Green

Bay leaf smells like stepping into a Mediterranean kitchen—herbaceous, slightly peppery, and unmistakably savoury. It's green and fresh with a subtle warmth underneath, reminiscent of crushed dried leaves and dried thyme, but with an almost minty coolness that catches the back of your nose. There's something simultaneously culinary and aromatic about it, neither purely floral nor entirely spicy. If you've ever rubbed a bay leaf between your fingers and inhaled, that's precisely the character: slightly bitter, gently warming, and deeply earthy.

Woody

Cedarwood smells like walking into a freshly constructed wooden cabin on a crisp autumn morning. It's warm, dry, and slightly spicy—reminiscent of pencil shavings, aged timber, and a whisper of incense. There's an almost powdery quality, with subtle earthiness underneath. Unlike the bright cheerfulness of citrus, cedarwood feels contemplative and grounded, like the smell of old furniture polish mixed with the resinous warmth of a cedar chest that's held winter clothes for generations.