AldehydesOpens with
PatchouliHeart
OakmossDries down to
Harry FrémontThe nose · 87 fragrances · also made Florentine Iris (2012)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Estée Lauder · Sold as feminine
Knowing
The quiet confidence of an office meeting where the crisp aldehydic top notes give way to a rich, warm base that lingers long after.
Smells likea forest after rain
Full bottle: Mid-range tier, typically $40–100. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
KnowingMid-range · $40–100How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1988 by Estée Lauder and crafted by perfumer Harry Frémont, Knowing is a chypre floral that captures the essence of lasting elegance. The composition opens with aldehydes and green notes, creating an initial crispness before giving way to a heart of mimosa, rose, jasmine, and tuberose. These florals are layered over warm spices like coriander and cardamom, adding depth and complexity. The base is rich with orris root, patchouli, oakmoss, amber, and musk, grounding the fragrance in earthy warmth. Knowing blends classic notes into a scent that feels both familiar and novel.
Apply Knowing with two light sprays — the initial aldehydic freshness fades quickly, but the heart and base notes will develop on your skin throughout the day. This fragrance is best for daytime wear as it reads softly yet confidently.
Fig. 01 — Knowing, Estée Lauder
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Harry Frémont
A Cannes childhood, a lifetime of iconic scentsHarry Frémont is a Master Perfumer born in Cannes, France, who trained at ISIPCA in Versailles before joining Firmenich, where he won the Société Technique des Parfumeurs de France award in both 1984 and 1985.
The Knowing line
2 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Estée Lauder
More from the house · founded 1946 · United States
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What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 41%, disliked or hated by 17%.