Your ultimate guide to decoding the fragrance families
It’s that time again – the time when you’re back perusing the online shelves, searching for your new favourite signature scent that perfectly aligns with your personality. Is there a knack to shopping fragrance online, we hear you ask? The answer is, not necessarily – but there are definitely a few ways to make choosing your new favourite scent easier than usual.
Finding the perfect fragrance for you starts with knowing the different fragrance families – and specifically, which ones your senses gravitate towards most often. There are a few discrepancies on the amount of fragrance families that exist in present day, but in our book, there are 7 main ones to know about, that are then split into further subcategories called facets – which essentially bring a different vibe to each parfum.
Are we confusing you? Maybe. But fortunately for you, we’ve decoded each fragrance family below to help you figure out the one that sounds most like you – and we’ve even narrowed down the best scents per family, making finding your next best perfume even simpler! You can thank us later…
Fresh Fragrances
Light, bright and clean on the skin, fresh fragrances are often characterised by crisp citrus or fruity top notes that sparkle on the scent’s surface, underpinned by soft woody notes to bring depth and dimension. Fresh perfumes tend to be described as invigorating and energetic, packing a punch to give its wearer a new zest for life.
Floral Fragrances
Floral notes make up the majority of fragrance creations we know and love today – particularly in women’s perfumery. In fact, there’s likely a floral note in every single scent you can think of – even if that scent falls under a different fragrance family overall! Floral fragrances can be light and airy (see: lily of the valley, hyacinth), or heady and sensual (see: jasmine, neroli, turberose). Our top tip? Check the notes of scents you already own and decide which kind of floral you enjoy the most, then shop accordingly!
Gourmand Fragrances
Already 2025’s most popular fragrance family, gourmand scents are making waves this year. They’re categorised by patisserie-inspired notes, designed to remind you of your favourite sweet treat. They initially rose to fame in the early ‘90s – and fun fact, the very first gourmand scent was actually Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum, which hit our shelves back in 1992. Perfect for feminine fragrance lovers, these food-like scents are almost good enough to eat (please don’t, though).
Amber (or Oriental) Fragrances
Warm, rich and deeply alluring, amber fragrances offer a distinctive addition to any scent collection. If amber is a prominent feature in your favourite signatures, you likely appreciate strong, long-lasting aromas – whether you prefer spicy amber, herby amber or dry amber. These types of scent are known for giving a feeling of volume, softness and depth, often ablaze with fiery and musky tones to bring the heat with every spritz.
Woody Fragrances
If you like your scents to lean on the opulent side, woody fragrances might be your perfect match. Distinctive and masculine, these parfums utilise materials found in the woods – like trees, bark, juniper, resin and moss. Woody fragrances are the epitome of luxury and warmth, and often provide an excellent lingering quality for scents that last.
Fougère Fragrances
Derived from the French word for ‘fern’, fougère fragrances are brought to life through a combination of ultra-fresh, clean, green notes, then are likely warmed from within by dry woody undertones. Fougère parfums typically sit within the masculine realm of perfumery, but can be unisex too! In our book, every fragrance is unisex anyway…
Chypre Fragrances
Chypre scents perfectly bridge the gap between light, airy notes and deep, musky accords. Residing on the masculine side of the spectrum, these classic parfums encapsulate light and dark, celebrated for their clever use of mossy, woody facets that bring a distinctive edge to every chypre fragrance.