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.

Gourmand

Vanillin smells like the inside of a vanilla pod—sweet, creamy, and almost edible. Imagine warm custard, freshly baked biscuits, or the comforting aroma of a vanilla bean nestled in a jar. It's simultaneously gourmand and sophisticated: there's a subtle woody warmth beneath the sweetness, like toasted vanilla cake still cooling on a rack. Pure vanillin has a powdery, almost talc-like quality that makes it feel soft and enveloping rather than cloying.