What does Blueberry smell like?
Blueberry smells like crushed dark fruit, softer and less sour than blackcurrant. It lacks the sulphurous green edge that marks blackcurrant bud. It leans towards jam, pie filling and syrup. A floral facet close to violet often comes with it. Mixed with raspberry or strawberry it blends into a red-berry medley. On its own it stays recognisable through that dark sweetness. It doesn't last long.
Origin and production
European wild bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) grows in woodland and mountain heath. The large cultivated blueberries come mostly from North American species. The fruit yields no essential oil. In perfume the note is an accord built from fruity molecules with a floral touch. Each house decides whether it leans towards jam or fresh fruit.
How perfumers use it
Blueberry sits in the top, often in a berry blend. Hanae Mori's 1995 perfume (known as Butterfly) pairs it with strawberry, blackberry and blackcurrant over an almond base. Guerlain sets it beside raspberry in La Petite Robe Noire Intense (2016). Lanvin Me (2013) makes a less expected choice by tying it to a licorice base. Azzaro Mademoiselle Azzaro L'Eau Très Belle (2017) takes it towards macaron and caramel.
How to wear it
Blueberry suits autumn in gourmand scents. Lighter takes like Escada Miami Blossom work for summer. One or two sprays are enough, as these sweet perfumes fill a room quickly.