Plum Perfumes & Fragrances

Plum smells juicy, jammy and slightly wine-like, with a dark fruity heart and a faint almond-stone undertone. It is one of the most sensual fruit notes in perfumery and a classic component of oriental compositions.

No plum essential oil is commercially used. The note is built from naturals and synthetics: gamma-nonalactone and gamma-undecalactone give the velvety fruit body, damascones add rosy depth, and beta-ionone lends a violet-tinged lift. Prune and dried plum accords use prune juice concentrates, immortelle absolute and dark caramel molecules for a richer, more leathery effect used in many orientals.

Plum is a heart note. Perfumers use it to add juicy warmth to oriental compositions (Guerlain Samsara, Tom Ford Plum Japonais, YSL Black Opium flankers), to sweeten oud and rose, and to bridge fruity-floral and gourmand compositions. It pairs beautifully with rose, oud, vanilla, patchouli and benzoin.

Plum performs best in autumn, winter and evening wear, and suits rich sensual signatures with a dark fruity pull.