Find Perfumes and Colognes: Classification


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Classification - by T.C.

French perfume making’s technical body has classified the fragrances in eight scents’ families.

The citruses (masculine and feminine): Citrus oils (Hesperidia) are the key elements in this family such as bergamot, orange, lemon, grapefruit and other orange-tree element as neroli, petit grain (anis, nutmeg) etc. These fragrances are characterized by their freshness and lightness.

Floral (feminine): The floral fragrances are composed of a large variety of flowers and floral bouquets such as rose, jasmine, violets, ylang-ylang, orange tuberose and carnation with an additional woody and musky note. These can be described as fresh and bubbly.

Oriental (masculine and feminine): Powdery floral fragrances combined with warm oriental scents. They associate heady substances like musk, vanilla, amber with precious woods (sandalwood, cedar).

Woody (masculine notes): A family based on woody scents such as sandalwood, patchouli, cedar, vetiver. These warm and dry masculine accords combine aromatics (lavender) and citruses fragrances.

The Chypre (feminine): Based on mossy, woody floral and fruity notes (bergamot, lavender and nutmeg). Chypre perfumes have a rich and lingering scent.

The ferns (masculine): Aromatics and woody notes with lavender, coumarin, geranium, oak moss, etc.

The leathers (masculine): These fragrances evoke smells such as tobacco, smoke and leather.

The aromatics (masculine): Perfumes based on bay, thyme, rosemary, verbena, mint, etc and complemented with citrus and spicy notes. These manly compositions make them an all-time favorite in men’s perfumery.