Fragrance Wheel and Scent Families
by Majouri Fragrance
last update 2022-10-16
A Guide to the Fragrance Wheel and Scent Families
There are hundreds of fragrance scents, and searching for the perfect fragrance can be challenging. The process of finding the preferred fragrance note can be a little bit confusing to someone who is not familiar with the different fragrance notes.
That’s why knowing the fragrance wheel and scent families makes it easier to determine the preferred perfume.
In this article, we will cover the fragrance wheel and scent families, which will give you a better understanding of perfumes and how to select your preferred type.
What is the Fragrance Wheel?
The modern fragrance wheel was created by the perfume expert Michael Edward in 1992. Other versions have been around since 1949, but the modern version will be the one we use today.
In fact, Michael Edwards created the fragrance wheel to help retailers suggest perfumes to consumers more efficiently. Each family consists of a prominent scent, while the sub-families are blended versions of these fragrances.
Scent Family Types:
Scent families can be classified into four main categories: Floral, Oriental, Woody and Fresh, where each category has its own sub-families.
Each scent family has distinctive characteristics, and often individuals will be attracted to one scent over another when it comes to choosing personal fragrances.
For the above reason, knowing the scent family that one is attracted to could be of great help before going shopping for a new scent.
In fact, experts who have been working with perfumes for years can tell which family or sub-family a given fragrance belongs to with just one sniff.
In the sections below, we will explain in detail each of the scent families along with their related sub-families.
Floral:
The floral scent family is one of the most common families and is used in many well-known perfumes. Floral scents are mostly used in women’s fragrances, although they are occasionally used in men’s as well. They usually smell like fresh-cut flowers or have a powdery note to them. Floral scents are perfect for the spring and summertime.
Subfamilies:
Fruity: Sweet, edible and tropical like peach, pear and apple.
Floral: Smells like fresh-cut flowers — imagine rose and lily.
Soft Floral: Soft, powdery and sweet with a hint of creamy.
Floral Oriental: Florals with subtle spice notes.
Common Floral Family Notes:
- Rose.
- Jasmine.
- Orange blossoms.
Equivalent Fragrances from Our Collection:
Crazy in love, a fruity floral gourmand fragrance for a woman with a mysterious and sophisticated personality. An unexpected and hypnotic combination. The juicy notes of kiwi and lychee blend with a surprising accord of orchid and white chocolate. The woody and musky base offers a seductive side to this eau de parfum. The scent is unique, the trail is intense.
Elegant, voluptuous and intense, Sayidati is a modern interpretation of a chypre floral, an olfactory portrait of oriental beauty. The fragrance radiates rose and jasmine, while a veil of amber and vetiver gives depth and character to the composition. Its refinement is enhanced by the intensity of its musk heart. At the base, delicate and gourmand vanilla is harmoniously blended with patchouli leaving a feminine and sensual trail on the skin.
A love potion that reveals the femininity and hypnotic power of the woman wearing it. Captivating and radiant, the fragrance opens with delicious notes of blackberry, kiwi and mandarin blossom. A floral bouquet of orchid, freesia and water lily flower at the heart reveals the seductive side of the fragrance. The sensuality is amplified by its woody and musky base notes. Secret Love, a feminine, modern and sophisticated composition.
A love potion that reveals the femininity and hypnotic power of the woman wearing it. Captivating and radiant, the fragrance opens with delicious notes of blackberry, kiwi and mandarin blossom. A floral bouquet of orchid, freesia and water lily flower at the heart reveals the seductive side of the fragrance. The sensuality is amplified by its woody and musky base notes. Secret Love, a feminine, modern and sophisticated composition.
White Rose is an olfactory tribute to the queen of flowers, the rose. A feminine perfume full of desire and sensuality. A profusion of roses refreshed by sparkling and luminous notes of lemon and white flowers. The intense and captivating tuberose blends with this floral bouquet and then reveals its power of seduction. Accentuated by delicate white musk, this eau de parfum embodies femininity and absolute elegance.
