A combination of several fragrances perceived as one coherent whole, for example a leather or sea accord. Not a single INCI ingredient. The same chord name can mean different formulations and different proportions of materials.
How a shared impression is created
A chord can be compared to the sound of several notes: individual elements create a whole that has its own character. In perfumery, the combination of many materials may resemble leather, sea air or ripe fruit. The impression is then described, not the literal composition of the recipe. The same material may be clear in one setting and act as a background in another. Therefore, recognizing one familiar note is not enough to reproduce the chord or identify all of its components.
Names such as leather chord and sea chord are abbreviations of the description. They do not require the presence of leather or sea water. Changing the proportions of materials may change the character of the whole, although the list of recognized notes remains similar. This is why an accord is assessed as an arrangement, not a collection of separate scents.
Meaning and application
The chord is the result of a combination of materials that together create a recognizable impression. When looking for your next bottle, describe the impression in your own words: creamy wood, dry powder, fresh herbs. This description is more useful than trying to guess the formulation.
In practice
Choose a dominant chord and write down what you don't like, for example excessive sweetness. Then compare two compositions from a similar family. The same note can act as a background or main motif, so check the other elements of the pyramid as well.
The similarity of chord names does not mean a one-to-one olfactory equivalent. Proportions and materials may vary. The list of notes is also not intended to be used to check for allergies: this requires information from the label and sometimes a specialist's consultation.