How ScentNode classifies and maps scent.
Every fragrance can be located on a 2D scent map. ScentNode uses a data-driven version of the classical fragrance wheel — a map trained on tens of thousands of real fragrances, where similar-smelling scents cluster together. Understanding this map helps you read your scent badge, interpret accord bars, and make intentional formula decisions.
The classical fragrance wheel organizes scents into families — Floral, Oriental/Amber, Woody, Fresh — that blend seamlessly into one another as you move around the circle. It was first described by perfumer Michael Edwards and has become the standard framework for understanding how different scent families relate.
ScentNode's version is data-driven: instead of manually curating family membership, a neural network learned the map by analyzing 26,000+ fragrance compositions and their ingredient relationships. The result is a continuous 2D space where distance means olfactory distance — fragrances that smell similar sit close together, regardless of their official family label.
X: Left · Y: Top
X: Right · Y: Top
X: Left · Y: Bottom
X: Right · Y: Bottom
You enter fragrance ingredient names (e.g., "Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil")
ScentNode resolves each ingredient to its constituent scent notes using a curated lookup table — or AI for unfamiliar ingredients
The notes are sent to a classification model trained on 26,000+ real fragrances
The model outputs your position on the scent map as an (x, y) coordinate — and a confidence score for each accord family
That position and those scores become the basis of your scent badge, accords list, and seasonality/sweetness indicators
An accord is a family of overlapping scent impressions — a collective character that emerges from combinations of notes. ScentNode classifies fragrances into 20 accord families. Your product's top 3 accords appear on its scent badge.
Beyond position and accords, ScentNode also predicts when a fragrance is typically worn — based on patterns learned from tens of thousands of user-tagged fragrances.
Winter
Heavier, warmer, more resinous — amber, oud, vanilla-forward compositions.
Summer
Lighter, fresher — citrus, aquatic, and airy floral compositions.
Night
Denser, more sensual, longer-lasting — perfect for skin-close wear.
Day
Airy, clean, and approachable — easy to wear in any context.
The sweetness scale runs from Dry to Sweet. Sweetness is driven by specific note families: vanilla, gourmand notes, benzyl acetate, and lactones push the dial toward Sweet. Dry woods, musks, incense, and herbal notes keep it toward Dry.