural rose extract.
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Start with recognizable references
Rather than decoding a twenty-note perfume on day one, start with four safe sensory references: orange peel for citrus, a fragrant flower for floral, fresh berries for fruity, and a clean untreated wood sample if it has a detectable scent. These are learning analogies, not proof that the same materials exist in a perfume. Avoid sawdust inhalation and concentrated oils.
Make four useful scent cards
On each card, write the reference, a primary adjective (fresh, sweet, soft or dry), a secondary adjective (zesty, floral, juicy or woody), and your subjective intensity from 0 to 3. Orange peel may be 'fresh + zesty' while strawberries may be 'fruity + juicy'. The goal is to build a usable vocabulary instead of writing 'nice' for everything.
Try a simple blind test
Ask another person to present two safe, familiar references in separate clean containers without labels. Smell comfortably and describe each before revealing the identity. If you misidentify one, return to the known reference and compare. Don't sample unknown or irritating materials, and avoid ingredients that trigger anyone's allergies.
Citrus peel and flesh are different parts of the fruit. Use this as a sensory reference, not a way to infer a formula from a note name.
Apply the exercise to one perfume
Once you can distinguish citrus, floral, fruity and woody references, sample one SESH fragrance if available. Record the character you actually perceive on a blotter or skin as directed, then compare it with the published profile. You don't need to identify every single note. Today's success is recognizing the broad direction and explaining it clearly; harder discrimination will come later.
Try it yourself
Make a four-part scent passport: citrus, floral, fruity and woody. Fill at least two sections with safe references you actually smelled and add a distinguishing adjective.
• Start with only two references to avoid fatigue.
• Write two adjectives rather than 'nice'.
• Repeat after a day or two before reading your prior notes.
Check your reasoning: If you can distinguish zesty orange peel from juicy berries using your own descriptors, you have begun building practical odor memory.
