Fragrance, Explained
find your signatureFive minutes here and you'll shop like a collector: which family suits you, how strong to buy, why a scent changes over the day, how to wear it, and what size actually makes sense.
Nothing carries all three yet. Drop one and try again.
Floral
The biggest family in perfume. One flower or a whole bouquet, from fresh-cut to creamy and heady.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Daytime, weddings, brunch
- Season
- Spring and summer
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You find flowers cloying or 'grandma'
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Fresh
Citrus, sea air, cut grass, clean laundry. The family people mean when they say they want something that doesn't smell like perfume.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Office, gym, hot days
- Season
- Summer
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want something that lasts all night
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Woody
Warm and dry, like the inside of a cedar closet or a walk through pine. Reads elegant on everyone.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Evenings, work, layering
- Season
- Fall and winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want sweet
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Amber
Rich, sweet, resinous. What older bottles call 'oriental'. The family that fills a room and lasts until morning.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Date night, cold nights, special occasions
- Season
- Winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You run hot or wear it to the office
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Gourmand
Smells edible. Caramel, cocoa, toasted sugar, coffee. The most compliment-getting family and the most divisive.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Going out, cozy nights
- Season
- Fall and winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You dislike sweet or foodie scents
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Oud
Dark, smoky, resinous wood from the Middle East. Powerful and long-lasting; a little goes a very long way.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Evenings, statement moments
- Season
- Winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want something light or safe for a small office
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Green
Cut grass, crushed leaves, fig trees, wet stems. Sharp, natural, a little unusual. The family for people who like the smell of a garden more than a bouquet.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Daytime, spring walks, art openings
- Season
- Spring
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want soft or sweet
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Powdery
Iris, violet, soft musk. The clean-skin, fresh-out-of-the-bath feeling. Quiet, elegant, sits close and stays polite.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Office, interviews, close quarters
- Season
- Year round
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want to be noticed across a room
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Spicy
Pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, clove. Heat without sugar. Reads confident and a little mysterious on anyone.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Fall evenings, dinners, layering under woods
- Season
- Fall and winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- Spice gives you a headache
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
Leather
Smoky, dry, a little animal. New jacket, old library, saddle. The most grown-up family in the shop.
- Smells like tap one
- Best for
- Nights out, winter, black-tie
- Season
- Winter
- Layers well with tap to jump
- Skip it if
- You want soft, sweet or safe
No bottle in this family mentions that note yet. Tap it again to clear.
How strong should you buy?
The letters on the box tell you how much perfume oil is in the bottle. More oil means it lasts longer, sits closer to the skin, and costs more per bottle. The bar shows roughly how concentrated each one is.
-
Parfum20 to 30% oil6 to 8 hrs +
The richest and the priciest. Dab, don't spray. For the scent you already know you love.
-
Eau de Parfum15 to 20% oil4 to 6 hrs
The sweet spot. Lasts a workday, projects without shouting. If you only own one, own this.
-
Eau de Toilette5 to 15% oil2 to 4 hrs
Lighter and brighter. Great for hot weather, the office, and anyone who reapplies anyway.
-
Eau de Cologne2 to 4% oilAbout 2 hrs
A splash of freshness. Citrus-heavy, made for after the shower and after the gym.
-
Body Mist1 to 3% oil1 to 2 hrs
Barely there. Spray it on hair and clothes, or layer it under something stronger.
Why it smells different by lunch
A fragrance is built in three layers that unfold at different speeds. What you smell on the paper strip is the top. What you smell at the end of the day is the base. Always test on skin and give it an hour before you decide.
The bright opening. Citrus, fresh herbs, light fruit. They make the first impression and then step aside.
The character of the scent. Florals, spices, green notes. This is the part you actually wear.
The foundation. Vanilla, musk, woods, amber, oud. They hold everything down and are what lingers on a scarf.
Make it last
- 01Start on moisturized skin
Scent clings to moisture. An unscented lotion first can double how long it lasts.
- 02Pulse points
Wrists, neck, behind the ears, inside the elbows. Warmth lifts the scent all day.
- 03Don't rub your wrists
Rubbing breaks the top notes apart. Spray and let it dry on its own.
- 04Keep some distance
Spray from 5 to 6 inches away so it lands as a mist, not a puddle.
- 05Hair and fabric hold it longer
A light spray on a scarf or the ends of your hair carries scent for hours. Test fabric first.
- 06Store it dark and cool
Heat and sunlight break a fragrance down. A drawer or closet beats the bathroom shelf.
- Rubbing your wrists togetherCrushes the top notes and speeds everything up.
- Spraying dark scents on light clothesOud, amber and anything deep gold can stain silk and white cotton.
- Keeping bottles in the bathroomSteam and heat are the two fastest ways to turn a fragrance.
- Judging it on the paper stripYou only smell the top. Skin, one hour, then decide.
- Reapplying every hourIf it vanishes that fast, you need a stronger concentration, not more sprays.
Which size makes sense
A spray is roughly a tenth of a milliliter, so a bottle goes further than it looks. Tap how many sprays you use and the table works out how long each size lasts you. Buy small to try a scent, buy big for the one you reach for every morning.
| Bottle | ml | About | Lasts about |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 oz | 15 ml | ||
| 1 oz | 30 ml | ||
| 1.7 oz | 50 ml | ||
| 3.4 oz | 100 ml | ||
| 6.7 oz | 200 ml |