Cognac as a perfumery note is built from a small group of fragrance molecules that mimic the aged-grape-spirit profile: ethyl acetate for the volatile fruit, oak lactones for the barrel-aged depth, and small fractions of vanillin and eugenol for the sweet-spicy roundness. The accord became a niche-perfumery staple in the 2010s as the gourmand-boozy category expanded. Initio Can't Get Enough and Initio Narcotic Delight both centre cognac as the gourmand spine, paired with apple and tobacco respectively to lean dessert or after-dinner.
