Great class packaging and the scent is spot on!
I loove this scent. It smells like the original at a reasonable price. It brings back great memories and it is spot on!
Aromatic freshness with floral and tart nuances.
Quince is a heart note in perfumery, prized for its crisp, fruity, and floral character. Its defining quality arises from a blend of tartness and subtle sweetness, with usage levels typically below 3% in compositions.
Quince (Cydonia oblonga) is botanically related to apples and pears, but its aromatic profile is distinct. What does quince smell like? The quince scent profile is a complex interplay of crisp, juicy fruitiness with pronounced floral undertones and a tart, almost green edge. The main odor-active compounds include ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity-apple), hexanal (green), and β-ionone (violet/floral). This combination produces a scent that is simultaneously reminiscent of apple, pear, and a touch of rose, with a honeyed, powdery nuance. In perfumery, quince is valued for its ability to impart both freshness and depth, bridging the gap between citrus and floral notes. Quince in perfumery is typically classified as a heart note, contributing to the core of a fragrance's evolution. Its usage level is generally less than 3% of the total composition, as even small amounts can significantly influence the overall scent. The note interacts with skin chemistry by amplifying its tartness on more acidic skin and softening toward a sweeter, more floral impression on alkaline skin. This adaptability makes quince a versatile ingredient for both feminine and unisex fragrances, enhancing the perception of freshness and complexity. Notable fragrances that exemplify quince’s use include Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (2010, perfumer Jacques Polge), where quince is paired with grapefruit and hyacinth for a luminous, airy opening, and BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir (2016, perfumer David Benedek), which uses quince to add a juicy, modern twist to a spicy floral composition. These examples highlight quince’s role in creating memorable, multidimensional scents that remain fresh yet substantial.
Quince’s aromatic profile is shaped by its terroir, with soil, altitude, and climate influencing the balance of fruity and floral notes. Regions with cooler nights and well-drained soils yield quinces with higher ester content and more pronounced tartness.
Quince (Cydonia oblonga) is a deciduous fruit tree native to the Caucasus and Western Asia, now widely cultivated in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The primary producing countries for quince used in perfumery are Iran, Turkey, and Greece. Iran leads global production, contributing approximately 25% of the world’s quince harvest, with Turkey and Greece following closely. The fruit is harvested in autumn when its aromatic compounds are at their peak. In perfumery, natural quince absolute is rarely produced due to the low yield and high cost. When available, it is extracted from the fruit peel and pulp using solvent extraction (typically hexane or ethanol) or supercritical CO₂ extraction. The process operates at relatively low temperatures (below 40°C) to preserve volatile esters and aldehydes responsible for the characteristic aroma. The yield is extremely low—less than 0.05% by weight—making natural quince absolute a luxury at $3,000–6,000 per kg. Most commercial quince notes are reconstructed using aroma chemicals such as ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, hexanal, and β-ionone, which cost $50–200 per kg and offer greater consistency and stability. Sustainability considerations favor synthetic production, as large-scale extraction from natural quince would require significant agricultural resources and generate substantial waste. Synthetic analogues reduce environmental impact and ensure supply chain reliability, aligning with modern perfumery’s sustainability goals.
The Fars and Isfahan provinces produce quinces with high aromatic ester content due to warm days and cool nights. Iran supplies about 25% of global quince, with traditional hand-harvesting and sun-ripening methods enhancing aroma.
The Marmara and Aegean regions are known for robust, aromatic quinces. Volcanic soils and moderate rainfall yield fruit with pronounced tartness and floral undertones. Turkey accounts for about 20% of world production.
Thessaly and Peloponnese regions produce quinces with a Mediterranean character—sweet, less tart, and highly aromatic. Greek quinces are often used in preserves, with PDO status for certain varieties.
Andalusia’s quinces are known for their honeyed aroma and lower acidity, shaped by hot, dry summers and calcareous soils. Spain is a smaller producer but recognized for high-quality fruit used in membrillo and perfumery.
