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Article: Making sense of scent families

Fragrance

Making sense of scent families

The human nose is a finely tuned piece of equipment, capable of detecting more than one trillion distinct odours. It’s an impressive feat but one that can provoke confusion and misunderstanding when attempting to describe a scent. To help refine and distil the billions of possibilities into a useful system, perfumes are generally grouped into four separate fragrance families, each with their own sub-families.

Understanding fragrance families can be a useful way to approach the search for a new scent or when choosing a gift for someone else. If you know that you naturally gravitate towards woody fragrances, or that fresh scents typically evoke a positive response, you have a logical entry point for your next scent experience.

Lemon tree by Chelsea Audibert Unsplash

Fresh

True to their name, these scents are typically light, crisp and clean in feeling and have a naturally uplifting effect on the senses. Depending on the notes used, they may contain watery or ozonic elements; have a ‘green’ quality that evokes freshly cut grass; or delight with the unmistakable effervescence of citrus. 

Fresh scents include Circe by Cultiver X LUMIRA; Sicilian Citrus; and Soleil du Maroc.

Floral by Annie Spratt Unsplash

Floral

A floral scent is reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers – and is just as varied as this might suggest. This family spans hypnotic white blossoms and eroticYlang-Ylang; honeyed jasmine and powdery rose. These are feel-good fragrances, but their sweetness often belies the complexity in their creation. Fruity scents – with juicy notes of berries, fig and coconut – also fall under this family.

Floral scents include: Tuscan Fig; Persian Rose; and La Primavera. 

Amber by Krystal Ng Unsplash

Ambery

Ambery scents are known for being rich and exotic, with a heady quality that can be deeply sensual. They typically draw on the earthy and elegant notes of patchouli; milky sandalwood; or resinous oud. An ambery scent may contain a sprinkle of spice – cardamom, say, or saffron – or a hint of sweetness imparted by cinnamon, vanilla or tonka bean.

Ambery scents include: Arabian Oud and No.352 Leather & Cedar.

Cedarwood by Yann Allegre Unsplash

Woody

Deep and opulent, woody fragrances impart warmth and have a comforting feel that can be deeply nurturing. Notes of vetiver, chypre, leather and moss are typically found in woody scents. Their connection to nature – often wild and unpredictable – can also lend these scents an animalistic and sensual quality.

Woody scents include: Cypres de Provence and Terra Australis.

 

 

 

Written by Michelle Bateman