Tuberose

What it is

Tuberose is the fragrant flower of Polianthes tuberosa, which Kew currently accepts as the botanical name. The name Agave amica is also encountered in modern botanical literature but is treated by Kew as a synonym.

Despite its common name, tuberose is not a rose.

How it appears in perfumery

The flowers are used to produce rich extracts such as concrete and absolute, while modern perfumery can also reconstruct tuberose effects through accords.

A tuberose accord can therefore smell strongly of the flower without necessarily containing natural tuberose absolute.

What to notice

Tuberose can combine:

• dense white petals
• creamy or buttery richness
• green stems
• coconut-like or lactonic softness
• mentholated freshness
• overripe, indolic or animalic depth

That contrast between cool green freshness and lush floral density is part of what makes tuberose distinctive.

Do not flatten white florals

Jasmine, orange blossom, ylang-ylang and tuberose can overlap, but they are not one generic “white floral” smell. Material links should remain specific whenever the source identifies the flower.