Costus
Costus is associated with a dry rooty scent and a distinctive warm, oily, hair-like animalic character. It can give a composition an earthy, lived-in texture.
Shop fragrances with Costus →How it works in a fragrance
The effect is used as a reference in leather, musk and vintage-inspired floral styles, where it adds depth rather than clean freshness.
The note’s placement and prominence depend on the complete composition.
Understanding this note
Costus has a botanical root source, but perfumers can evoke its character through reconstructed accords. A costus note does not confirm the use of natural costus oil.
Related notes to explore
Musk →
Musk can suggest clean fabric, warm skin, soft powder or a rounded, gently animalic warmth
Leather →
Leather can evoke supple hide, dry suede, smoky tar or a polished, slightly animalic warmth
Patchouli →
Patchouli smells earthy, woody and gently camphoraceous, with damp-leaf, balsamic and sometimes cocoa-like facets
Iris →
Iris in perfumery suggests cool powder, soft violet, dry roots and a buttery woody texture
Material references
Explore fragrances with Costus
Discover this note in the Zavelier fragrance collection, or explore another scent in the library.
Shop Costus fragrances → Browse all fragrance notesFragrance notes describe scent impressions. They can represent natural materials, aroma molecules or accords, rather than a complete list of ingredients.