
Creating fragrance accords is a complex and time-consuming process that requires patience, dedication and skill. Accords are harmonious blends of aromatic notes that create unique olfactory signatures. The Jean Carles method involves adding different ratios of two materials to small beakers numbered from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and selecting the ratio that works for you. The process is then repeated with your selected accord and another material.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of materials | Fewer materials are best, whether natural or synthetic |
| Ratios | Experiment with different ratios of materials to find the right combination |
| Process | Requires patience, dedication, skill and time |
| Notes | Combine various notes to create a harmonious blend |
| Types of accord | Base, middle and top accords comprise a perfume |
| Essential oils | Proportions of essential oils are adjusted incrementally for each type of accord |
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What You'll Learn
- The Jean Carles method: adding different ratios of two materials to numbered beakers and selecting the ratio that works for you
- Base, middle and top accords: the careful selection of essential oils to create a new fragrance
- Trial and error: the formulation of fragrance accords is a painstaking process that requires patience, dedication, skill and time
- Natural accords: keeping it simple with a smaller number of materials
- Marketable fragrances: the artful composition of perfume accords to create unique olfactory signatures that captivate consumers

The Jean Carles method: adding different ratios of two materials to numbered beakers and selecting the ratio that works for you
The Jean Carles method is a way of creating fragrance accords by adding different ratios of two materials to numbered beakers and selecting the ratio that works for you. This method was devised by perfumer Jean Carles, who set up the Givaudan Perfumery school. To use this method, you first need to select two materials that you want to combine. These could be essential oils, isolates, single molecule aromachemicals, or complex synthetic bases.
Next, label five to ten small beakers with numbers. Starting with the first beaker, add a small amount of the first material. Then, add a different amount of the second material to each subsequent beaker, increasing the amount slightly each time. For example, if you are using 5 beakers, you might add 1ml of the first material to each beaker, and then add 1ml, 2ml, 3ml, 4ml, and 5ml of the second material to the respective beakers.
Once you have added the materials to the beakers, you can then smell each one and decide which ratio of the two materials you prefer. You can then repeat this process, combining your selected ratio with another material, and so on, until you have created a fragrance accord that you are happy with. This method can be time-consuming and may lead to a lot of wastage, but it allows you to experiment with different combinations of materials and find the ratios that work best for you.
When creating fragrance accords, it is important to keep in mind that less is more. It is best to use a smaller number of materials in each accord, as too many materials can make the fragrance muddled. You also need to consider the proportions of each material, as even a small change in the ratio can significantly alter the fragrance. Additionally, you should always have an olfactory goal in mind before you start creating your accord, and carefully select the materials you will be using to achieve that goal.
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Base, middle and top accords: the careful selection of essential oils to create a new fragrance
Creating fragrance accords is a complex and time-consuming process that requires patience, dedication and skill. An accord is born when various notes are combined. A base accord, middle accord and top accord comprise a perfume.
The careful selection of essential oils is the first step in creating a new fragrance. Perfumers always have an olfactory goal in mind, and for each type of accord, the proportions of the essential oils are adjusted incrementally, using a test-strip process, which is repeated for each new ratio created. Researchers make comparisons and take notes to record these differences, and each new combination requires another round of test strips, ratios, comparisons and notes.
The Jean Carles method involves adding different ratios of each of two materials to small beakers numbered from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and selecting the ratio that works for you. You then repeat the process with your selected accord and another material.
It is important to keep the number of materials in a natural accord small, otherwise, it will become muddled. Ultimately, keeping it simple with a few materials in each accord is best, regardless of the natural/synthetic mix. Remember, an accord will be used with other accords in your finished perfume so don’t try to cram everything in at once.
To enhance the seductive notes of pink pepper and the floral notes of jasmine and rose, you can use 1-2% of a sensual spice accord. To increase the floralcy of this fragrance, you can experiment using 1-5% of a sweet floral accord. To increase the sweet and citrus notes, you can use 2-5% of a mandarin neroli accord. If you want to achieve a richer sweetness, add between 1-3% of a fruity vanilla accord.
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Trial and error: the formulation of fragrance accords is a painstaking process that requires patience, dedication, skill and time
Creating fragrance accords is a meticulous process that demands patience, dedication, skill and time. It involves a lot of trial and error, and the Jean Carles method is one such approach. This involves adding different ratios of two materials to small beakers numbered from one to five or one to ten, and then selecting the ratio that works best. This process is then repeated with the selected accord and another material.
