Learn the basics.

The eleven families

Most fragrances lean on one or two of these. Real scents blend across families: the labels are shorthand, not rules.

• Fresh

  Clean and airy. Think just-washed shirts, cucumber water, watermelon rind. Easy for everyday wear, especially in warm weather.

• Citrus

  Zesty peels: lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin. Bright, quick to lift, often the first thing you smell before the fragrance settles.

• Floral

  Rose, jasmine, iris, tuberose. Ranges from a single stem in a glass to a whole florist's shop. Can lean powdery, green or sultry.

• Woody

  Sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, oud. Grounded and dry. Often the backbone of a fragrance that lasts into the evening.

• Amber / Oriental

  Warm resins, vanilla, benzoin, spice. Rich and long-wearing. Often suits cool weather and closer settings.

• Gourmand

  Edible-adjacent: vanilla, caramel, coffee, praline, cocoa. Comforting; can read very sweet if worn heavily.

• Leather

  Suede, birch tar, tobacco. Reads as jacket, saddle or old library rather than a specific note. Can lean smoky.

• Aromatic

  Herbal: lavender, rosemary, sage. Traditionally used in barbershop-style scents; feels tidy and composed.

• Aquatic

  Ozone, sea salt, driftwood. Suggests open air or shorelines. Divisive: some people find it clean, others synthetic.

• Chypre

  A classic structure built on bergamot, oakmoss and labdanum. Reads mossy, elegant, slightly old-world.

• Green

  Cut grass, fig leaf, galbanum, tomato leaf. Brisk and outdoorsy. Sharpens the top of many spring fragrances.