On That Note: What Does Rhubarb Smell Like in Perfumery?

Every fragrance description contains a list of notes, which is meant to give an idea of what a scent should smell like.

We are generally familiar with common culinary notes like Marshmallow, Vanilla and Grapefruit, and know how they should smell. The tricky part is when a description contains more atypical notes like Oakmoss, Benzoin and Labdanum.

In this series, we’re breaking down specific notes so you can gain a better understanding of your fragrance, all from behind a screen. 

What is Rhubarb?

You’ve probably walked past Rhubarb at the local grocery store. The vegetable, harvested only in the spring, looks like a bright red celery stalk.

In the culinary world, the vegetable is treated more like a fruit, often used in jams, pies, and other baked goods to add a distinct tartness. It’s also commonly infused with fruit juice, typically blended with strawberry to reimagine strawberry rhubarb pie.

Although its traditional uses have been culinary and medicinal, more recently, Rhubarb has made a place for itself in perfumery, as well. 

Rhubarb in Perfumery

Like most fruits and vegetables, Rhubarb cannot be extracted naturally for fragrance. Instead, the scent of Rhubarb is synthetically recreated as various notes and accords.

Generally, its scent can be described as green, tart and sharp, used to add a mouthwatering zing to a fragrance.

Rhubarb notes are most commonly found in woody, green and citrus fragrances. Because of the numerous synthetic notes perfumers can choose from, a different facet of Rhubarb—from more fruity to more sharp—can be highlighted.

In the case of our new fragrance, the Rhubarb has been uniquely paired with Amberwood due to its ability to play off dry wood. Our Rhubarb was also created with a nutty, grindy, grapefruit-like effect, similar to Vetiver, to pair with the earthiness of Patchouli. 

Try Rhubarb

You’ll find Rhubarb in our new fragrance, launching June 18, 2024. The new scent will be a part of Scent Space, and you’ll find Rhubarb in every version:

Personal: Showcasing the lighter side of ripe red fruits, Strawberry, Rhubarb and Raspberry Pulp are stirred into transparency with Amberwood and Violet Leaf.


Expressive: Perfectly ripe Strawberry, Rhubarb and Raspberry Pulp are blended until smooth with a base of Amberwood.


Bold: A jammier rendition that explores the depths of Strawberry, Raspberry and Rhubarb when simmered down by Vetiver, Patchouli and Amberwood.