Licorice

Licorice flavour and fragrance derive from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia, whose name literally means "sweet root" in Greek. Licorice root has been used medicinally and as a flavouring agent for thousands of years, appearing in ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Roman texts. Its distinctive sweetness — fifty times sweeter than sugar — comes from glycyrrhizin, while its characteristic anise-like aroma arises from anethole compounds that it shares with star anise and fennel. The scent of licorice is warmly sweet, darkly herbal, and distinctly anisic — evoking black candy, warm spice, and the cosy darkness of a sweet shop. There is a slightly medicinal, rooty quality underneath the sweetness that gives it genuine character and depth, along with a smooth warmth that keeps the note from feeling sharp. It unfolds slowly, revealing increasingly rich herbal and balsamic qualities as it settles on the skin. In perfumery, licorice is a compelling ingredient in gourmand, oriental, and aromatic-spicy compositions, adding a uniquely dark-sweet character that distinguishes it from vanilla or caramel. It pairs wonderfully with tonka bean, tobacco, patchouli, and musks. At Fragrenza, our Licorice collection explores this enigmatic note in beautifully crafted fragrance dupes that transform sweet darkness into something truly wearable and sophisticated.

Often paired with these accords

Often paired with these notes

Vanilla91 Patchouli75 Bergamot55 Jasmine51 Musk42 tonka bean42 cedar38 Sandalwood34 Almond33 Orange blossom33 Violet32 Anise28

Fragrances featuring this note

Licorice

Often paired with these accords

Often paired with these notes

Fragrances featuring this note

As top note

Fuel for Life Unlimited Diesel Eau de Parfum

Other IKKS Baby

VETIVER GUERLAIN

Le Parfum Lolita Lempicka Lolita Lempicka Eau de Parfum

As heart note

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Firework Eau de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Sound Illusion Eau de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Zebra Eau de Parfum

IKKS Young Man IKKS Eau de Toilette

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum

Guerlain 5th Anniversary La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum

La Petite Robe Noire Black Perfecto

Guerlain 2017 Limited Edition La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum

La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Parfum Surprise Pouch

Lira

Mon Premier Parfum Lolita Lempicka Eau de Parfum

Only The Brave Street Diesel Eau de Toilette

As base note

Thierry Mugler Alien Essence Absolue Eau de Parfum

A * Men Pure Tonka Eau de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Eau de Parfum

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Click & Go Eau de Parfum

Extatic Balmain Perfume

La Nuit Trésor Lancôme Eau de Parfum

Lancôme La Nuit Trésor Noël 2016 Eau de Parfum

Lancôme 2018 La Nuit Trésor Gold Christmas Eau de Parfum

La Petite Robe Noire Couture

La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Toilette

La Vie est Belle Eau de Toilette Lancôme

Simply Pink