What Are The Different Fragrance Families?

Image credit: Andrew Petrov @ Unsplash

Fragrance families, also known as fragrance categories or olfactive families, group perfumes based on their dominant olfactory characteristics. Here are the primary fragrance families:

1. Floral:

Characteristics: Scents primarily derived from flowers like roses, jasmine, lilies, and violets.

Examples: Classic floral, floral bouquet, single flower.

From Zikrr: Roz 

2. Oriental:

Characteristics: Warm, sweet, and often spicy scents featuring notes of vanilla, musk, spices, and exotic resins.

Examples: Soft oriental (floral orientals), woody oriental, spicy oriental.

From Zikrr: Shalimar 

3. Woody:

Characteristics: Dominated by wood notes such as cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, and patchouli.

Examples: Woody, mossy woods (chypre), dry woods (leather).

From Zikrr: Karma 

4. Citrusy:

Characteristics: Light, airy, and invigorating scents with notes of citrus, green leaves, and oceanic elements.

Examples: Citrus, green, water (aquatic), fruity.

From Zikrr: Kashish 

5. Fougère:

Characteristics: A blend of lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin, often with woody and herbaceous notes.

Examples: Aromatic fougère, spicy fougère, oriental fougère.

From Zikrr: Kasturi 

6. Chypre:

Characteristics: Based on a harmony of citrus top notes, middle notes of labdanum, and a base of oakmoss and patchouli.

Examples: Floral chypre, fruity chypre, green chypre.

From Zikrr: Kashish 

7. Gourmand:

Characteristics: Edible or dessert-like qualities with notes of vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and candy.

Examples: Sweet gourmand, fruity gourmand.

From Zikrr: Yet to launch 

8. Leather:

Characteristics: Rich, deep scents reminiscent of leather, often combined with smoky, woody, and spicy notes.

Examples: Soft leather, floral leather, woody leather.

From Zikrr: Jashn 

These fragrance families help in identifying and categorising perfumes and ittars, making it easier for individuals to discover scents that are to their liking.