Perfume is not merely a pleasing scent, but an intricate form of art, where different scent families are present, each one with its own particularities and advantages. As a perfume lover or a novice in the world of fragrances, it is advisable to know these perfume families to help you pick the proper scent that matches your character, time or even a special occasion. In this blog, we will define and illustrate some basic perfume families e.g. floral perfumes, woody perfumes, and oriental fragrances, and recommend some of the essential oil products from HBNO to enhance your perfume experience.
What Are Perfume Families?
Perfume families are alternatively known as fragrance families or scent families: these are perfume groupings characterized by a prevailing effect. Glance at any group of perfumes according to the fragrance families and you will see many defining characteristics within the families. From the light and fresh to the dark and exotic, these scent profiles elicit emotions and feelings which are then used for a variety of purposes.
The Main Perfume Families
- Floral Scents
Characteristics: This fragrance family Floral scents are probably the most liked and easily identified family of scents. These are dominated by the smell of flowers and range from faint or refreshing to sweet or cloying.
Common Notes: Floral scents that are rose, jasmine, lavender, and ylang-ylang fall under these personal fragrances and are often added to perfumes. Refer to this as the direction for the floral notes, with single flower scents, a mini possy or a large bunch of flowers.
When to Wear: Floral perfumes are oriented in a way that they can be used every day, especially during the daytime during spring and summer. These fragrances are ideal for dates, everyday use, or anything where you would want to look well-groomed.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Rose Essential Oil – For those who prefer soft floral scents, rose essential oil, which can smell sweet and strong, is a good choice.
- Woody Fragrances
Characteristics: Warm proficient earthy fragrances known to be woody scent. Similarly, these aromas focus along the central part and relaxes to evoke feelings of fullness.
Common Notes: Wood-sandal, cedar, patchouli, and vetiver are classic notes in woody perfume. These scents can be pure floral, featuring a single flower, or a floral bouquet that blends multiple flowers.
When to Wear: As woody fragrances have a lot of warmth in construction they are good and appealing for the season of fall and winter. Such scents are preferred for evenings, charming functions or whenever there is a need to create some soft allure and secrecy.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Sandalwood Essential Oil – Due to its warm and woody scent, sandalwood oil offers sophistication to any perfume cabinet.
- Oriental scent perfumes
Characteristics: The distinguishing feature of oriental perfumes is their intense and uncommon exoticism. As a rule, they include warm spices, resins and deep florals contributing to the rich scent that lasts long.
Common Notes: Notes such as vanilla, amber and musk are common in oriental perfumes along with spices of cinnamon and clove. Such perfume compositions are also enriched by woody or floral notes.
When to Wear: Suitable for going for an evening event, romantic dates and for the cold season when there is a need to feel warm and luxurious are the oriental scents.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Vanilla Essential Oil- Adding warmth and sweetness to the fragrance oil, this oil will be particularly useful for enhancing the collection.
- Fresh and Fruity Perfumes
Characteristics: The fresh perfume family consists of scents that are crisp and clean and inspire and elicit energy from the user. Often such fragrances possess citrus, watery, or greenery flavors.
Common Notes: Lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, and bergamot are famous citrus notes that can be used as complementary and fresher features of mint and eucalyptus as well.
When to Wear: Fresh perfumes are suitable for the day and in particular in the spring and summer seasons. As their scent is light and refreshing they are suitable for relaxation, work or physical activity.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Bergamot Essential Oil – This concentrated liquid smells really fresh and citrusy which in turn elevates one’s mood and makes them feel fully awakened.
- Fruity Perfumes
Characteristics: Fruity perfumes are always fun, sweet, and vivacious. These perfumes nearly always include the scent of luscious fruits to balance with vibrancy in the fragrance.
Common Notes: Apple, peach, berries and tropical fruits including mango or pineapple are common to this family.
When to Wear: Perfect for informal meetings, short travels or whenever you wish to bring out happiness and fun.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Sweet Orange Essential Oil – Wonderful and cheerful, sweet and sour such fragrance is simply ideal for any fruity composition.
- Gourmand Perfumes
Characteristics: Gourmand perfumes contain notes that are edible or similar to sweets or desserts such as vanilla, chocolate, caramel or coffee. They smell predominantly sweet and are quite comforting and at times evoke some childhood memories.
Common Notes: These notes include vanilla, honey, chocolate, and coffee as any also include gourmand scents.
When to Wear: This type of fragrance is recommended to wear in the autumn and winter. Gourmand fragrances are warm and comforting. Good for evening events, or anytime one wants to create an impact.
Suggested Product from HBNO: HBNO Cocoa Essential Oil- This cuts some of the oil’s rich chocolate scent helps make for a more luscious perfume composition.
Blend of Essential Oils to Formulate Your Perfume
You can also compose your scent by combining oils of different perfume families characteristics that constitute a specific note. When you want to compose a blend of essential oils, it is vital to look at how the top, middle and base notes work:
- Top Notes: The note which is perceived first when the fragrance is applied and is usually light (ex. citrous or herbal oils).
- Heart Notes: These are the main proportion of the perfume and are usually floral or spicy or even green in nature (ex. lavender or jasmine).
- Base Notes: These notes are the last to be noted and provide the main character of the fragrance (ex. sandalwood or vanilla).
Begin with a few essential oils of the three sets mentioned above. For example, a few oils each with a top-bergamot, middle-rose, or base-sandalwood, exactly understand one another and the overall fragrance becomes well-rounded and changes with time.
Conclusion
Knowing the perfume families will help you in the process of choosing or composing the perfume. Each family differs from the softness of floral notes to erring on the earthy side with woody notes and magnetic oriental notes. You can create your own scent to suit any occasion after trying out some of the different essential oils from HBNO that you find appealing in your personality.
Start experimenting with HBNO’s essential oils and create your own unique scents that suit your taste and occasion. If fresh, cool, and inviting fragrances are your thing or even rich and exotic ones entice you there is so much more waiting to be discovered out there.
