SALICYLATES (FLORAL NOTES)

Floral salicylates describe a group of related fragrance materials, not the extract of one flower. Their appeal lies in the way floral sweetness meets green, herbal or gently fruity nuances. Depending on the material and composition, they can give flowers a fuller outline or connect petal-like softness with a more leafy character.

The individual materials differ. Amyl salicylate has sweet floral, herbal and balsamic facets with a green undertone, while hexyl salicylate leans floral-fruity with mild herbal sweetness. Methyl salicylate, the major component of wintergreen oil, has a more medicinal character and should not stand for the whole group. This catalogue label does not identify a single molecule or formula. Look for the floral effect as a whole rather than expecting one precise flower or identical behaviour in every perfume.