Cedar fragrances

Cedar is the pencil-shavings note: dry, clean, structured wood, more architecture than forest. Perfumers love it because it builds vertical structure without weight, a cedar base keeps a fragrance standing upright all day but never feels thick, which is why it hides inside nearly every modern designer scent for men and plenty for women. Sauvage runs cedar under its pepper, Bleu de Chanel under its citrus, Baccarat Rouge 540 under its strange amber glow. On its own, cedar reads calm, competent and slightly austere; office perfumery leans on it hard. To pick the note out, smell any of those three at hour five: the dry, faintly sharpened-pencil hum left standing is the cedar.

Designer fragrances built with Cedar. 30 perfumes that feature the note, from top to dry-down.

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