Natural quince absolute, when available, is produced via solvent or CO₂ extraction from the fruit, but its use is limited by extremely low yields and high cost ($3,000–6,000/kg). The resulting absolute is complex but variable, with batch-to-batch differences in aroma profile due to seasonal and geographic factors. In contrast, synthetic quince notes are constructed from a blend of aroma chemicals, primarily ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (CAS 7452-79-1), hexanal (CAS 66-25-1), and β-ionone (CAS 14901-07-6). These molecules replicate the fruity, green, and floral facets of quince with high consistency and stability. Performance-wise, synthetic quince accords offer superior longevity (4–6 hours) and diffusion, as the individual molecules are less prone to rapid oxidation. Natural quince absolute may display greater complexity but is less stable and more susceptible to degradation. The cost differential is significant, with synthetics priced at $50–200/kg. Notable fragrances such as Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir rely on synthetic quince accords for both performance and sustainability. From a supply chain perspective, synthetics ensure year-round availability and reduce the environmental footprint associated with large-scale fruit harvesting. CA Perfume’s HumanSafe™ platform provides full transparency on the source and safety of both natural and synthetic quince materials, supporting informed consumer choices.
Quince has become a signature note in several landmark fragrances, where it is used to impart crispness, juiciness, and a subtle floral character. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (2010, Jacques Polge) is perhaps the most iconic, featuring quince as a heart note alongside grapefruit and hyacinth, creating a luminous, airy floral-fruity accord. BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir (2016, David Benedek) utilizes quince to add a modern, juicy twist to a spicy floral composition with black pepper and orange blossom. Casamorati Dolce Amalfi (2017, Chris Maurice) highlights quince in a gourmand context, blending it with apple, cardamom, and vanilla for a sweet, Mediterranean-inspired scent. Burberry My Burberry (2014, Francis Kurkdjian) employs quince to enhance the freshness of its floral bouquet, pairing it with freesia and rose. Zoologist Chipmunk (2020, Pia Long) uses quince as a bridge note, connecting nutty, woody, and fruity elements for a nuanced, autumnal fragrance. These fragrances demonstrate quince’s versatility as a dominant note, bridge note, or accent, often paired with citrus, florals, or spices. CA Perfume’s quince collection draws inspiration from this lineage, offering both classic and contemporary interpretations of the note.
A well-balanced quince accord blends 25–30% quince (natural or synthetic), 20–25% rose for floral lift, 20–25% benzoin for warmth and roundness, and 25–30% green apple for tart freshness. Each component is chosen for its molecular compatibility: rose’s β-ionone bridges floral and fruity facets, benzoin’s vanillin rounds out tartness, and green apple’s hexyl acetate amplifies crispness.
Provides the core fruity-floral aroma, with ethyl 2-methylbutyrate and β-ionone delivering crispness and subtle powdery facets.
Adds floral richness; β-ionone and damascenone in rose create a molecular bridge to quince’s floral undertone.
Provides vanillin and benzyl benzoate, rounding out quince’s tartness and enhancing longevity through fixative properties.
Hexyl acetate and (E)-2-hexenal in green apple amplify quince’s crisp, fresh aspect, reinforcing the accord’s brightness.
Quince’s olfactory evolution begins with a burst of crisp, tart fruitiness from high-volatility esters, transitioning to a soft, floral heart and settling into a gentle, powdery base. The note’s volatility ensures a lively opening that softens within an hour.
Initial impression is dominated by ethyl 2-methylbutyrate and hexanal, delivering a crisp, green apple-pear aroma with a tart, juicy freshness. These highly volatile compounds evaporate quickly, creating an invigorating opening.
β-ionone and related floral molecules emerge, lending a soft, powdery, violet-rose nuance. The quince note here is rounder, more floral, and slightly honeyed, blending seamlessly with supporting florals or spices.
As the top and heart fade, subtle woody and musky undertones persist, often supported by benzoin or musk in the composition. The quince note lingers as a gentle, clean sweetness, with a faintly creamy, powdery drydown.
Quince’s journey in perfumery spans from ancient Mediterranean traditions to its modern role in contemporary fragrance compositions.
Quince was revered in ancient Greece and Persia for its fragrance and symbolic value, used in wedding rituals and as an offering to Aphrodite. Its aromatic qualities were noted in early botanical texts.
Quince extracts appeared in early European perfumery as a flavoring and scenting agent for pomanders and potpourri, valued for its fresh, fruity aroma.
Davidoff Cool Water (1988, Pierre Bourdon) introduced quince as a supporting note, blending it with marine and green accords for a new wave of freshness.
Jacques Polge’s Chance Eau Tendre (Chanel) brought quince to prominence as a heart note, paired with grapefruit and hyacinth, setting a trend for luminous, fruity-floral scents.
Fragrances like BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir (2016) and Zoologist Chipmunk (2020) showcased quince in innovative contexts, from spicy florals to autumnal woods, expanding its creative potential.
