Night-Blooming Jasmine (N. Jasmine): Fragrance Profile

1. Overview

• Botanical name: Cestrum nocturnum

• Family: Solanaceae (not a true jasmine).

• Part used: Flowers (bloom at night, releasing powerful scent).

• Extraction: Rare in commercial perfumery due to complexity; mostly used as reconstituted accords via aroma chemicals.

• Note type: Heart to base note.

2. Aroma Character

• Intensely sweet, narcotic, green-floral, heady, honeyed, slightly fruity, with an indolic undertone.

• Nuances:

  • Green herbaceous sharpness → gives depth.

  • Exotic, narcotic floralcy → almost overwhelming in concentration.

  • Honey/fruit facets → tropical lushness.

  • Indolic warmth → sensual, animalic edge.

👉 Overall impression: luxurious, intoxicating, nocturnal white-floral.

3. Key Chemical Components

• Benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate → sweet-floral.

• Indole → narcotic, sensual depth.

• Coumarins → warm, hay-like sweetness.

• Jasmone derivatives → fruity-floral lift.

4. Perfume Applications

• Rarely used as a natural extraction (expensive, unstable).

• Mostly recreated via jasmine absolutes + synthetics (indole, hedione, jasmone, methyl anthranilate).

• Common in:

  • White floral bouquets (with tuberose, gardenia, ylang-ylang).

  • Oriental florals (paired with amber, musk, woods).

  • Tropical themes (blended with coconut, frangipani).

• Famous uses:

  • Joy by Jean Patou → lush indolic florals.

  • Nuit de Tubéreuse (L’Artisan Parfumeur) → narcotic floral with night-blooming vibe.

  • Raat ki Rani attars (traditional Indian perfumery).

5. Mood & Symbolism

• Associated with night, mystery, seduction, and romance.

• Mood impressions:

  • Sensual & exotic → passion, intimacy.

  • Mystical & dreamy → nighttime bloom energy.

  • Lush & luxurious → bold white-floral statement.

 Quick Summary Table

In essence: Night-blooming jasmine (N. Jasmine) is a mystical, heady white-floral note, used in perfumery to create seductive, exotic, and nocturnal accords—often more narcotic than true jasmine.