Pull Licorice from the earth and it hardly resembles something sweet. Long fibrous roots. Brown bark. Pale golden wood within. Dry, woody, almost austere. Then the root is cut, crushed or extracted, and its contradiction appears. Earth and sweetness. Herbs and wood. A dark, lingering character that recalls anise without being anise, sugar without being sugar. Licorice is one of nature's great aromatic deceptions—a sweetness hidden underground.

What Is Licorice?

Licorice—or Liquorice—comes primarily from Glycyrrhiza glabra, a perennial herb belonging to the Fabaceae family.

The legume family.

That makes Licorice a botanical relative, at the family level, of plants such as:

Fenugreek.

Peas.

Beans.

Lentils.

Clover.

Acacia.

But unlike many familiar legumes, the aromatic treasure of Licorice lies below the soil.

In its:

Roots and underground stems.

These can grow into long branching networks.

And within them lies the famous sweetness of Licorice.

Licorice or Liquorice?

Both spellings refer to the same ingredient.

Licorice is the common American English spelling.

Liquorice is widely used in British English and elsewhere.

The botanical remains:

Glycyrrhiza glabra.

The name itself hints at the plant's defining quality.

The genus Glycyrrhiza derives from Greek words associated with:

Sweet root.

An extraordinarily accurate description.

The Licorice Plant

Above ground, Licorice does not immediately announce the darkness of its aromatic personality.

It produces:

Green pinnate leaves.

Small flowers, often in pale violet to bluish tones.

Pods typical of the legume family.

Below ground, however, lies the material that made the plant famous.

Long.

Fibrous.

Brown.

Woody.

The roots can extend through the soil and develop into a substantial underground system.

Cut one open and the interior can appear yellowish.

An earthy exterior hiding sweetness inside.

The Sweet Root

Licorice Root is naturally intensely sweet.

But its sweetness is fundamentally different from ordinary sugar.

One of the compounds most strongly associated with this character is:

Glycyrrhizin.

Glycyrrhizin is responsible for much of the characteristic sweetness associated with Licorice Root.

Its sweetness can be dramatically more intense than sucrose.

Yet sweetness is only part of the Licorice experience.

The root also carries:

Earth.

Wood.

Herbs.

Bitterness.

Dryness.

And aromatic depth.

This tension is what makes Licorice fascinating.

What Does Licorice Smell Like?

Licorice-inspired fragrance profiles can evoke:

• Sweet

• Herbal

• Rooty

• Woody

• Earthy

• Anise-like

• Dark

• Warm

• Slightly medicinal

• Balsamic

• Dry

• Bitter

• Tobacco-like

• Mysterious

But an important distinction is necessary.

The taste of Licorice Root and the familiar “licorice smell” are not exactly the same thing.

This is where the story becomes much more interesting.

Licorice Is Not Anise

Licorice and Anise are frequently associated with each other.

But they are completely different botanicals.

Licorice — Glycyrrhiza glabra

Anise — Pimpinella anisum

Licorice belongs to the Fabaceae family.

Anise belongs to the Apiaceae family.

Their famous sensory resemblance comes partly from the way “licorice” as a flavour identity has historically become associated with anisic materials.

Anise contributes a strong aromatic sweetness.

Licorice Root contributes a different kind of sweetness and herbal-root character.

Related in perception.

Not in botany.

Licorice vs Star Anise

The distinction becomes even more dramatic with Star Anise.

Star Anise — Illicium verum

It belongs to yet another botanical family.

Its familiar sweet, liquorice-like aroma is strongly associated with anethole.

So we now have three ingredients:

Licorice.

Anise.

Star Anise.

Three different plants.

Different botanical families.

Yet culturally and aromatically linked by the idea of:

Dark aromatic sweetness.

Perfumery is full of such unexpected relationships.

Glycyrrhizin vs Anethole

This distinction helps explain Licorice more clearly.

Glycyrrhizin is strongly associated with the intense sweetness of Licorice Root.

