Plum adds a velvety-smooth facet to both masculine and feminine fragrances. Often found delighting the olfactory palette of fine compositions, plum is deliciously floral and fruity, with a curious liqueur nuance. A note of sweet “cooked plum” is found in some fragrances, including interior fragrances.
The velvety plum note does not derive from the fruit itself. Rather, it is reproduced synthetically in the lab using chemical compounds known as damascones. From the same family of molecules that are also found in rose notes, damascones deliver a powerfully fruity-floral scent and are used in a number of synthetic fragrance notes.
While little is certain about the history of plums, our best guess is that the juicy little fruit originates from China, and that during the days when the Roman Empire hailed supreme across Europe, several varieties developed and were thus well-known and enjoyed. Among them, the Damascus plum is thought to have been the most popular.
“I have always been fascinated by unusual ingredients steeped in exotic cultures. The Ume plum is an exotic and exquisite ingredient that has great meaning in Oriental culture; in Japan and China it is a sacred symbol of Spring. I wanted to craft a fragrance around the Ume, because it has a texture and aroma that is so luscious.” Tom Ford
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