Understanding how to layer quince is key to maximizing its versatility. At a molecular level, quince’s esters and ionones pair well with florals, woods, and musks, allowing for both harmony and contrast in layered compositions.
Layer quince with vanilla or benzoin-based fragrances. Vanillin and benzyl benzoate interact with quince’s tart esters, rounding out sharpness and creating a creamy, gourmand effect. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre demonstrates this pairing with its soft, sweet drydown.
Combine quince with woody or musky notes such as sandalwood or ambroxan. The molecular weight of these base notes anchors quince’s volatility, extending its presence and adding complexity. Zoologist Chipmunk blends quince with hazelnut and oak for a nuanced, autumnal profile.
Pair quince with citrus or green notes (bergamot, green apple) to amplify freshness and lift. Shared esters like hexyl acetate create a seamless transition, as seen in BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir’s bright, juicy opening.
Cooler temperatures suppress the volatility of quince’s esters, resulting in a softer, more powdery impression. Apply to pulse points and layer with warm notes (vanilla, amber) to enhance longevity and create a cozy, comforting aura.
Spring’s moderate temperatures and humidity allow quince’s floral and fruity facets to bloom. Pair with green or floral notes for a fresh, uplifting effect. Apply lightly to avoid overwhelming delicate spring scents.
Heat increases the volatility of quince’s top notes, amplifying its crisp, tart freshness but shortening longevity. Apply to cooler areas (inner elbows, behind knees) and consider layering with citrus or aquatic notes for a refreshing summer profile.
Adjust application based on climate and skin type. In dry environments, moisturize skin before applying quince fragrances to enhance projection and longevity. Layer with complementary notes to tailor the scent to the season.
Strategic application maximizes quince’s freshness and longevity by targeting areas of optimal warmth and diffusion.
The neck’s warmth accelerates the release of quince’s top notes, creating an immediate burst of freshness. Ideal for showcasing the crisp, fruity opening.
This area retains fragrance well and allows quince’s floral undertones to linger, as body heat is moderate and evaporation is gradual.
Pulse points on the wrists enhance diffusion and allow for easy reapplication. The movement of the hands helps project quince’s scent throughout the day.
Spraying quince-based fragrances on hair provides a subtle, long-lasting sillage, as hair fibers retain scent molecules and release them gradually.
Layer quince fragrances over unscented moisturizer to lock in aroma and extend longevity, especially in dry or cold climates.
These Quince-based fragrances scored highest on the MEI™ Mood Architecture Framework — measuring how a scent may influence your emotional state.
These Quince-based fragrances have the highest product-level HumanSafe™ scores in this ingredient collection.
Quince has a unique, complex fragrance profile that is simultaneously fruity, floral, and slightly green. It offers a delicate, fresh aroma with nuanced notes of apple and pear, but with a more exotic, slightly tart and honeyed undertone.
The quince fragrance note is elegantly delicate, often evoking springlike freshness and soft fruitiness that is both inviting and sophisticated.
Answers to common questions about quince in perfumery.
Quince in perfume is characterized by a crisp, juicy fruitiness with pronounced floral and tart green facets. The scent profile combines apple, pear, and subtle rose nuances, with a honeyed, powdery undertone. This complexity is due to key molecules such as ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, hexanal, and β-ionone. Notable fragrances like Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir showcase quince’s ability to impart freshness and depth.
Quince is typically used as a heart note in perfumery. Its moderate volatility allows it to bridge the transition from bright top notes to deeper base notes, contributing both freshness and floral sweetness to the core of a fragrance’s evolution.
Niche perfumers value quince for its unique blend of crispness, floral nuance, and tartness, which allows for creative, multidimensional compositions. Its versatility enables it to function as a dominant, bridge, or accent note, and its molecular profile pairs well with both classic and avant-garde ingredients.
Quince fragrance uses often involve pairing with rose, vanilla, sandalwood, and green apple. These notes share molecular affinities—such as β-ionone and hexyl acetate—that create seamless transitions and enhance both freshness and depth.
Yes, quince’s crisp, tart freshness makes it ideal for summer wear. Its volatility is accentuated by heat, providing an invigorating opening, though longevity may be shorter. Layering with citrus or aquatic notes can further enhance its suitability for hot climates.
Quince-based fragrances generally last 4–6 hours on skin. Longevity depends on concentration, supporting notes, and skin chemistry. Pairing quince with fixatives like benzoin or musk can extend its presence.
