About Openfume

Openfume is an open fragrance database that anyone can use, fix and build on. It's free, has no ads, and the whole database can be downloaded. Here's where the data comes from.

How main accords are worked out

Every note leans toward a few accords: bergamot leans citrus and fresh, vetiver woody and earthy. A fragrance's accords add those up. Notes listed earlier count a little more, base notes a little more than top notes, and the strongest accord is set to 100. The same notes always give the same accords, and the method is public in the source code.

How “similar” works

Two fragrances are compared by the notes they share (weighted by whether they sit in the top, heart or base) and by how close their main accords are. Each match says which notes it shares, so you can see why it was picked.

Estimates, and where they come from

Until members vote, which seasons and occasions a fragrance suits and how loud it is are estimated from its main accords. Every place that uses an estimate says so.

Coming next

Accounts, so your shelf, wear log and ratings sync across devices; community votes on longevity, sillage and seasons; community edits with review; a public API; and apps for iPhone and Android.