Fragrance layering

Fragrance layering
The wheel is split into four sections, and they are: Floral,
Oriental (now referred to as Amber), Woody and Fresh.
Each family contains aromas that are similar to each other,
share the same characteristics or have complementary aspects.
These fragrances can be surprisingly complicated and delicate

at the same time, depending on the scent’s intensity and the
other notes that are added to the blend.
Floral
The floral scent family is one of the most common
families and are used in many well-known perfumes.
Floral scents are most often 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.
Find your signature floral perfume with these warm
weather scents:
 Best Summer Perfumes for Women
 Best Springtime Perfumes for Women
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 blossom
Fragrance Examples:
 Light Blue – Dolce & Gabbana
 Bloom – Gucci
 Red Door – Elizabeth Arden
Sub families include:
1. Floral Fresh
These fragrances contain fresh, flowery aromas of woody,
smoky rose or spicy, bright lily.
2. Soft Floral
These formulations are known for their aldehydes and powdery
notes.
3. Floral Ambery
These scents are mostly limited to facets of fresh, floral orange
blossom and assorted sweet spices.
Amber (previously referred to as Oriental)

Most perfumers consider this to be the most luxurious
fragrance family.
Amber fragrances feature full, rich scents with sugary, piquant
notes such as: powdery, vanilla-like orchid, noble and lush
vanilla, spicy, inviting cinnamon and aromatic and spicy
cardamom.
These fragrances are highly sensual and exotic.
Oriental (Amber)
The oriental fragrance family consists of rich exotic scents.
When you think of oriental scents think herbs and spices or dry,
powdery, resin notes. Opulent and heady, these notes are often
times 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
Fragrance Examples:
 Youth Dew – Estee Lauder
 Obsession – Calvin Klein
 Joop – Joop!
1. Ambery
These aromas are marked by musky notes like vanilla, resins or
cinnamon.
2. Soft Ambery
These light fragrances are blended with floral and anise notes.
3. Woody Ambery
These scents are earthy and sweet and often mixed with
smooth and creamy sandalwood or earthy patchouli.
Woods
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 scent 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: Smoldering and smoky mixed with
leather aromas.
Common Woody Family Notes:
 Patchouli
 Vetiver
 Sandalwood
Fragrance Examples:
 Vetiver – Carven
 Polo – Ralph Lauren
Woody
Warm, opulent aromas with tones of buttery, powdery
sandalwood, dark, rich amber or dry, somewhat sugary cedar
wood characterize scents within this fragrance family.
Due to the inherent sweetness of the woody notes, perfumers
often blend them with floral and fresh notes, which render
compositions that are a bit lighter and brighter.
Subfamilies include:
1. Woody
Mostly sandalwood and patchouli
2. Mossy Woods
These light scents are smooth, mellow and earthy.
3. Dry Woods
This sub family usually features creamy sandalwood with smoky
notes like soft, pungent leather.
4. Aromatic
Woody tones combined with aromatic fresh fragrances like
lavender, which is a subcategory that is between the woody
and fresh scent families on the aroma wheel.
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.
Explore Popular Citrus Perfumes
 Green: Smells of freshly mowed lawns and crushed green
leaves.
 Water: Aquatic scents that smell of sea spray or rain mixed
with or oceanic notes.
Common Fresh Family Notes:

 Bergamot
 Sage
 Grapefruit
Fragrance Examples:
 Cool Water – Davidoff
 Versace Man – Versace
 Acqua di Gio – Giorgio Armani
Fresh
This scent family includes some of the world’s most refreshing
and vibrant fragrances.
They are defined by bright, citrus-based, oceanic, herbal, green
notes. that are often bolstered by lingering woodsy elements.
They are often used in air freshener products because of their
clean, bright character and more often found
in masculine than feminine fragrances.
More sophisticated scents are usually blended with spicy notes,
and a mélange of tart, aromatic fragrances with fruity and zesty
accents are also prevalent within this scent family.
They can include: piquant, pleasing bergamot, earthy, savory
and nutty sage and uplifting grapefruit.
1. Aromatic
Also known as fougère, these fragrances are clean, simple and
fresh. They often feature blends of sharp, clean rosemary and
spicy, herbal basil with facets of mellow lavender and warm,
woody notes.
2. Citrus
These zesty, bright fragrances are usually formulated with
elements of complex bergamot, invigorating citrus, lush
orange, juicy mandarin and uplifting grapefruit.
3. Water
Marine and aquatic notes dominate this sub family.
4. Green
This category includes invigorating, fresh, herbal and leafy
smells blended with the scent of green leaves or a freshly
mowed lawn.
5. Fruity
Technically, this is a subcategory that lies between the fresh
and floral scent families on the fragrance wheel. Essentially, it
is comprised of sweet aromas containing notes of velvety
peach, dense, slightly sugary pear and crisp apple.
How To Use The Fragrance Wheel

All perfume families create their own specific ambiance, and
understanding how to use the scent wheel when deciding what
type of scents to add to your office or home will allow for the
selection of aromas that match each other and help to
harmonize the environment.
Even reading the descriptions of the various sub-families can
and usually does spark an attraction for individual preferences.
The opposite is also true in terms of negative reactions to
particular smells.
Every scent family has its unique features, and personal appeal
will always lure one to select one fragrance over another.
Begin the learning process of selection by choosing familiar
perfumes and checking out their ingredients.
Then seek out those same facets on the fragrance wheel.
These can serve as a guide to pairing neighboring fragrances
that contain the same type of notes.
Selections rarely fall within one scent family, and sometimes,
perfumes blend well with other families, especially those that
are situated side-by-side on the fragrance wheel.
The Floral and Fresh perfume sectors, for example, stand out as
those that are most commonly found together.
3 Important Tips When Using The Fragrance Wheel
The following three important tips twill help unlock the mystery
of the fragrance wheel.
1. Choose Opposite Scents – Once the selection has been
made as to the preferred fragrance subfamily, it can then
be paired with one that is across from it on the aroma
wheel. The resulting fragrance is certain to please and
delight.
2. Select Fragrances That Are Side by Side On The
Fragrance Wheel
3. Pick Aromas That Form A Triangle – Selecting three
fragrances that create a triangle while looking at the
wheel will usually complement each other nicely and will
determine a pleasant olfactory experience.
The do’s and don’ts of perfume layering
There are some important do’s and don’ts to keep in mind
when it comes to layering together your favorite scents. Firstly,
do select fragrances that complement each other rather than
clash.
For example, floral scents tend to pair well with citrus or

woodsy scents, while oriental fragrances would work with
deeper, slightly spicy notes. And keep in mind to apply lighter
scents first and let them dry before applying stronger scents on
top. This will allow each fragrance to fully develop and prevent
them from getting muddled.
Important don’ts include not overdoing it with the number of

scents used. Layering more than three fragrances can quickly
become overwhelming and cause a headache not just for you
but everyone within a close distance!
And remember that the scents that work well for others may
not work for you. Always trust your nose and experiment until
you find the perfect combination.

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Fragrance layering

These fragrances can be surprisingly complicated and delicate

Amber (previously referred to as Oriental)

Common Fresh Family Notes:

How To Use The Fragrance Wheel

For example, floral scents tend to pair well with citrus or

Important don’ts include not overdoing it with the number of

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