Fragrance families

All fragrances can also be classified according to type, category or origin. They are distinguished primarily by the strongest fragrance component that can be smelled from the fragrance. If you know which family a fragrance comes from, it is easier to imagine what it smells like. Most people have one or two favorite categories of scents. The same applies to your favorite color or whether you prefer it salty or sweet.

Fragrances can be divided into fresh (light) and warm (heavy). Within each of these categories, you can divide them into further subcategories. Fresh are mainly citrus fragrances, floral fragrances and fragrances with maritime notes, aromatic are warm, oud or woody, fougere, oriental and leather fragrances. Chypre and woody fragrances are on the borderline between fresh and warm.

The choice of perfume can say a lot about a person. Just as a graphologist can recognize a person's character from their signature, the signature of a perfume on our skin tells a unique story about our personality. According to perfume experts, people unconsciously tend to prefer fragrances that reflect their personality. We tell you how to choose perfumes based on different personality traits. Floral and citrusy scents, for example, are loved by romantic, gentle souls. Classic, aldehydic, woody or oud fragrances suit mature, self-confident natures. Exceptions prove the rule, of course, and the choice of fragrance is up to you! Don't hesitate any longer and find your scent.

Aldehyde perfumes:

Aldehyde is a type of alcohol that has been around since the 1920s and whose typical scent is reminiscent of soap. One of its main protagonists is probably the most famous perfume in the world, Chanel No. 5, which is very sophisticated and pleasant to wear all year round. Aldehydes are a widely used perfume ingredient.

Ambergris perfumes:

Ambergris is a fragrant blend of substances extracted from one or more types of resin. The most common is salty ambergris, which is reminiscent of the scent of a stone from the salt water of the sea, or sweet ambergris, which smells slightly of minerals and vanilla. As the resulting liquid has a golden color, it was named after amber. In most cases, ambergris is added to the base of the perfume, giving it depth and an oriental note.

Aromatic perfumes:

Very typical of the family of aromatic fragrances is their unmistakable and distinctive character. Aromatic perfumes are very distinctive and have a very long-lasting character, which is created by the selection of ingredients in the base of the perfume's olfactory pyramid. Aromatic perfumes have ingredients such as cedarwood, sandalwood, oud, musk or gray ambergris in the base.

Citrus fragrances:

Citrus fragrances are characterized by their endless freshness. This fragrance family is often chosen by sports enthusiasts. Citrus fragrances can be very subtle with scents such as mandarin, grapefruit or lime, but they can surprise with the boldness of bergamot or cedarwood.

Woody perfumes:

Woody perfumes contain ingredients that add warmth, richness and intensity to the composition. All woody ingredients are found in nature: Trees, resins, moss, bark, pine cones, shrubs, but also roots, grasses and leaves. The most common notes are sandalwood, refreshing pine, sweet patchouli, green vetiver or pure cedarwood.

Fougere perfumes:

A fougere fragrance is what is known as a fresh scent, usually containing strong notes of citrus or other fresh-smelling elements such as green tea or eucalyptus. Green fougere fragrances contain green plant parts or grass and are often reminiscent of a freshly mown lawn.

Perfumes with an aquatic or maritime character:

Aquatic or "marine" fragrances contain notes of the salty sea and are light and fresh. They can contain notes of cucumber, melon, lotus or water lily. The scent of the sea and water is also often associated with the scent of lavender and olives.

Musk perfumes:

Musk fragrances are very specific and have historically been referred to as musk perfumes. Musk perfumes can be made from plants such as musk hibiscus, angelica and musk cochineal. Musk is used in aromatherapy and is known for its positive effect on the psyche. It relaxes and reduces stress. It is used in perfumes mainly for its fixing properties, but also because it adds softness and sensuality to any perfume. This scent can be considered typical of purity and is present in most perfumes.

Chypre perfumes:

Can you imagine what chypre perfumes smell like? We will try to give you an idea of their typical scent. Imagine a sharp and distinctive scent with notes of oakmoss, bergamot, vetiver or patchouli.

Smoky perfumes:

You will recognize specific, sensual nuances in smoky perfumes. These unmistakably fragrant and tenacious notes are used very sparingly to enhance the fragrance and give it a special character. There are various ways to introduce smoky notes into a fragrance composition. The second option is to "smoke" certain ingredients to give them a new character.

Floral perfumes:

This largest group of fragrances includes a variety of compositions in which flowers are at the center of the scent: freshly picked flowers, flowers with aquatic or powdery nuances, floral-aldehydic, floral-fruity or various gourmand compositions.

Spicy perfumes:

Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg or pepper have always seduced our palates. It's the same with fragrances! These fragrant spices are used as valuable ingredients in many perfume compositions.

Leather perfumes:

Leather fragrances come in a variety of nuances - from floral compositions to smoky scents.

Oud perfumes:

The scent of the Far East. Oud perfumes can be recognized by their sweet, warm and rich scent. Oud is an ingredient of the rare Aquilaria tree, and oud perfumes always have a hint of gold and luxury in them.

Oriental perfumes:

Oriental perfumes are characterized by their distinct and strong scent. The term "oriental" refers to a family of fragrances that contain ingredients such as ambergris, sandalwood, coumarin, iris, vanilla or resin in their composition.

Fruity perfumes:

Fruit perfumes are characterized by the scent of fruits other than citrus fruits. You can discover notes of peach, blackcurrant, mango or passion fruit.

Sweet perfumes:

Sweet perfumes are one of the most popular perfume categories. They are divided into smaller sub-categories - depending on the use of fruits, spices, flowers or green notes. The sweetness of a fragrance composition is achieved through the use of sweet-smelling ingredients. These can be fragrant sandalwood, spices (vanilla), fragrant flowers (rose) or fruits (mango, peach).

Fresh perfumes:

Under the term fresh perfume, you will find light summer fragrances that may (but do not have to!) have a lower concentration of fragrances. They can be perfumes with sea scents, aquatic notes or perfumes reminiscent of the smell of rain.

Vanilla perfumes:

Perfumers have always used this fragrant ingredient. In men's perfumes, you can often smell it together with pepper.

Green perfumes:

The green components of plants (such as violet leaves), grasses, leaves and twigs are used for green perfumes. They are reminiscent of the scent of mown grass. Green tea or notes of moss and juniper are also very common.

Powdery perfumes:

A wide range of natural and synthetically produced notes give a perfume composition a powdery effect. The usual powdery notes are iris, rose, violet, musk, resin and ambergris.

Perfume made from resin:

Perfumes made from resin are woody, warm and typical of oriental perfumes. However, resin can also be contained in fresh fragrance compositions.

Gourmand perfumes:

A special category of perfumes that consist mainly of edible ingredients. You can use your olfactory cells to taste classic ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, vanilla, caramel or honey. However, sweets such as marshmallows, chewing gum or cognac can also be found among these notes.