Juniper (Berry)

Juniper in perfumery usually means juniper berry essential oil, steam-distilled from the blue-black berries of Juniperus communis. It smells of crisp gin, pine, and a peppery resinous edge — unsurprising, since juniper is the defining botanical of gin itself. Juniper is the opening note of most classic 'gin and tonic' fragrances (Penhaligon's Juniper Sling, Commodity Gin) and a fixture of aromatic masculines. It's brighter and more 'alcoholic' than pine or cypress.