Oregano

What Does It Smell Like?

Oregano smells like a sun-baked Mediterranean hillside captured in a bottle. It's peppery and slightly minty with an herbaceous bite—imagine crushing fresh oregano leaves between your fingers after they've warmed in the afternoon heat. There's a savoury, almost woody undertone with a whisper of spice that tingles on your olfactory sense. It's green without being grassy; instead, it's assertive and slightly dusty, reminiscent of dried herbs hanging in a rustic kitchen. The aroma carries warmth and earthiness that feels both culinary and botanical.

Origin & History

Oregano comes primarily from Mediterranean regions—Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Italy—where it grows wild on sun-exposed slopes. The fragrant molecule carvacrol (which comprises 50-80% of oregano essential oil) is extracted through steam distillation of the flowering herb. Interestingly, oregano's potency in perfumery comes from essential oil rather than absolute; this makes it a more volatile, fleeting note. Ancient Greeks associated it with joy and wellbeing, using it both medicinally and aromatically for thousands of years.

In Perfumery

Perfumers employ oregano as a sparkling, green top note or a supporting herbaceous accord. Its peppery character adds texture and complexity to fragrances, preventing floral compositions from becoming saccharine. It appears in niche aromatic and fougère fragrances, often paired with rosemary, basil, and citrus to amplify natural, verdant aesthetics.

Pairs Beautifully With

Featured In 14 Fragrances