Understanding fragrance families is one of the easiest ways to find perfumes you love. Each family groups fragrances by their overall scent character, from fresh and citrusy to woody, floral, aromatic or gourmand. Many modern perfumes combine elements from several families, creating more complex and unexpected scent profiles.
Explore the most common fragrance families below and discover which one might be right for you.
Fragrance families are a way of grouping perfumes according to their overall scent character and the types of notes they share. Common families include woody, floral, citrus, fruity, gourmand, aromatic, herbal, fougère and chypre. They make it easier to understand how a perfume might smell before you try it.
Yes. Many perfumes combine characteristics from several fragrance families. A fragrance can be fruity and floral, woody and spicy, or even floral and gourmand at the same time. Fragrance families are a useful guide rather than strict rules, and these combinations are often what give modern perfumes their individual character.
Start by thinking about scents you naturally enjoy. If you love vanilla, caramel or chocolate, explore gourmand fragrances. For sandalwood, cedarwood and earthy notes, try woody fragrances. If you prefer bright and uplifting scents, explore citrus or fruity fragrances, while flowers such as rose, jasmine and tuberose point towards the floral family. Green herbs and lavender can lead you towards aromatic, herbal or fougère fragrances.
Gourmand – Choose gourmand if you love warm, edible-inspired notes such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate and peanut.
Woody – Choose woody if you prefer sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver and other warm or earthy woods.
Fruity – Choose fruity for juicy, bright notes such as raspberry, plum, fig and citrus fruits.
Floral – Choose floral if you are drawn to rose, jasmine, tuberose, violet and other flower notes.
Citrus – Choose citrus for bright, fresh notes such as bergamot, mandarin, lemon and grapefruit.
Aromatic & Herbal – Explore aromatic perfumes or herbal perfumes if you prefer green, botanical notes such as lavender, sage, matcha and other herbs.
Fougère – Choose fougère for a fresh, aromatic combination of citrus, lavender, woods and moss.
Chypre – Explore chypre if you enjoy the contrast between bright citrus and deeper earthy, woody or mossy notes.
