What are fragrance families?
Perfumes are grouped into families, by the scents that define the composition. It is a tool for talking about fragrance. Knowing which family you love makes choosing easier and helps you say what you are looking for.
| Family | Smells of | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh | Citrus fruits, herbs, green and watery accents | Light and clear; suits daily wear and warm days |
| Floral | Rose, jasmine, iris, peony and other flowers | Soft, romantic and elegant |
| Woody | Cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli | Warm, calm and earthy |
| Oriental | Amber, vanilla, resins, spices | Rich and warm; suits the evening and colder months |
| Chypre | Bergamot, oakmoss, labdanum, patchouli | Dry, elegant and classic |
| Gourmand | Vanilla, caramel, coffee, nuts | Sweet, comforting and homely |
How do you find your family?
- Look at scents outside perfume. Freshly cut grass, a wood stove, a lemon peel, a bakery: what draws you in?
- Look at what you have worn. Which fragrances have you always liked and which notes keep returning?
- Think of occasion and season. Fresh suits summer, warm suits winter. Some people want one fragrance for the whole year.
- Know what you do not want, too. That helps as much as knowing what you do want.
Families are a tool, not a boundary
Many perfumes combine families, for example a woody fragrance with a fresh opening. A good composition chooses a main direction and builds around it. Use the families to describe your taste, not to limit yourself. How a perfume develops over time you can read in the explanation of the fragrance pyramid.
From family to bespoke perfume
With a bespoke perfume you do not need to know the families. In the intake we talk about memories, scents you love or dislike, and the occasion. Then you choose your scent path, and the perfumer translates that into a composition that is yours. If you want to know what a signature scent could be for you, read on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I love more than one fragrance family?
Certainly. Taste is not exclusive and many perfumes combine families, for example a woody fragrance with a fresh opening.
Are there men’s and women’s fragrances?
Fragrance families have no gender. Labels such as for him and for her are a choice of the brand. Wear what you love.
How do I find out what I do not like?
Smell consciously and note what puts you off. That is as valuable as knowing what appeals to you, and it helps a perfumer enormously with a brief or intake.
What if I do not know which family suits me?
Then you do not need to know. With a bespoke perfume we talk during the intake about memories, scents you love or dislike and the occasion. From that we make a scent path.