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Fragrance Types
Fragrance Types
Types of Perfume
What fragrance should you wear by day and which ones by night? We explain the major fragrance categories, from floral perfumes and oriental perfumes to citrus perfumes and beyond. We include tips on how to identify your best perfume type and list designer perfumes that fit into each fragrance category.
Citrus Perfumes - Fragrances in the Citrus Category
Infused with the tangy essence of citrus fruits, these perfumes are a lively and energetic bunch. Well-suited to daytime wear, they are just the thing to wake you up in the morning before you've had that second cup of coffee.
Floral Perfumes - Fragrances in the Floral Category
Sweet and romantic, these scents are the "good girls" of the fragrance aisle. Floral perfumes are sometimes single note, but generally combine the scents of various flowers to create a classic feminine appeal.
Fruity Perfumes - The Best Fragrances in the Fruity-Floral Category
Fruity scents please the nose with the bright and familiar smells of apple, peach, berry, mango and other juicy fruits. They are often blended with florals.
Woody Perfumes - Popular Designer Fragrances in the Chypre Category of Scents
Woody (aka chypre) scents are built on base notes of bark and moss, conjuring winding forest paths. While less classically pretty than other fragrance categories, that's not to say these scents are masculine. They simply evoke a particular brand of no-nonsense femininity.
Oriental Perfumes - Designer Fragrances in the Oriental Scent Category
Think of oriental perfumes as the fragrance equivalent of cleavage and a killer pair of stilettos. Exotic and distinctly feminine, these sensual blends feature an earthy, animalistic base scent such as musk or ambergris, often combined with warm top notes such as amber or vanilla. When combined with florals, these scents are called...
Oceanic Perfumes - Fragrances in the Oceanic Perfume Category
Oceanic perfumes are a modern invention. These scents use a blend of synthetic compounds to evoke natural aromas such as mountain air, ocean spray, or clean linen.
Spicy Perfumes - Our Favorite Designer Perfumes in the Spicy Fragrance Category
Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what these perfumes smell like. Raiding the spice rack for fragrance notes such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and pepper, spicy fragrances are alluring in old-fashioned ways.
Green Perfumes - Top-Selling Perfumes in the Green Fragrance Category
Smelling of fresh leaves and newly-mown grass, the green fragrances are a natural and energetic group. These scents are well-suited for daytime, when their sporty, modern appeal makes them a great fit for any casual or outdoor gathering.
What Is Coumarin?
What is coumarin? Learn about the perfume ingredient coumarin, including its origin and use as a perfume ingredient and in medicine, what it smells like, toxicity and health concerns, and a list of coumarin fragrances for women and men.
What is Cashmeran?
What is cashmeran? Learn about the perfume ingredient cashmeran, including its origin and use as a perfume ingredient, what it smells like, and a list of cashmeran fragrances for women and men.
What Is Neroli?
What is neroli? Learn about the perfume ingredient neroli, including its origin, its use as a perfume ingredient and in aromatherapy and herbal applications, what it smells like, and a list of neroli fragrances for women and men.
What Is Galbanum?
What is galbanum? Learn about the perfume ingredient galbanum, including its origin, its use as a perfume ingredient and in aromatherapy and herbal applications, use in ancient history and in medicine, what it smells like, and a list of galbanum fragrances for women and men.
5 Perfumes to Wear to the Office
We choose the best perfumes for the workplace. Consult this guide to the best office appropriate perfumes. We select light perfumes that won't aggravate perfume allergies or annoy your co-workers. Our perfumes for wearing to your job include scents from DKNY, Clinique, Prada, Kenzo, and Marc Jacobs.
What Is Ylang Ylang?
What is ylang ylang? Learn about the perfume ingredient ylang ylang, including its origin, how to pronounce it, where it's found, what it smells like, and a list of ylang ylang fragrances for women and men.
What is Orris?
What is orris? Learn about the perfume ingredient orris, including its origin, where it's found, what it smells like, and a list of orris fragrances for women and men.
What is Oakmoss
What is oakmoss? Learn about the perfume ingredient oakmoss, including its origin, where it's found, what it smells like, and a list of oakmoss fragrances for women and men.
What is Indole
What is indole? Learn about the perfume ingredient frangipani, including what it smells like, and a list of indole fragrances for women and men.
What is Frangipani
What is frangipani? Learn about the perfume ingredient frangipani, including its origin, where it's found, what it smells like, and a list of frangipani fragrances for women and men.