Iso E Super is a synthetic woody-amber ingredient that smells soft, velvety and slightly peppery, almost more of a texture than a distinct scent, which is exactly why perfumers love it.

Why it’s called a “skin scent” ingredient

At normal concentrations, Iso E Super has a strange quality where some people smell it very strongly while others barely notice it at all, a genuine, well-documented variation in how noses perceive it. Used in small amounts it adds a smooth, radiant woody base that doesn’t shout for attention, which is why it appears in an enormous range of modern perfumes as connective tissue between notes rather than as the headline. Used in large amounts, as in a handful of cult niche releases built almost entirely around it, it gives that dry, cashmere-like, faintly peppery woodiness that reads as very modern and minimalist.

Why you’ll see it mentioned so often

It’s one of the most-used ingredients in perfumery full stop, partly because it blends well with almost everything and partly because it’s genuinely inexpensive and stable. If you’re curious how synthetics like this compare with naturals such as real sandalwood or oud, our perfume ingredients guide covers it, alongside the complete guide to perfume.