Sweet Ambrette is an eau de parfum for men and women revisiting the fruity floral family. The perfume is based on the ambrette seed, one of the rarest and most precious ingredients in the word with multiple facets. The only musky scent made by nature itself and almost impossible to find. An entry of sparkling and light notes of bergamot, pear and lily of the valley radiate the fragrance, while an amber veil mixed with the warm and sensual ambrette seed adds character and depth to the composition.
For Jour 8, perfumer Sophie Truittar revisits notes of leather by developing a powerful and charismatic unisex fragrance. A total immersion in her universe filled with sensorial richness that captivates the senses. A burst of saffron, raspberry and thyme as top notes open an opulent floral heart of jasmine. Then come the wild and enveloping notes of leather and amber. A rich and daring fragrance.
Oriental:
The oriental fragrance family consists of rich, exotic scents. You may think of it like herbs and spices, or dry, powdery, resin notes. Opulent and heady, these notes are often softened with amber or sweet notes. It’s common to describe this family as exotic and seductive.
Subfamilies:
Soft oriental: Soft, floral notes mix with incense and warm spices.
Oriental: Sweet, warm notes like cinnamon, vanilla and musk.
Woody Oriental: Earthy notes like patchouli and sandalwood mixed with spicy and sweet notes.
Common Oriental Family Notes:
- Vanilla.
- Myrrh.
- Anise.
Equivalent Fragrances from Our Collection:
Embark on an olfactory journey as unforgettable as an oriental landscape. A multi-faceted trail, where the fresh top note of basil delicately blends with a floral and gourmand heart of rose and vanilla, offering a sensual touch to the fragrance. The oriental facet is enhanced by an amber and woody base note highlighting the magnificent and refined agarwood and kyara wood. Oriental Soul is a unisex eau de parfum, bringing to light the mysterious charm of the orient.
Gold Noir encapsulates Arabic luxury and refinement. A mysterious, sensual and elegant unisex perfume. The fragrance opens with a light heliotrope note delicately combined with cinnamon and white woods. Its amber heart then blends with leather notes and juicy plum. At the base, tonka bean, patchouli and vanilla combine to give intensity to this unique, voluptuous and audacious scent.
Jour 11 immerses us in the olfactive universe of the perfumer Cyril Roland who offers a modern version of a spicy oriental. This men's and women's fragrance rich in precious ingredients transports us to a multi-faceted scented world. In the opening, vibrant and spicy notes of Chinese grapefruit, juniper berries and saffron radiate from the fragrance. The black violet in the heart blends with touches of leather and adds sensuality to the composition. Its warm and enveloping base of cashmeran and vetiver leaves an absolutely addictive trail on the skin.
Woody:
Woody perfumes are usually warm and opulent, mixing incense-like fragrances like sandalwood and patchouli with drier notes like cedar. To tone down the warmth of these notes, fragrances will sometimes incorporate some fresh notes like citrus or floral. Notes in this family can be described as coniferous or woody and bitter.
Subfamilies:
Woods: Aromatic scents like cedarwood, sandalwood and vetiver.
Mossy Woods: Sweet, smooth and earthy scents like oakmoss and amber.
Dry Woods: Smouldering and smoky mixed with leather aromas.
Common Woody Family Notes:
- Patchouli.
- Vetiver.
- Sandalwood.
Equivalent Fragrances from Our Collection:
Blue Desert is the ultimate fragrance for men in quest of escape. A sparkling entry of bergamot and mandarine reveals the freshness and vivacity of the fragrance.
These radiant notes awaken a floral heart of neroli and orris.
Sandalwood and Guaiac wood then unfold in a warm woody base note elevating the masculinity of the fragrance.
One of a Kind pays tribute to the individuality and originality of each man through its unique and refined trail. A composition between woody and aromatic, in which fresh and generous lavender blends with ginger, violet and sage. Sandalwood and vetiver as base notes reveal the power and masculinity of the fragrance.
