These are the 4 scent families
Every scent tells a story. Did you know that perfumes are divided into scent families? This is done using the scent wheel by leading perfume expert Michael Edwards.
This guide gives insight into your fragrance preferences and shows how different scents relate to each other. Our Skins Experts take you through four main families: floral, fresh, woody and warm.
What are fragrance families?
Fragrance families group perfumes according to their main scent notes and character. Within the scent wheel, four main families are further refined into different scent families. This allows you to discover more specifically which fragrances suit you and which new directions are close to your preference. Michael Edwards' guide is used worldwide and gives a clear overview of the differences within the perfume world.
Woody
The Woody main family is characterised by fragrances in which wood takes centre stage. The character ranges from fresh and dry to creamy and earthy. Think sandalwood, cedarwood or vetiver. Within this main family, we distinguish among others:
- Woods: timeless fragrances centred on wood, ranging from fresh and dry to creamy and earthy.
- Mossy Woods: woody fragrances with oakmoss and patchouli, typical of the chypre profile.
- Dry Woods: dry wood scents with notes of leather and tobacco, with a warm and smoky character.
Fresh
Fresh fragrances feel bright and vibrant, often with citrus, green or aromatic notes. They give an instant boost of energy and create a fresh, clean feeling. Within this main family include:
- Aromatic Fougère: fragrances with a solid combination in which lavender and geranium take centre stage, with green, earthy and woody notes.
- Citrus: light and energetic fragrances, fresh by citrus notes such as lemon, bergamot and lime.
- Water: fresh aquatic fragrances with notes like ambergris, seaweed and maritime accords, like dew and a landscape after rain.
- Green: green fragrances with ingredients like galbanum, matcha and green tea, with a fresh and natural character.
Floral
Floral fragrances revolve around notes such as jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom and rose. They range from airy and radiant to full and enveloping. Within this main family, we distinguish among others:
- Fruity: fragrances in which fruit notes such as lychee, pineapple and coconut take centre stage, like summer cocktails with a juicy touch.
- Floral: floral fragrances with notes such as jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom and rose.
- Soft Floral: soft floral scents combined with aldehydes and musk, with a slight powdery effect.
Ambery
Warm fragrances are known for their round, enveloping character. They combine ingredients such as amber, resins, spices and vanilla. Within this main family we distinguish:
- Floral Amber: floral notes combined with a warm amber base of resins, spices and vanilla.
- Soft Amber: amber with softer notes of incense, sweet spices and resins.
- Amber: warm, rounded fragrances built from amber accords of resins and vanilla.
- Woody Amber: an interplay of woods such as sandalwood and oud, combined with a warm, spicy amber base.
The difference between Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette
Want to know more about perfume and olfactory experience? Then also read our Skins Story on the difference between Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette here.
