Algae smells like the ocean's green heart—imagine standing on a rocky shore where seaweed clings to stone, still damp from the tide. There's a briny, slightly salty minerality undercut with something almost metallic and green, reminiscent of wet seagrass, crushed kelp, and the peculiar freshness of a coastal cave. It's not unpleasant, but distinctly aquatic and unfamiliar; rather like breathing in the essence of marine life itself—clean, primal, and vaguely ammoniac without being harsh.
Algae notes are almost exclusively synthetic creations, born in the laboratory rather than harvested from the sea. Perfumers developed molecular structures mimicking the naturally occurring compounds found in marine organisms—particularly calone derivatives and other aquatic synthetics. The note emerged in the 1980s and 1990s during the "ozonic" fragrance boom, when perfumers sought to capture the ethereal quality of sea air and ocean spray, which algae helps anchor with authenticity and depth.
Algae functions as a distinctive aquatic accord in modern compositions, providing salty, mineral complexity that prevents aquatic fragrances from becoming too airy or synthetic. It grounds ozonic notes with seaweed-like texture, offering depth and occasionally green, slightly bitter facets. Often appearing in niche and contemporary fragrances rather than mainstream scents, it lends credibility to oceanic narratives.
Surprising harmonies
Heeley
Bond No. 9
Montale
Rammstein
Lorenzo Pazzaglia
Moresque
Carthusia
Bohoboco
Tesori d'Oriente