What does Honeysuckle smell like?
Honeysuckle smells of sweet white flowers, somewhere between jasmine and honey. There is nectar in it, plus a green stem quality that keeps it from going heavy. A touch of citrus too, mostly in the evening when the flower is strongest. In perfume the accord stays lighter than tuberose or gardenia. It brightens a bouquet without weighing it down, then slips behind the musks fairly quickly.
Origin and production
Honeysuckle (genus Lonicera) grows in hedges and gardens across Europe and Asia. Its tubular flowers open mostly late in the day and draw moths. They don’t yield a usable oil by standard methods. Perfumers recreate the note as an accord. They blend jasmine, orange blossom and honey notes with green and lightly fruity facets.
How perfumers use it
Honeysuckle often bridges a green top and a floral heart. Chanel Cristalle used it in 1974 in a bright green chypre. Lancôme Ô de Lancôme slips it under the citrus of a fresh cologne. Givenchy Organza wraps it in vanilla and gardenia. Gucci Bloom, more recent, pairs it with tuberose and jasmine for a denser white floral. By Kilian Love Don’t Be Shy drowns it in marshmallow.
How to wear it
Honeysuckle is a spring and summer daytime note. It suits skin that turns heavy florals sour. Spray it on wrists and hair to enjoy the fresh side.