What Are the Main Perfume Scent Families?

Perfumes are usually sorted into scent families, and a common modern scheme uses five: floral, amber, woody, aromatic fougère and fresh. Many fragrances blend more than one, which is why a single perfume can fit two categories.

The five main families

• Floral: flowers such as rose, jasmine and ylang ylang.
• Amber: warm, rich and often spicy or sweet, formerly called oriental.
• Woody: sandalwood, cedar, vetiver and patchouli.
• Aromatic fougère: herbal and fresh, with lavender and oakmoss, often found in men’s fragrances.
• Fresh: citrus, green and aquatic notes.

The three layers of a scent

A perfume unfolds over time. Top notes, such as citrus and mint, are noticed first and fade fastest. Heart notes, such as jasmine, form the body of the scent. Base notes, such as amber, musk and woods, appear last and give depth and longevity.

Finding your family

Think about scents you already enjoy, such as fresh flowers, clean laundry, a spice cupboard or a forest, and look for fragrances in that family. Always test on your skin before buying.

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