Quick answer: Jasmine smells rich, sweet and white-floral. Depending on how a perfumer treats it, it can read fresh and green, creamy, or heavy and slightly animalic, and in most perfumes it sits in the heart. At least 28 Mykonos perfumes list a jasmine note, from cool and herbal to soft and sweet.
A jasmine perfume can mean very different things in different bottles. One jasmine is a cool, green floral; another is a creamy, sweet one that wraps around fruit and vanilla. This guide explains what jasmine smells like, what names such as sambac or jasmine absolute tell you, and how the note shows up in six Mykonos perfumes. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe; the notes and ratings below come from the brand's product data and handbook, and the rest is general perfumery background. If note lists are new to you, start with top, heart and base notes explained.
What does jasmine smell like in perfume?
Jasmine is a white floral, which puts it at the rich, sweet and slightly creamy end of the flower family. Most people know it as the smell of a warm garden in the evening: full, sweet and a little heady. In a bottle, though, jasmine has three faces, and a perfume usually leans towards one of them:
- Fresh and green: crisp, leafy and cool, jasmine as a bright lift rather than a heavy bloom.
- Creamy: smooth and rounded, with a soft, milky sweetness that sits well next to vanilla, praline and amber.
- Heavy and slightly animalic: darker, warmer and closer to skin.
A note list never tells you which face you get. The notes around the jasmine do.
What is sambac jasmine, and what do the other names mean?
Sambac is a variety of jasmine that is usually described as sweeter and fruitier than plain "jasmine". Our pyramids also use "dried jasmine" and "jasmine absolute". The first suggests a softer, drier tone than fresh blossom, the second a rich, concentrated one. Perfume lists use these labels loosely, though, and a pyramid cannot tell you which material is in the bottle, so read them as a hint of mood rather than a recipe.
One name is not a flower at all: Mykonos Satin Blanc lists Jasmine Tea, which is a tea note, and we cover it in our guide to tea perfumes. Counting every jasmine name, at least 28 of our perfumes list one; leave out Jasmine Tea and it is at least 27.
How does jasmine behave in a perfume?
Jasmine is a classic heart note. In the Mykonos range it sits in the heart of most perfumes that list it; a handful put it in the top notes, and one lists it in the base as well. It does two jobs:
- It adds a floral glow to citrus and fruit, so a bright opening does not feel thin.
- It brings creaminess beside praline, vanilla and amber.
Like other white florals, jasmine can read as bigger on warm skin, which is one reason the sweet ones tend to suit cooler weather.
Jasmine perfume in the Mykonos range: six scents to try
Fresh and green jasmine
Mykonos Constantine is the coolest way in. Jasmine sits in the heart with lily of the valley, lavender and artemisia, under cardamom and violet leaf, and the base is amberwood, moss and white musk. Mykonos lists the accord as aromatic, green and floral, and the scent for spring and summer; it gives no sillage, projection or longevity rating for it. Our Mykonos Constantine review covers the full wear.
Mykonos Empire puts jasmine in the sun. Lime, bergamot, mandarin orange and tropical fruits open; the heart holds Sicilian orange, ginger, jasmine and coconut water; patchouli, white musk and tonka bean finish. Mykonos lists the accord as citrus, tropical and woody, and rates sillage and projection as strong.
Jasmine as a quiet thread
Mykonos Glitch lists Dried Jasmine in a heart with lavender, artemisia, lily of the valley, pink pepper and vanilla, under bergamot, apple, grapefruit and charred pineapple. The jasmine is not the lead; it rounds off a fresh, spicy heart, and Mykonos lists the scent for summer.
Creamy, sweet jasmine
Mykonos Dreamscape sets jasmine between ginger, violet, praline and pink pepper, under mango, Italian lemon and rhubarb, over cedar, grey amber, tonka bean and moss. Mykonos lists it for autumn and winter, and our Mykonos Dreamscape review shows how it wears.
Mykonos Crimson lists Jasmine Absolute with geranium petals and a caramel creme accord in the heart, under poached peach creme, cherry nectar and bergamot, over patchouli, honeyed amber and white musk. It is listed for evenings and special occasions in autumn and winter.
Clean, soft jasmine
Mykonos Untamed shows a third side. Jasmine sits with praline, musk, violet and a coconut soap accord, under aldehydes and a crisp linen accord, so the white floral reads soft and clean rather than heavy. See Mykonos Untamed notes explained for the layer-by-layer reading.
Jasmine also runs through the heart of Mykonos MyEgo, with amber and geranium, and of Mykonos Stilettos, with violet. Our jasmine perfumes collection gathers the jasmine scents, and the floral collection gathers the wider family.
Jasmine perfumes at a glance
| Perfume | Jasmine as listed | Character | Brand rating for longevity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mykonos Constantine | Jasmine (heart) | Green, herbal, cool | No rating |
| Mykonos Empire | Jasmine (heart) | Citrus, tropical, clean | 12+ hours |
| Mykonos Glitch | Dried Jasmine (heart) | Fruity, fresh spicy | 12+ hours |
| Mykonos Dreamscape | Jasmine (heart) | Fruity, creamy, warm | 12+ hours |
| Mykonos Crimson | Jasmine Absolute (heart) | Fruity, caramel, amber | 10+ hours |
| Mykonos Untamed | Jasmine (heart) | Clean linen, soft praline | No rating |
Longevity is Mykonos's own handbook rating; how long a scent lasts on you depends on skin and climate.
How do you choose a jasmine perfume?
Decide which face of jasmine you want. For fresh and green, start with Constantine or Empire. For creamy and sweet, Dreamscape or Crimson, which suit cooler months. For clean and soft, Untamed; for a hint of jasmine inside a fresh scent, Glitch. Then try it on skin, because jasmine moves with warmth. To compare floral styles, rose and floral fragrances compared sets several side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What does jasmine perfume smell like?
Rich, sweet and white-floral, with a fresh and green, a creamy or a heavier, slightly animalic side depending on the composition.
Is sambac jasmine sweeter than ordinary jasmine?
Sambac is usually described as sweeter and fruitier. At least two Mykonos perfumes list it by name; the notes on each product page show which.
Can men wear jasmine perfume?
Yes. Jasmine appears in perfumes listed for him, for her and unisex. Mykonos Glitch and Mykonos Empire both carry a masculine label and list jasmine in the heart.
How many Mykonos perfumes contain jasmine?
At least 28 list a jasmine note by one of its names, and at least 27 if you leave out Jasmine Tea, which is a tea note.