Families
Floral centres flower-like materials. Woody centres dry, creamy, smoky or resinous wood effects. Citrus uses bright peel and juice references. Aromatic often includes herbs, leaves and camphoraceous facets. Amber describes warm resinous structures, not one single ingredient.
Leather refers to an effect built from smoky, tarry, animalic or suede-like materials. Gourmand suggests edible references such as sugar, coffee, cocoa or pastry. Green points toward leaves, stems, sap or cut-grass impressions. Aquatic uses watery, mineral or marine references. Spicy uses warm or cool spice facets.
Families overlap. A fragrance can be floral-woody, citrus-aromatic or amber-spicy. Brands and classification systems use these words differently. Treat them as descriptive categories, not universal measurements.
Notes and time
Performance terms
Projection describes how far a scent is perceptible from the wearer. Longevity describes how long it remains perceptible under particular conditions. Neither is fixed. Skin, climate, application, concentration and attention affect perception.
Dry-down is the later stage after the opening shifts. Concentration describes the proportion of aromatic materials in a product format, but naming conventions vary. Eau de parfum and similar labels should be read alongside the brand’s own information.
Compare carefully
| Term | Useful question |
|---|---|
| Family | What broad scent direction is being used? |
| Note | Is this a named material, an impression or a marketing shorthand? |
| Accord | Which materials or effects are combined? |
| Concentration | What product format and usage instructions are stated? |
What to know
Subjective scent descriptions are not objective facts. Use several terms together. Compare the house’s description with its ingredient information and sample guidance. The same word can carry different meanings across brands.
Good for
This guide suits first comparisons, catalogue research and conversations with a house. It gives you questions without declaring one family superior.
Ask about terminology