On a physical level, powdery fragrances can be difficult to characterize (there is no specific note or raw material for ‘powder’). Instead, it’s easier to think of it more as an olfactory sensation, found mostly in fragrances for women. Sure, there are powdery perfumes for him as well, though most are generally found among niche perfumeries.
Like baby or talcum powder, powdery perfumes give the wearer a sense of being clean and cared for. Dry, soft, and engulfing, they’re often compared to pastels and have very fleeting notes. They can also be quite sneeze-inducing, often smelling somewhat like makeup (think old-school cosmetics) tinged with a woody facet.
This powdery feeling in a perfume is often created by combining strong floral notes with sweet and sometimes resinous base notes. The typical notes used for this effect are iris/orris root, rose, hyacinth, and violet. Musk also provides a warm, powdery scent with some sort of cashmere-like effect. Other notes with a similar powdery quality are heliotropin (a synthetic floral note), as well as creamier and warmer ingredients like sandalwood, vanilla, and tobacco.