Anethole is a highly aromatic compound responsible for much of the familiar sweet anisic smell of ingredients such as Anise, Star Anise and many Fennel oils.

One creates a powerful sweet taste impression.

The other contributes a highly recognisable aromatic impression.

Yet our sensory memory can connect them.

That connection created the familiar idea of:

Licorice-like aroma.

The Smell of a Root

Move beyond the familiar candy association and Licorice becomes much more sophisticated.

Imagine the root itself.

Fresh soil.

Dry bark.

Pale wood.

Herbal bitterness.

Soft sweetness.

Something almost tobacco-like.

A shadow of anise.

This is the Licorice that interests perfumery.

Not confectionery.

Not black candy.

But the aromatic architecture behind them.

Licorice vs Fennel

Fennel gives us:

Green sweetness.

Anise.

Fresh herbs.

Warm aromatic air.

Licorice gives us:

Dark sweetness.

Roots.

Earth.

Wood.

Herbal depth.

Fennel rises above ground.

Licorice descends below it.

Fennel feels sunlit.

Licorice feels shaded.

Both can evoke an anisic world.

But they enter it from opposite directions.

Licorice vs Fenugreek

This comparison is especially interesting because both belong to the Fabaceae family.

Yet their aromatic identities differ dramatically.

Fenugreek:

Maple-like.

Nutty.

Hay-like.

Toasted.

Bittersweet.

Licorice:

Rooty.

Herbal.

Dark.

Sweet.

Anise-associated.

Fenugreek is golden sweetness.

Licorice is dark sweetness.

Fenugreek evokes fields.

Licorice evokes earth.

Licorice vs Ginger

Both are strongly associated with underground plant structures.

But their fragrance movement is almost opposite.

Ginger:

Bright.

Lemony.

Hot.

Sparkling.

Fresh.

Licorice:

Dark.

Sweet.

Herbal.

Rooty.

Slow.

Ginger escapes the earth.

Licorice seems to carry the earth with it.

One sparks.

The other lingers.

Licorice vs Vanilla

Both can create sweetness.

But the emotional character is completely different.

Vanilla:

Creamy.

Soft.

Warm.

Balsamic.

Comforting.

Licorice:

Dark.

Herbal.

Root-like.

Anisic.

Bittersweet.

Vanilla rounds a composition.

Licorice can create tension inside it.

Pair them together and sweetness becomes more complex.

Licorice vs Tonka Bean

Tonka Bean can evoke:

Vanilla.

Almond.

Hay.

Tobacco.

Powder.

Licorice can evoke:

Anise.

Roots.

Herbs.

Earth.

Dark sweetness.

Tonka is soft warmth.

Licorice is shadowed sweetness.

Together they can create a deep aromatic gourmand accord without relying entirely on sugar-like effects.

Licorice in Perfumery

Licorice can be interpreted in fragrance through natural extracts, botanical materials and constructed accords depending on the desired effect.

A perfumer may not necessarily want a composition to smell literally like Licorice Root.

Instead, the goal might be to capture:

Dark sweetness.

Anisic shadow.

Root-like earthiness.

Herbal bitterness.

Woody depth.

This can be constructed through combinations of complementary materials.

The idea of Licorice can sometimes be more useful than literal Licorice.

Building a Licorice Accord

Imagine:

Anise.

Fennel.

Dry woods.

Patchouli.

Vetiver.

Tobacco.

A trace of Vanilla.

Perhaps a cool herbal facet.

The anise creates recognition.

The roots and woods create darkness.

Vanilla introduces sweetness.

Tobacco adds warmth.

Vetiver gives earth.

Suddenly:

Licorice.

Not as candy.

As atmosphere.

Licorice & Bergamot

Bergamot gives Licorice contrast.

Licorice brings:

Dark sweetness.

Herbs.

Roots.

Bergamot contributes:

Citrus brightness.

Green freshness.

Floral lift.

Soft bitterness.

The bitterness of Bergamot is particularly valuable.