Signature, an irresistible fragrance for any man looking for a timeless scent. The spicy top notes combining pink berries and black pepper give the fragrance an invigorating power and are contrasted by the captivating heart of smoky myrrh and ginger. Its emblematic ingredients are delicately wrapped in notes of vanilla, white musk and vetiver. All of which enhances the seductive side of this absolutely addictive Eau de Parfum.
A woody-fruity fragrance for a man with an enigmatic, sophisticated and impertinent personality. The One and Only fragrance delivers a fruity surge of lemon and bergamot in the top notes, wrapped in lily-of-the-valley, rosemary and nutmeg. Sumptuous harmony of musk, cedarwood and vanilla, the base note is resolutely addictive.
1982 is an Eau De Parfum for men and women with a radiant and captivating composition, combining freshness and sensuality. A sparkling entry of yellow mandarin and lemon hits the spicy notes of black pepper. In the heart, clove and ginger blend with ylang ylang flower and orris flower for a more intense and enchanting trail. Notes of musk, vetiver and cedarwood come to underline and soften the base, offering a deep and enveloping fragrance.
Silky Sandalwood honors the strength of raw, voluptuous sandalwood. A powerful and charismatic composition illuminated by the intense harmony of sandalwood and cedarwood. Wrapped in woody accords, a spicy touch of pink peppercorn brings sophistication to the fragrance. At the base, amber tones blend with warm notes of myrrh to create a rich, deep and elegant scent.
Perfumer Jennifer Jambon reveals her feelings in Jour 9, a spicy woody fragrance that reflects her inspiration of the day and awakens the desire to live in the moment. A sensorial and emotional universe filled with sincerity. In this fragrance for men and women, the pleasures of life are evoked by the spicy notes of pink peppercorns and sumptuous saffron, combined with magnolia, orris and osmanthus. An eau de parfum that invites you to express your happiness.
Fresh:
The fresh scent family encompasses clean, bright scents. Herby, citrusy and oceanic scents all fall into this category. More often used in men’s fragrances than women’s fragrances, fresh scents are paired with spicy notes to create a more robust fragrance. Aromatic, tart notes can also be found mixed with zesty or fruity scents.
Subfamilies:
Aromatic: Clean and fresh herbs mixed with lavender or woody scents.
Citrus: Zesty or tangy notes like mandarins or bergamot.
Water: Aquatic scents that smell of sea spray or rain mixed with or oceanic notes.
Green: Smells of freshly mowed lawns and crushed green leaves.
Common Fresh Family Notes:
- Sage.
- Bergamot.
- Grapefruit.
How to Combine Scents
Just like colour, certain fragrance families go well together. The scent wheel makes it easy to see this. Fragrance sub-families that are side by side on the fragrance wheel will almost always blend well.
To help you decide the scent family and subfamilies, you can try our Discovery Set for fragrance samples and order it online.
Furthermore, if you are sure about your choice of scent family and related sub-family, you can browse our fragrance collection and order the perfume you prefer. The section below will give you a quick glance at our Eau de Parfum collection in Majouri.
Genesis Collection encapsulates our multicultural vision of beauty. Inspired by Western and Middle Eastern cultures, our perfumers have combined their talent and creativity to create refined and unique fragrances. Each perfume reveals an emotional and sensorial universe reflecting our history, our personality, and our signature.
Quest Collection is composed of the rarest and most precious ingredients. The Private Collection magnifies the raw materials and embodies the exceptional art of perfuming. Developed according to the tradition and high standards of French perfumery and mixed together with a contemporary vision of the world, the perfect harmony of these notes is the result of the quality olfactory expertise from our prestigious perfumers in Grasse.
Jour Collection is an ephemeral collection offering our French perfumers the unrestricted freedom to create fragrances according to their day-to-day inspiration. Giving free rein to their imagination, they use the most natural essences and rare ingredients to create authentic scents combining style and personality.
