This page will help you understand aroma groups or "Families". Reading about the groups below will help you decide what family of perfume you want to make. Most perfumers will agree on 5 or 6 perfume families (aromatic, citrus, fern, floral, oriental).  We have extended the families to include many more familiar aroma groups. Go back

Animal- Used in extremely low concentration, animal notes give perfumes a warm, sensuous, exotic note. They add body, richness and depth as well as great fixative qualities.

Aromatic- Basil,mint, lavender, and peppermint. All the herbal, fresh, clean, uplifting notes. These notes are commonly used in men's fragrances and top notes.

Balsam- Vanilla, balsams and benzion are the main aromas in this family. Their sweet and natural fragrance is often used in warm, rich feminine perfumes.

Chypre - Is based on a woody, mossy, floral accord, which can include leathery or fruity notes.  Chypre perfumes have a rich, classic lingering scent. The perfume chypre was created by Francois Coty in 1917 and named after the Mediterranean island of Cypress and inspired Coty's perfume of the same name.

Citrus- The citrus oils of bergamot, lemon, grapefruit and mandarin smell just like the rinds. Fresh, green, lime, galbanum, tart bright and clean. This group is comprised of mostly top notes.

Floral- Fresh cut flowers. Soft floral aldahydes and fresh powder notes. The heavy florals gardenia, tuberose, ylang ylang and lilly. The spicy floral notes are carnation, jasmine, neroli, orange blossom. A large majority many perfumes fall into this family.

Fruit- Fruity notes in fragrances are currant and very popular. Most of them are obtained synthetically, with melon, peach, apple, cherry, apricot and berry being the base. The addition of wood and citrus are common in perfumes.

Oriental- The oriental family is comprised of resins, vanillas, musk’s, animal and narcotic notes. Sweet spices and orange flowers. Soft oriental florals can have Incense, amber, powder and woody notes. Patchouli, sandalwood, teak and exotic dried spices.

Wood- Mossy woods, oakmoss, vetiver, earthy wood, sandalwood, patchouli, warm smooth notes.Some aromatic woods are cedar, juniper and pine. Rich warm woods are good in all perfumes they create a great base and longevity on the skin.

Spice- Warm notes like clove oil, cinnamon, pepper, thyme. They are warming in character and add richness.

Herbal- A note that is natural cool, leafy, minty, aromatic lavender, chamomile, clary sage, rosemary. Herb oils tend to be sharp and green and diffusive.

Green- The odor of fresh cut grass leaves. Green notes add lift and vibrancy to a fragrance composition and appear in most combinations to add a natural quality.

Gourmand- Dessert like. Sweet chocolates. Creamy fruity aromas. Yummy dessert. This is a fairly new group but gaining in popularity.

Fresh- light airy, mostly citrus and floral. A bright morning daytime quality. Green fruit, water, air and sun-like scents.