Spicy

Cinnamon smells warm, slightly sweet, and gently peppery—imagine biting into a cinnamon stick and feeling that gentle heat bloom across your tongue, then translate that sensation to your nose. It's woody yet spicy, reminiscent of mulled wine, Christmas baking, and the dusty sweetness of ground spice in a baker's tin. The aroma feels almost edible, with a subtle dryness underneath that warmth, rather like the roof of your mouth after tasting the real thing. It's comforting without being cloying.

Woody

Imagine walking through damp earth after rain, then crushing dried autumn leaves in your hands. That's patchouli's essence: earthy, almost animalic, with a subtle sweetness lurking underneath. It smells vaguely like rich soil mixed with dried tobacco and a whisper of chocolate. There's a dark, slightly musty quality—think opening an antique wooden chest. It's grounding and intensely aromatic, never delicate. Fresh patchouli has peppery brightness; aged patchouli becomes deeper, warmer, almost leather-like.