duft

Duft is a German noun meaning fragrance or scent. It designates the odor or aroma of people, objects, foods, flowers, and environments, and is used across everyday language and specialized fields. The term appears in compound forms such as Duftstoff (a fragrance ingredient) and Duftnote (an aromatic note). In general usage, one can speak of an angenehmer Duft or a starker Duft, and in grammar Der Duft is masculine.

In perfumery and cosmetics, Duftstoffe are the materials that create a fragrance. They can be natural, such as essential oils and absolutes, or synthetic, generated to achieve particular scents or performance. Fragrances are often described by notes: top (Kopfnote), heart (Herznote), and base (Basisnote). Fragrance families, or Duftfamilien, provide broad categorizations such as floral, citrus, oriental, woody, and fresh.

Regulation and safety considerations apply to Duftstoffe. Many jurisdictions require labeling of certain fragrance allergens in cosmetic products, and regulators oversee the use of fragrance ingredients to minimize health risks. The term Duftstoff covers thousands of individual chemicals and plant-derived compounds, with evolving lists as science and policy advance.

Related topics include fragrance components, allergen labeling, and perfume classifications.