It prevents Licorice from becoming simply sweet.

Vetiver can ground the composition.

Cedarwood can give structure.

Licorice & Lemon

Lemon makes Licorice feel sharper.

Lemon provides:

Brightness.

Acidity.

Fresh peel.

Licorice contributes:

Darkness.

Sweetness.

Herbs.

The contrast can feel almost black and yellow.

Light against shadow.

Black Pepper can add movement.

Cedarwood can create dryness.

Licorice & Fennel

This pairing explores two sides of anisic sweetness.

Fennel is:

Green.

Airy.

Herbal.

Sweet.

Licorice is:

Dark.

Rooty.

Earthy.

Sweet.

Together they create a complete vertical structure.

Fennel above ground.

Licorice below.

Bergamot can create sunlight between them.

Vetiver can deepen the roots.

Licorice & Star Anise

Star Anise makes the familiar Licorice association immediately recognisable.

But restraint matters.

Too much can become:

Confectionery-like.

Medicinal.

Overly anisic.

Instead, use Star Anise as a bright aromatic accent against:

Licorice.

Cedarwood.

Patchouli.

Tobacco.

Vetiver.

The anisic character becomes a shadow rather than the entire fragrance.

Licorice & Cardamom

Cardamom brings freshness into the darkness.

Cardamom contributes:

Green spice.

Coolness.

Citrus-like brightness.

Licorice adds:

Sweet roots.

Herbal depth.

Anisic shadow.

Together they create a fragrance that feels both cool and warm.

Bergamot can brighten the opening.

Sandalwood can soften the base.

Licorice & Black Pepper

Black Pepper adds movement.

Licorice can feel dense.

Pepper creates:

Dry sparkle.

Woody heat.

Sharpness.

The result is less gourmand.

More aromatic.

More modern.

Cedarwood reinforces dryness.

Vetiver adds roots.

Bergamot gives light.

Licorice & Lavender

Lavender gives Licorice an aromatic softness.

Lavender brings:

Fresh herbs.

Floral facets.

Clean aromatic sweetness.

Licorice contributes:

Dark herbs.

Roots.

Anisic depth.

Together they can feel mysterious without becoming heavy.

Bergamot adds brightness.

Tonka Bean can soften the drydown.

Licorice & Rose

Rose and Licorice create beautiful tension.

Rose brings:

Petals.

Richness.

Soft sweetness.

Licorice introduces:

Roots.

Herbs.

Dark anisic character.

The floral becomes less romantic.

More mysterious.

Black Pepper can sharpen it.

Patchouli gives depth.

Saffron can add dry warmth.

Licorice & Violet

Violet can make Licorice unexpectedly elegant.

Violet brings:

Powder.

Soft floral coolness.

Green facets.

Licorice contributes:

Dark sweetness.

Roots.

Herbs.

The combination can feel almost nocturnal.

Cedarwood provides dryness.

Iris can make the composition even more refined.

Licorice & Green Tea

Green Tea introduces bitterness and air.

Tea contributes:

Dry leaves.

Green freshness.

Soft bitterness.

Licorice adds:

Sweet roots.

Herbal darkness.

The contrast is beautiful.

Sweet against bitter.

Dark against green.

Bergamot can brighten the top.

Vetiver can extend the dry base.

Licorice & Tobacco

One of the richest pairings.

Tobacco can evoke:

Dry leaves.

Hay.

Honey.

Smoke.

Wood.

Licorice adds:

Dark sweetness.

Herbs.

Anisic depth.

Together they create warmth without needing excessive Vanilla.

Cedarwood can keep the accord dry.

Leather can add texture.

Bergamot can bring light.

Licorice & Leather

Leather takes Licorice deeper into shadow.

Leather provides:

Dryness.

Smoke.

Texture.

Animalic warmth.

Licorice contributes:

Sweet herbs.

Roots.

Darkness.

The result can feel:

Mysterious.

Nocturnal.

Dry.

Sophisticated.

