Perfume

So what is the difference between ‘Safari’ by Ralph Lauren and ‘Sunflowers’ by Elizabeth Arden? One is a woody floral and the other a fruity floral. Shopping for these and other perfumes becomes easier when you know the basic types. No longer will you muddle about, sniffing here and there with perfume testers. Identifying your favorite scents allows the description to direct your purchases to the ones you or loved ones prefer most.

Every fragrance company will tell you that their perfume is a totally new scent. Truly, they all fall into eight major categories for women’s perfume.

Here then, are some tips on picking your next perfume scent:

Citrus is probably one of the most common scent families. The citrus aromas, lemon, grapefruit and lime, all fall into this category and are often combined with fruity or floral scents as well. ‘Gieffeffe’ by Gianfranco Ferre is one of many purely citrus summery scents.

Green can be a hard to describe scent. How do you create a color? Usually this family consists of conifers and evergreen plant scents, like pine, juniper and even lavender. Coco Chanel’s last fragrance Chanel #19 is considered a ‘green’ fragrance.

Flowery comprises the most extensive category. Most fragrances use some form of flower scent in their perfume. Some feature only one blossom while others feature blends, like a bouquet. ‘Eternity’ a fragrance by Calvin Klein is one such floral.

For fragrances that heavily feature flowers along with other types of scents (like green ingredients) the word ‘floral’ is added to the name. A scent made from papaya with a flower smell added would be a fruity floral.

Aldehyde (or modern) fragrances are made more in the laboratory than in nature. The aldehyde is a pure scent molecule, which changes is scent in contact with skin. These are the most individual perfumes, able to smell almost completely different on different people. Chanel #5 is the original aldehyde and remains the standard in modern scents. French perfume makers use them more than most.

Oriental perfumes began the scent explosion of current experience. Their scents originate from oils and resins, like those in amber, vanilla, wood (sandalwood, for example). Estee Lauder’s ‘Youth Dew’ in the 1960’s launched the Oriental smell to the rest of the world. ‘Opium’ by Yves Saint Laurent is a modern take on the Oriental family.

Chypres are probably the most curious family, strong and musky. Patchouli and sage typify these perfumes carrying a stronger feeling to them (compared to the light feel of a fruity fragrance). ‘Miss Dior’ by Christian Dior is one.

This family tends to be blended with other families. Floral, fruity, sweet, and green and even some leather smells compliment the Chypres family- the executive power suit of the scent families.

Spicy fragrances bring forth thoughts of exotic places. Their smells include ginger, cinnamon, cardamon and cloves. ‘Poison’ by Christian Dior and ‘Coco‘ by Chanel are both popular spicy scents.

There are enough varieties of perfumes available to fulfill anyone’s tastes on any given day or for any mood. Layer your perfumes, a light application of two complementary fragrances, can enhance them both and create a signature scent for you!