Fragrance

02-26-2025

What Does “Green” Smell Like? Its Meaning in Fragrance

The color green is associated with lots of things: grass, kiwis, Kermit the Frog. That being said, it might be a little bit confusing if you encounter a fragrance that has a “green” smell. 

In this guide, we’ll dive into what the descriptor “green” means in the world of fragrances, and a few of our favorite green Snif scents. 

What Does “Green” Smell Like in Fragrances?

Green fragrances are all the scents that remind us of plants, leaves, grasses, and forests in general. A green fragrance will transport you to a meadow and instantly remind you of spring. 

When you smell a green scent, it will likely smell:

  • Herbal
  • Fresh
  • Natural
  • Aromatic

What Scents Smell Green?

Now that you know what green means in terms of fragrances, it’s time to take a look at what scents smell green and some of our favorite green scents from the Snif collection. 

Sage

Sage is a go-to ingredient in many green scents. Herbaceous and earthy, sage has a smell that’s green and fresh. House of 8 is a dark, mysterious scent that combines sage with chocolate, vanilla, lavender, heliotrope, and sandalwood.

Green Tea

If you’ve ever had a cup of green tea, then you know why it’s earned a spot on this list. Unlike the sweet, rich smell of black tea, green tea has a fresh, grassy smell. 

You can get a whiff of them both in Golden Ticket, a tea scent that serves as your escape route to another dimension. This fragrance features green tea, black tea, incense, bergamot, galbanum, amber, and vetiver for a freshly steeped scent experience. 

Grass

As one of the ultimate green scents, grass is another ingredient that fragrance-makers reach for when they want a scent to smell irresistibly fresh. 

With lemonade accord, white freesia, ginger, timur pepper, green apple blossom, lavender, and grass, Ace Ace Baby is a scent for champions and sideline-sipping spectators alike. 

Fig

One of the lesser-known scents on this list, fig, is the definition of a dark horse fragrance. With a fruity, fresh smell, fig adds a luxurious, earthy element to any green fragrance. To incorporate this distinct smell into your signature scent, try Vow Factor

With a floral, green, citrusy spin, Vow Factor blends green fig with neroli, rose, cedarwood, tonka bean, and ambrette seeds. This fragrance raises a glass to the romance of everyday life.

Galbanum

Last but certainly not least is galbanum. One of the strongest green scents, galbanum smells piney and sharp. This scent has a bold smell that adds a green twist to any fragrance it’s a part of. 

In fact, the standout quality of this smell has been catching people’s attention for a very long time. Galbanum was considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians and was simply referred to as “green” incense.

The Grass Is Greener

You now know all about what makes a fragrance “green,” some of the main ingredients used in green fragrances, and a few of our favorite green Snif scents. With spring just around the corner, don’t be afraid to step outside your fragrance comfort zone and see if the grass truly is better on the green side. 

Sources:

Essential Oil of Common Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) from Jordan: Assessment of Safety in Mammalian Cells and Its Antifungal and Anti-Inflammatory Potential | NIH

What the Smell of Freshly Cut Grass Really Means... | American Chemical Society

Medicinal and nutritional analysis of fig (ficus carica) seed oil; a new gamma tocopherol and omega-3 source | Research Gatee

Novel key aroma components of galbanum oil | NIH

← Previous What Are Fragrance Notes: A Complete Guide Next → Find Your Scent: What Does Palo Santo Smell Like?