Saffron can add refinement.

Vetiver gives earth.

Licorice & Patchouli

Patchouli feels almost inevitable beside Licorice.

Both can move toward:

Earth.

Darkness.

Herbs.

Wood.

Patchouli adds:

Damp soil.

Leaves.

Camphoraceous depth.

Licorice introduces sweetness.

Together, the composition becomes dark without becoming purely smoky.

Bergamot can provide essential contrast.

Licorice & Vetiver

Vetiver brings Licorice home to the earth.

Licorice provides:

Sweet roots.

Herbal darkness.

Vetiver contributes:

Dry roots.

Grass.

Earth.

Wood.

The relationship feels natural.

One root-like material reinforcing another.

Bergamot adds light.

Cardamom introduces freshness.

The result can feel dry, elegant and mysterious.

Licorice & Cedarwood

Cedarwood gives Licorice architecture.

Licorice can become amorphous if surrounded only by sweetness.

Cedarwood creates:

Dry lines.

Timber.

Structure.

Calm.

The dark sweetness now has something to lean against.

Black Pepper can add movement.

Vetiver extends the roots.

Licorice & Sandalwood

Sandalwood softens Licorice.

Creamy wood surrounds the darker herbal facets.

Licorice prevents Sandalwood from becoming too smooth.

Cardamom can add freshness.

Bergamot creates light.

Tonka can deepen the warmth.

The result feels tactile.

Dark velvet over pale wood.

Licorice & Vanilla

Vanilla amplifies sweetness.

But the contrast between the two is fascinating.

Vanilla is:

Creamy.

Soft.

Balsamic.

Licorice is:

Herbal.

Dark.

Rooty.

Anisic.

Together they can create a gourmand fragrance with far more tension than Vanilla alone.

Coffee can deepen it.

Cacao can add bitterness.

Cedarwood can keep everything dry.

Licorice & Cacao

Cacao reveals the darkest side of Licorice.

Cacao contributes:

Bitterness.

Roast.

Earth.

Dark chocolate.

Licorice adds:

Sweet roots.

Anisic shadow.

Herbs.

Patchouli can deepen the earth.

Orange can introduce brightness.

Tobacco can add warmth.

This is darkness with texture.

Licorice & Coffee

Coffee brings roast and bitterness.

Licorice brings dark sweetness.

Together:

Roasted.

Earthy.

Sweet.

Bitter.

Warm.

The combination can easily become gourmand.

But Cardamom, Cedarwood and Vetiver can transform it into something drier.

Less dessert.

More atmosphere.

Licorice & Incense

Incense gives Licorice a spiritual darkness.

Incense contributes:

Smoke.

Resin.

Minerality.

Dryness.

Licorice adds:

Roots.

Sweet herbs.

Anisic depth.

The combination can feel meditative.

Ancient.

Shadowed.

Cardamom can add light.

Sandalwood can soften the smoke.

The Architecture of a Licorice Fragrance

Imagine Bergamot opening the composition.

Bright.

Green.

Bitter.

Cardamom appears.

Cool spice.

Then a trace of Star Anise.

Sweet.

Sharp.

Recognisable.

Licorice begins to rise beneath it.

Dark.

Rooty.

Herbal.

Rose adds petals.

Black Pepper creates movement.

Patchouli deepens the earth.

Cedarwood creates structure.

Vetiver reaches downward.

Tobacco adds warm leaves.

Sandalwood softens the shadows.

A trace of Vanilla remains in the distance.

The fragrance begins with light.

Then slowly descends underground.

A Dark Root Accord

Imagine:

Licorice.

Vetiver.

Patchouli.

Cedarwood.

Cardamom.

Black Pepper.

Bergamot.

Incense.

No heavy Vanilla.

No caramel.

No obvious dessert.

The sweetness comes through the root.

The earth remains visible.

The woods stay dry.

The spice creates movement.

This is Licorice as landscape.

A Black Licorice Accord

For something darker:

Licorice.

Star Anise.