Yes, quince is highly versatile for layering. It blends well with florals, woods, and gourmands. Molecular compatibility with notes like rose (β-ionone) and vanilla (vanillin) allows for harmonious or contrasting combinations.
Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and Burberry My Burberry are excellent entry points, offering approachable, balanced uses of quince. Both highlight quince’s freshness and floral character in accessible, modern compositions.
Consider your preferred style—fresh, floral, or gourmand—and look for quince fragrances that pair the note with complementary ingredients. CA Perfume’s collection offers a range of options, with transparent sourcing and safety information provided via the HumanSafe™ platform.
Quince’s sweetness is balanced by tart and green facets, making it suitable for daily use. Its complexity prevents it from becoming cloying, and its moderate projection ensures versatility across occasions.
Discover quince’s crisp, floral character in our curated selection of fragrances, each showcasing the note’s versatility and technical artistry.
Shop all quince fragrances at CA Perfume →Quince (Cydonia oblonga) is a deciduous fruit tree native to the Caucasus and Western Asia, now widely cultivated in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. The primary producing countries for quince used in perfumery are Iran, Turkey, and Greece. Iran leads global production, contributing approximately 25% of the world’s quince harvest, with Turkey and Greece following closely. The fruit is harvested in autumn when its aromatic compounds are at their peak. In perfumery, natural quince absolute is rarely produced due to the low yield and high cost. When available, it is extracted from the fruit peel and pulp using solvent extraction (typically hexane or ethanol) or supercritical CO₂ extraction. The process operates at relatively low temperatures (below 40°C) to preserve volatile esters and aldehydes responsible for the characteristic aroma. The yield is extremely low—less than 0.05% by weight—making natural quince absolute a luxury at $3,000–6,000 per kg. Most commercial quince notes are reconstructed using aroma chemicals such as ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, hexanal, and β-ionone, which cost $50–200 per kg and offer greater consistency and stability. Sustainability considerations favor synthetic production, as large-scale extraction from natural quince would require significant agricultural resources and generate substantial waste. Synthetic analogues reduce environmental impact and ensure supply chain reliability, aligning with modern perfumery’s sustainability goals.
Quince has become a signature note in several landmark fragrances, where it is used to impart crispness, juiciness, and a subtle floral character. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre (2010, Jacques Polge) is perhaps the most iconic, featuring quince as a heart note alongside grapefruit and hyacinth, creating a luminous, airy floral-fruity accord. BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir (2016, David Benedek) utilizes quince to add a modern, juicy twist to a spicy floral composition with black pepper and orange blossom. Casamorati Dolce Amalfi (2017, Chris Maurice) highlights quince in a gourmand context, blending it with apple, cardamom, and vanilla for a sweet, Mediterranean-inspired scent. Burberry My Burberry (2014, Francis Kurkdjian) employs quince to enhance the freshness of its floral bouquet, pairing it with freesia and rose. Zoologist Chipmunk (2020, Pia Long) uses quince as a bridge note, connecting nutty, woody, and fruity elements for a nuanced, autumnal fragrance. These fragrances demonstrate quince’s versatility as a dominant note, bridge note, or accent, often paired with citrus, florals, or spices. CA Perfume’s quince collection draws inspiration from this lineage, offering both classic and contemporary interpretations of the note.
Natural quince absolute, when available, is produced via solvent or CO₂ extraction from the fruit, but its use is limited by extremely low yields and high cost ($3,000–6,000/kg). The resulting absolute is complex but variable, with batch-to-batch differences in aroma profile due to seasonal and geographic factors. In contrast, synthetic quince notes are constructed from a blend of aroma chemicals, primarily ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (CAS 7452-79-1), hexanal (CAS 66-25-1), and β-ionone (CAS 14901-07-6). These molecules replicate the fruity, green, and floral facets of quince with high consistency and stability. Performance-wise, synthetic quince accords offer superior longevity (4–6 hours) and diffusion, as the individual molecules are less prone to rapid oxidation. Natural quince absolute may display greater complexity but is less stable and more susceptible to degradation. The cost differential is significant, with synthetics priced at $50–200/kg. Notable fragrances such as Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and BDK Parfums Pas Ce Soir rely on synthetic quince accords for both performance and sustainability. From a supply chain perspective, synthetics ensure year-round availability and reduce the environmental footprint associated with large-scale fruit harvesting. CA Perfume’s HumanSafe™ platform provides full transparency on the source and safety of both natural and synthetic quince materials, supporting informed consumer choices.