The creation of fragrance accords is a complex process that requires careful selection and blending of aromatic notes to achieve a harmonious blend. It is essential to keep the number of materials used in each accord relatively small to avoid a muddled result. The perfumer must also have an olfactory goal in mind and carefully select the essential oils to initiate the birth of a new fragrance.
For each type of accord (base, middle, and top), the proportions of essential oils are adjusted incrementally using a test-strip process, which is repeated for each new ratio created. Researchers make comparisons and take notes to record these differences, and each new combination requires another round of test strips, ratios, comparisons, and notes.
The artful composition of perfume accords lies in creating unique olfactory signatures that captivate consumers. The word 'accord' represents two elements that combine to make a third, indicating that mixtures are comprised of a minimum of materials blended to create a single, greater synergistic effect. For example, to enhance the seductive notes of pink pepper and the floral notes of jasmine and rose, one can use 1-2% of a sensual spice accord.
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Natural accords: keeping it simple with a smaller number of materials
Creating fragrance accords is a complex and time-consuming process that requires patience, dedication and skill. Accords are harmonious blends of aromatic notes that create unique olfactory signatures. The word 'accord' represents two elements that combine to make a third, in this case, a unique blended fragrance.
When creating natural accords, it is best to keep the process simple and use a smaller number of materials. This is because natural accords can become muddled if too many materials are used. It is also important to remember that accords are used in combination with other accords to create a finished perfume, so it is not necessary to include too many materials in a single accord.
The Jean Carles method is one way to create fragrance accords. This method involves adding different ratios of two materials to small beakers numbered from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and selecting the ratio that works best. This process is then repeated with the selected accord and another material. This method can be time-consuming and may result in a lot of wastage.
Another approach to creating fragrance accords is through trial and error, incrementally adjusting the proportions of essential oils using a test-strip process. Researchers make comparisons and take notes on the differences between each new combination, which requires another round of test strips, ratios, comparisons and notes.
When creating natural accords, it is important to carefully select essential oils that complement each other and create a harmonious blend. For example, to enhance the seductive notes of pink pepper and the floral notes of jasmine and rose, a small amount of a sensual spice accord can be added. Similarly, to accentuate the floralcy of a fragrance, a small percentage of a sweet floral accord can be used.
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Marketable fragrances: the artful composition of perfume accords to create unique olfactory signatures that captivate consumers
The creation of marketable fragrances is an artful process that involves the careful composition of perfume accords to produce unique olfactory signatures that captivate consumers. An accord is a harmonious blend of aromatic notes that combines to create a synergistic effect. The process of formulation is painstaking and systematic, requiring trial and error, patience, dedication, skill and time.
Perfumers always have an olfactory goal in mind and the creation of a new fragrance always begins with the careful selection of essential oils. A base accord, middle accord and top accord comprise a perfume, and for each type of accord, the proportions of the essential oils are adjusted incrementally using a test-strip process. Researchers make comparisons and take notes to record these differences, and each new combination requires another round of test strips, ratios, comparisons and notes.
The Jean Carles method involves adding different ratios of two materials to small beakers numbered from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and selecting the ratio that works for you. This process is then repeated with the selected accord and another material. However, it is important to keep the process simple and use a smaller number of materials in a natural accord to avoid a muddled fragrance. Ultimately, keeping it simple with a few materials in each accord is best, regardless of whether the materials are natural or synthetic.
To create a marketable fragrance, perfumers can experiment with different accords to enhance or accentuate certain notes. For example, adding 1-2% of a sensual spice accord can enhance the seductive notes of pink pepper, while using 1-5% of a sweet floral accord can accentuate the floral notes of jasmine and rose. Similarly, adding 2-5% of a mandarin neroli accord can increase the sweet and citrus notes, while 1-3% of a fruity vanilla accord can add a richer sweetness.
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Frequently asked questions
An accord is a harmonious blend of aromatic notes that creates a unique olfactory signature.
There are three accords in a perfume: base, middle and top.
The Jean Carles method involves adding different ratios of two materials to small beakers numbered from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and selecting the ratio that works for you. You then repeat the process with your selected accord and another material.
It is best to keep it simple and use a smaller number of materials in a natural accord, otherwise it will become muddled.
Infuse the top note with a crisp, fruity green twist by using 1-3% of a fruity green accord.










































