Understanding scent families

Scent families are a way of grouping fragrances that smell alike. Once you know which family you enjoy, shopping gets much easier. We use four main ones.

Fresh

Clean, bright and energising. Think lemon peel, sea air, cut grass and mint. Fresh scents are light and refreshing, which makes them ideal for work, school and hot afternoons. Within this family you will find citrus, aquatic, green and aromatic fragrances.

Floral

Elegant and timeless. Rose, jasmine, peony, tuberose and iris all live here. Some florals are soft and airy, while white florals such as tuberose are creamy and bold. Floral fragrances are not only for women; many are worn by everyone.

Woody

Bold, refined and sophisticated. Cedar, sandalwood, vetiver and oud give a dry, smooth or smoky character. Leather and oud scents sit here too. Woody fragrances suit evenings and cooler weather, and they tend to last well.

Warm and amber

Warm, sensual and addictive. Amber, vanilla, resins and spices give a glowing, cosy feel. Gourmand scents, with their notes of praline or caramel, belong here as well. These are often the most memorable on the skin.

Notes, in brief

Fragrances unfold in layers called notes. Top notes are what you smell first and fade within minutes. Heart notes form the main character. Base notes linger the longest. We only show notes on a product page when they have been verified.

How to find your family

Think about perfumes, foods and places you love. Fresh air and citrus point to fresh. A garden points to floral. A forest or a leather jacket points to woody. A warm kitchen or a candle points to amber. Or take our Scent Finder quiz and let it narrow things down for you.