OLIVE FLOWERS

Olive flowers suggest a delicate floral note with green, grassy or lightly fruity nuances. The inspiration is the blossom of Olea europaea, distinct from the fruit and wood of the same tree. Research on four olive cultivars found different balances of fresh green and fruity-floral aromatic compounds, so the living flowers do not have one identical profile.

Perfumers can interpret this floral idea rather than reproduce every detail of a flower. Givaudan has documented capturing olive-flower scent for fragrance creation. A note list, however, does not specify an essential oil or a fixed accord recipe. Look to the surrounding notes to understand whether a composition develops the greener, fresher side or a softer floral impression.