Benzyl acetate

Say itBEN-zil AS-ih-tayt

Sweet, fruity jasmine with pear and banana-like freshness.

What it is: A molecule made in a lab.
When you smell it: Top notes: the first minutes.
What perfumers do with it: Bulk backbone of synthetic jasmine and white florals; adds fruity, fresh floral lift.
Worth knowing: It makes up about a third of jasmine absolute, and orchid bees collect it as a pheromone.
Also called: Acetic acid benzyl ester

Not on the label of any of the 232 perfumes read so far.

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