Fennel.

Black Pepper.

Tobacco.

Leather.

Patchouli.

Cedarwood.

A trace of Vanilla.

The anisic character creates recognition.

Tobacco adds warmth.

Leather introduces texture.

Patchouli provides earth.

Vanilla softens only the edges.

Dark sweetness without becoming childish.

A Licorice Tea Accord

Imagine:

Licorice.

Green Tea.

Bergamot.

Cardamom.

Fennel.

Cedarwood.

Vetiver.

White Musk.

Green Tea introduces bitterness.

Licorice brings sweetness.

Fennel adds aromatic lift.

Cardamom creates freshness.

The woods provide dryness.

The result is quiet.

Aromatic.

Contemplative.

Licorice in Gourmand Perfumery

Licorice has obvious gourmand potential.

But its greatest strength may be its ability to make gourmand fragrances less predictable.

Pair it with:

Vanilla.

Cacao.

Coffee.

Tonka Bean.

Caramel accords.

And the sweetness becomes darker.

Herbal.

Bittersweet.

Root-like.

Licorice gives dessert a shadow.

Licorice in Woody Perfumery

Woody compositions are perhaps an even more interesting home.

Cedarwood.

Vetiver.

Sandalwood.

Patchouli.

Licorice can weave through them as a subtle sweet-dark thread.

The fragrance may never smell explicitly like Licorice.

Instead, the woods gain:

Depth.

Sweetness.

Mystery.

Aromatic tension.

Licorice in Floral Perfumery

Licorice can transform flowers.

Rose becomes darker.

Violet becomes stranger.

Lavender becomes more mysterious.

Iris becomes more shadowed.

The sweetness of the flower meets the sweetness of the root.

But they speak different languages.

Petal above.

Root below.

A complete botanical architecture.

Licorice in Home Fragrance

Licorice-inspired accords work especially well where the desired atmosphere is:

Deep.

Quiet.

Warm.

Mysterious.

Contemplative.

They can suit:

• Libraries

• Reading rooms

• Evening lounges

• Meditation spaces

• Bedrooms

• Dark woody interiors

• Autumn collections

• Winter collections

For meditation, combine Licorice with Incense, Cardamom and Sandalwood.

For relaxation, explore Lavender, Green Tea and Cedarwood.

For entertaining, use Rose, Black Pepper and Patchouli.

For a dark evening fragrance, combine Tobacco, Leather, Vetiver and Star Anise.

The goal is rarely:

“A room that smells like Licorice candy.”

The goal is:

Dark aromatic sweetness.

The Perfect Pairings

Some beautiful Licorice combinations include:

• Licorice & Bergamot

• Licorice & Cardamom

• Licorice & Fennel

• Licorice & Black Pepper

• Licorice & Rose

• Licorice & Tobacco

• Licorice & Cedarwood

• Licorice & Vetiver

With Bergamot, it becomes brighter.

With Cardamom, cooler.

With Fennel, more aromatic.

With Black Pepper, drier.

With Rose, mysterious.

With Tobacco, deeper.

With Cedarwood, structured.

With Vetiver, rooted.

Sweetness Without Sugar

Fennel taught us about green sweetness.

Fenugreek showed us bittersweet warmth.

Licorice takes us somewhere darker.

Its identity reminds us that sweetness can emerge from:

Roots.

Herbs.

Balsams.

Flowers.

Woods.

Molecules.

Not only sugar.

The perfumer does not ask:

“Is this sweet?”

The more interesting question is:

What kind of sweetness is it?

Licorice answers:

The kind that grows in darkness.

The Root Beneath the Flower

Above ground:

Green leaves.

Delicate flowers.

Sunlight.

Below:

Roots.

Soil.

Darkness.

Stored sweetness.

That contrast makes Licorice almost poetic.

The visible plant gives little indication of the sensory treasure beneath it.

The fragrance is hidden.

The sweetness is hidden.

The root waits underground.

Perfumery begins when we discover what the eye cannot see.

