Tomato leaf

What Does It Smell Like?

Tomato leaf smells like brushing your hand across a tomato plant on a warm summer afternoon—green, slightly bitter, with an almost peppery sharpness. It's herbaceous and slightly dusty, reminiscent of crushed basil mixed with fresh grass clippings and a whisper of savoury earthiness. There's something almost green-petroleum about it, slightly metallic and cooling, like the smell of broken stems releasing volatile oils. It's distinctly *alive* rather than sweet.

Origin & History

Tomato leaf is primarily created synthetically as a derivative of natural volatiles found in Solanum lycopersicum foliage. The authentic green character comes from compounds like (Z)-3-hexenal and methyl salicylate. French chemists in the mid-20th century began isolating and synthesising these "green notes" for modern perfumery. Whilst you *can* extract scent from actual tomato plants, it's unstable and difficult to stabilise in fragrance form, so perfumers rely on sophisticated molecular reconstruction—creating the genuine scent without the plant material's degradation.

In Perfumery

Tomato leaf typically functions as a fresh, top-to-middle note that adds verdant bite and naturalistic character to compositions. It cuts through florals with green sharpness, lending contemporary, almost aromatic quality. Often paired with citrus or herbs, it prevents fragrances from becoming too polished or sweet, grounding them in garden reality.

Pairs Beautifully With

Featured In 11 Fragrances