Jasmine

What it is

Jasmine in perfumery is a family rather than a single uniform material. Two especially important references are Jasminum grandiflorum and Jasminum sambac.

Kew treats them as distinct accepted species, and they should remain distinct in the archive whenever the source identifies which jasmine is being used.

How it appears in perfumery

Jasmine flowers are delicate, so perfumery traditionally relies on extraction methods that preserve more of the flower’s aromatic complexity than ordinary steam distillation.

Common references include:

• jasmine concrete
• jasmine absolute
• grandiflorum absolute
• sambac absolute
• reconstructed jasmine accords

What to notice

Jasmine can combine white petals, fruit, sweetness, green facets, tea-like nuances, warmth and indolic depth.

The indolic side is important: at low levels it contributes natural floral depth, while at higher levels it can feel more animalic or overripe. That tension between luminous floral lift and darker depth is central to jasmine’s character.

Grandiflorum and sambac

They overlap, but they are not interchangeable references. Sambac is often experienced as denser, greener or more tea-like, while grandiflorum is a classic reference for the expansive floral style associated with traditional fine fragrance.

Those are broad smelling tendencies, not rigid rules. Explicit botanical or supplier information should take priority.