From Root to Shadow

Imagine freshly exposed Licorice roots lying across dark soil.

Their exterior is rough.

Brown.

Dry.

One has been cut.

Inside:

Golden wood.

The aroma rises.

Herbal.

Sweet.

Earthy.

A faint anisic shadow.

Nothing about it resembles sugar.

And yet sweetness remains.

This is the visual language of Licorice.

Not confectionery black.

Earth black.

Root brown.

Muted gold.

Forest green.

Shadow.

The Smell of Darkness

Darkness has no aroma.

But perfumery gives it one.

Patchouli.

Incense.

Leather.

Tobacco.

Oud.

Vetiver.

Licorice belongs naturally among them.

Not because it is necessarily heavy.

But because its sweetness feels hidden.

It does not shine like Citrus.

It does not bloom like Jasmine.

It does not glow like Cinnamon.

It waits.

That waiting creates mystery.

Licorice Aromatic Materials

Licorice-derived materials and Licorice accords can differ substantially depending on the intended application.

Professional sourcing should verify:

Botanical identity.

Plant part.

Origin.

Extraction method.

Composition.

Technical specification.

Safety documentation.

And supplier recommendations.

It is particularly important not to assume that the familiar flavour, the raw root and a perfumery Licorice accord represent the same material.

They may share an idea.

Not necessarily the same chemistry.

A Note on Safety

Licorice-derived aromatic materials should be assessed according to the exact material being used.

Professional fragrance formulation should consider:

Supplier documentation.

Chemical composition.

Applicable IFRA guidance.

Finished product category.

Regulatory requirements.

Recommended usage.

And professional safety assessment.

The culinary or traditional familiarity of a botanical does not determine the safe use of a concentrated fragrance material.

Botanical identity is only the beginning.

Responsible Sourcing

Responsible Licorice sourcing can consider:

Botanical authenticity.

Cultivation practices.

Root maturity.

Harvest methods.

Soil management.

Traceability.

Processing.

Producer relationships.

And geographic origin.

Roots present a particular sourcing question.

Harvesting the aromatic material may involve removing significant underground parts of the plant.

Responsible cultivation and harvest management therefore matter.

The fragrance begins below ground.

Its sustainability must begin there too.

Did You Know?

• Licorice primarily comes from Glycyrrhiza glabra, a member of the Fabaceae family.

• Fenugreek belongs to the same botanical family.

• Licorice and Anise are completely different plants.

• Star Anise is botanically unrelated to both Licorice and Anise.

• Glycyrrhizin contributes strongly to the intense sweetness of Licorice Root.

• Anethole is associated with the familiar anisic aroma of Anise, Star Anise and many Fennel oils.

• The familiar concept of “licorice aroma” can therefore involve sensory associations beyond the aroma of the raw Licorice Root itself.

• Licorice can work in woody, gourmand, floral, tobacco, leather and incense compositions.

• Its dark sweetness pairs beautifully with Cardamom, Rose, Fennel, Tobacco, Cedarwood, Patchouli and Vetiver.

• In perfumery, Licorice can be more compelling as a dark aromatic effect than as a literal candy smell.

The LeFraga Philosophy

At LeFraga, we believe sweetness has shadows.

Some sweetness grows in fruit.

Some opens inside flowers.

Some hides inside resins.

And some waits beneath the earth.

Licorice begins underground.

A brown root moving through dark soil.

No petals.

No bright peel.

No golden spice.

Cut it open.

Pale wood appears.

Then sweetness.

Deep.

Herbal.

Lingering.

Unexpected.

Fennel gave us green sweetness.

Fenugreek gave us bittersweet warmth.

Ginger gave us fresh heat.

Licorice takes sweetness beneath the soil.

Into roots.

Earth.

Wood.

Shadow.

It reminds us that nature does not always place beauty where we can see it.

Sometimes fragrance is hidden.

Sometimes sweetness is buried.

And sometimes the darkest root

holds the sweetest secret.