what is a chypre fragrance

A chypre fragrance is a type of perfume that is warm and dry, and almost all built around a woody, mossy accord of bergamot, oakmoss, patchouli, and labdanum (from the cistus, or rock rose, plant) . The name "chypre" comes from the French word for Cyprus, which was at one time at the helm of the perfume trade because of its strategic location as a crossroads between the East and the West. The chypre accord consists of citrus top notes, a middle centered on cistus labdanum, and a woody-mossy base with oakmoss, cistus labdanum, and patchouli. Chypre fragrances are characterized by their warm and dry nature, and their base notes are intense. They are not for everyone, only for those who appreciate complexity and layered compositions.