Cassis

Cassis is the French word for blackcurrant, and in perfumery it usually means the material taken from the buds of the blackcurrant bush, Ribes nigrum. The bud absolute is a classic ingredient with a very particular smell: tart, green and juicy, with a sharp dark-berry edge and a slightly musky, almost animal undertone. It is more piercing than the ripe berry. A small amount gives fruit a vivid, natural-looking brightness. Perfumers use cassis to sharpen florals, citrus and musk, and to add a lively, tangy opening that feels richer than a simple sweet fruit note.

Cassis mostly opens the fragrances in this range, giving a tart, juicy dark-berry lift that sharpens florals, citrus and musk.