Fragrance Families - What You Need to Know Before Choosing One

Choosing a fragrance can be challenging. You want something that fits your personality and style, but with so many fragrances to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down, especially when you don’t quite know what notes you’re looking for. This article explores why you might want to know about fragrance families and how they can help you choose the right perfume for yourself.

Woody Fragrances

Woody fragrances often have a deeper scent than other types of fragrances. They can range from fairly light and fresh to deep, dark and smoky. The most popular wood notes include sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli and vetiver. Woody best selling fragrances are excellent for men’s cologne since they have classic masculinity. However, they also work well as men’s body spray since they have a lighter touch than most men’s cologne scents.

Floral Fragrances

Floral scents are very popular, feminine and romantic. They are best worn by women who want to feel fresh and smell like flowers. Floral scents can be a blend of several different floral notes or just one floral note. These fragrances tend to be mixed with notes of fresh-cut flowers. Florals are typically sweet and delicate and evoke feelings of love, romance, and femininity. Florals are perfect for any woman looking for a fragrance that will remind her or others of a bed of flowers blooming in the springtime.

Oriental Fragrances

Photo by Yixian Zhao on Unsplash

The oriental family of best selling fragrances is the most sensual of all fragrance families. This family holds the heady and intoxicating scents of amber and sandalwood. They are often used in men’s fragrances for warmth and depth, but women’s fragrances within this family are usually seductive, sultry and sophisticated. Oriental fragrances tend to be warm, rich, bold and deep. They are typically quite persistent, with a long-lasting base note after application. These can be quite an acquired taste and aren’t always suited to the workplace or more formal occasions because they are so powerful. 

Fruity Fragrances

Fruity fragrances use floral accords that remind people of fruits, such as apples, cherries, strawberries and oranges. They can be mixed with other accords to create something that reminds people of baked goods or sweets. They also have a fresh, light scent that isn’t too heavy or cloying. These fragrances are often marketed toward women, but there are plenty of unisex scents in this category.

Aquatic Fragrances

Aquatic fragrances tend to be fresh and invigorating, with notes of the ocean, water and freshness. They are often a great choice in warm weather as they tend to feel light and airy, not heavy or cloying. Aquatic scents are also generally very approachable, making a great gateway fragrance for men who haven’t worn cologne before.

Fragrance families are a great way to get started if you’re in the market for a new fragrance. They can be a great shortcut in your search for something new, but it’s also important to remember that there’s no “right” or “wrong” family for your tastes. There are thousands of best selling fragrances out there, and plenty of them exist outside traditional categories. You may find that a floral fragrance grows on you after trying an unexpected woody scent; unlikely as it may seem at first, it happens all the time. Your best bet is to try out a few scents from different fragrance families before ruling them out, and don’t be afraid to trust your instincts - they’re rarely wrong!

This is a collaborative post. I am so grateful for everyone who contributes to Glitz and Glam By Tiff.