When it comes to finding the perfect scent, it is important to know where to start. The knowledge of all the major fragrance families makes it easier to understand and identify the right scent for your needs. Whether you want a fruity strawberry perfume for date night or a more dewy note for the daytime, the distinctive characteristics of these fragrances will help you understand your own sense of smell.
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Ambers
The amber fragrance family, previously known as oriental, features prominent notes from materials that are often associated with the East. It primarily includes notes from herbs, spices, and dry powdery resins. These fragrances stand out due to their unique blend of warmth and sensuality. The amber family can be further segmented into three subcategories:
- Soft Amber
- Amber
- Woody Amber
Some of the common notes from the amber family are nutmeg, vanilla, musk, anise, myrrh, etc.
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Woody
Woody fragrance family features a blend of warm and opulent notes with a woody heart. It is mostly associated with dry, smoky, leather-like scents. This fragrance family can be used by anyone, and its dry, rich scents can often be complemented with fresh citrus or aromatic head notes. There are several subcategories in the woody fragrance family, including:
- Woody Oriental
- Woods
- Mossy Woods
- Dry Woods
- Aromatic Woods
Some of the most common notes from the woody family include cedar, camphor, patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, etc.
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Fresh
If you want something a little lighter and more refreshing, you should look at the fresh fragrance family. The fresh scents have zesty, herby, dewy, or citrusy notes, which are a wonderful choice for a daytime fragrance, especially if you lead an active lifestyle. This fragrance family is often described as zingy, aromatic compositions with a hint of underlying woodsy notes. The major subcategories in this family are:
- Aromatic
- Citrus
- Water
- Green
You can expect to smell common notes like lemon, lavender, sage, basil, mint, bergamot, grapefruit, lemongrass, rosemary, etc.
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Floral
The floral fragrance family, as you may already know, is the most common scent family in the lot. Floral fragrances can range from sweet and edible to delicate and powdery. Scents in this family can be either soliflore (single flower notes) or bouquets (blended floral notes). This diverse scent family is segmented into four major subcategories, including:
- Fruity
- Fresh Floral
- Soft Floral
- Floral Oriental
Some of the most common floral fragrances include jasmine, lily, peach, rose, orange blossom, strawberry, geranium, ylang-ylang, etc.
How to Use the Fragrance Families?
Once you are familiar with all the fragrance families, you can make more informed choices while buying perfumes. The classification further helps you understand the relationship between different fragrances and how they complement each other.
