MOSSY NOTES

Moss in perfume suggests an earthy, woody texture, sometimes recalling damp leaves, bark or shaded woodland. It can place a drier, darker counterpoint beneath bright fruit or flowers. Mossy materials are not all alike: some lean towards dry wood, while others have a richer damp-earth or softly leathery aspect.

Oakmoss and treemoss extracts are examples of materials used for this effect; despite their names, their source material is lichen. Perfumers can also compose mossy accords from other fragrant ingredients. The broad label does not identify one extract, species or recipe. It describes a scent direction, whose depth and dryness depend on the materials and their balance with the rest of the perfume.