Fragrance Families

This is part two of my series on finding the right fragrance.  Part one is here.

The fragrance industry classifies fragrances in to families according to the ingredients used to achieve the scents.  Men's and Women's fragrances have most of the same main categories, but the sub-categories are different.

The main families are usually the dominant characteristic of the fragrance and are included in the top notes and the base notes.

Floral (Women) 

• This is the most popular women's fragrance family.  
• Includes anything flowery  - rose, tuberose, carnation, cherry blossom.  
• Scents in this family are usually flowery and feminine.

Fougere (foo-jer) (Men)

• This is the most popular men's fragrance family. 
• Includes scents like vetiver, geranium, tobacco (no, really...)
• Usually a clean refined scent.

Citrus

• As the name suggests, these scents are vibrantly citrus-y. 
• Often described as fresh and clean.

Oriental

• Warm, sensuous and long-lasting, 
• Typified by notes of amber, resin, tobacco and exotic woods.  
• They are usually spicy and exotic.

Woody

• Think sandalwood, patchouli, cedarwood and vetiver.  
• Sometimes blended with leather notes in men's fragrances and floral notes in women's fragrances.  
• Rich and Sophisticated

Chypre (sheep-ra)

• Dominant patchouli and mossy tones blended with florals
• Warm and earthy

Where fragrances start to take shape, however, is in the sub-families.  The sub-families give the scents their unique character and depth.  You'll find these sub-families featured in the top notes or middle notes, usually. Sometimes you'll find a scent that straddles categories, like a "Floriental". 

For Women:
Floral Sub Families:

• Floral: Heady floral bouquet and blend
• Fresh/Green: Bright with citrus accents or green notes
• Woody: Textural woody notes for added sensuality
• Oriental: Notes of amber and spices to add richness

Citrus Sub-Families:

• Floral: To add depth and femininity
• Woody: Textural woody notes for added sensuality

Oriental Sub-Families:

• Floral Opulent florals are the dominant notes
• Fruity: Fruitiness to add texture
• Fresh/Green: Fresh citrus, fruits or green notes add sparkle
• Woody: Textural woody notes for added sensuality and depth
• Gourmand: Amber and other spices to enrich the scent.

Woody Sub-Family:

• Floral: Feminine florals balance the woody texture

Chypre Sub-Family:

• Floral: Florals lighten the earthy base

For Men:
Fougere Sub-Families:

• Fresh: Notes like grapefruit, lemon or bergamot
• Woody: Notes of patchouli, sandalwood or vetiver
• Ambery: Amber notes add warmth and sensuality

Citrus Sub-Families:

• Fougere: Bamboo and woody musk add extra pop to the citrus
• Woody: Notes of patchouli, sandalwood or vetiver

Oriental Sub-Families:

• Spicy: Nutmeg, clove, cinnamon or cardamom
• Woody: Notes of patchouli, sandalwood or vetiver
• Gourmand/Ambery: Vanilla and amber for texture
• Leathery: rich spicy notes that smell like, well...leather.

Woody Sub-Families:

• Marine: freshened with marine and airy notes kind of like the smell after a thunderstorm.
• Fresh: Lemon, grapefruit or bergamot brighten the heady wood scent.
• Spicy: Nutmeg, clove, cinnamon or cardamom
• Green: Herbaceous scents like basil or grass.

Chypre Sub-Family:

• Fresh:  Brightened with fresh notes of lemon, grapefruit or bergamot.

You may be thinking, "Well, that's nice, but what do these things all really smell like?"

To expand your fragrance selection, you may want to take something that you know that you like and look up what it really smells like in a review.  You can Google the scent's name and the word "review" and usually find a  breakdown of what goes into it.  Sometimes, they'll even classify it for you as a "Floral" or "Oriental" or what have you.  Then you can go through the scent list in the review and find out what notes are in it.  Using the information above you can come to some conclusions about what will work for you in other scents and what to stay away from.


Of course, AVON has a full line of fragrances that fit into these categories and I'd be happy to send you or bring you samples if you'd like to try out something new.  Check out my AVON website and find the fragrances page for more information about all our great scents!  And as always, write me if you have any questions.

Check back tomorrow for how to test a fragrance and how to smell the top notes, middle notes and base notes. 

Have a beautiful day!