Scent Almanac
Oakmoss
Mossy, damp and inky, like a forest floor, with a slightly sweet, hay-like undertone. It adds a shadowy depth to woody, citrus and lavender blends.
- Made from
- A blended fragrance oil — no natural oil of this exact scent exists; it's built from aroma chemicals and sometimes natural extracts. Most are built to mimic oakmoss absolute, a lichen extract that is now tightly restricted.
- Strength
- ●●●○○
- Cost
- Moderate
- Moods
- GroundingNostalgicCalming
- Seasons
- Autumn, Spring
- Rooms
- Living room, Office, Entryway
Cautions
- IFRA-restricted material — use the supplier's certificate limits
Natural oakmoss contains strong allergens and is IFRA-restricted; stay within the limits on your supplier's certificate.
How it behaves
CandlesGood
Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGreat
Room & linen sprayWorkable
Electric (water) diffuserAvoid
Cold-process soapGood
Check the supplier's soap notes and IFRA certificate — some oakmoss blends still contain restricted material.
Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningWorkable
Pairs well with
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Patchouli
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Vetiver
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Labdanum
Base · Resinous & amber
Absolute / CO2
Atlas Cedarwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Leather
Base · Smoky & leather
Fragrance oil
Rose
Middle · Floral
Absolute / CO2
Mahogany
Base · Woody
Fragrance oil
Petrichor
Middle · Earthy
Fragrance oil
Don't have it? Try Vetiver, Patchouli.
In these blends
Cottage Garden
Tomato vines, cut grass and armfuls of peonies and lilac in a May garden.
Peony · Lilac · Tomato Leaf · Fresh-Cut Grass · Oakmoss · Virginian Cedarwood
UpliftingNostalgicSpringSummer
Rain on the Porch
Summer rain on warm pavement, heard from a covered porch swing.
Rain · Petrichor · Virginian Cedarwood · Violet · Lavender · Oakmoss
CalmingNostalgicSpringAutumn
A little lore
Oakmoss is a lichen that grows on oak trees, and its extract was the backbone of classic chypre perfumes.