Olfactory families: what they are and how to choose perfumes based on them
Partilhar
Introduction
Have you ever noticed that some perfumes always appeal to you more than others?
This often happens because they belong to the same olfactive family.
Olfactive families are one of the foundations of perfumery and help to:
- organise ingredients
- understand perfumes
- choose fragrances more easily
In this guide, you will discover:
- what olfactive families are
- what the main ones are
- how to use them to choose a perfume
What are olfactive families?
Olfactive families are:
Categories that group perfumes and ingredients with similar characteristics
This classification is used:
- by perfumers (to create perfumes)
- by consumers (to choose better)
What are the main olfactive families?
There are several families, but these are the most common:
🍋 Citrus
- fresh
- light
- smells of lemon or orange peel
Examples:
- lemon
- bergamot
- sweet orange
🌿 Green
- natural
- smells of leaves and grass
Examples:
- cis-3-hexenol
- cassis
🌊 Aquatic
- fresh
- evokes water and sea
Examples:
- calone
- floralozone
🌿 Aromatic
- herbaceous
- fresh
Examples:
- lavender
- lavandin
- rosemary
🍓 Fruity
- sweet
- juicy
- tropical
Examples:
- raspberry ketone
- fruity aldehydes
🌸 Floral
- delicate or opulent
- often velvety
Examples:
- rose
- jasmine
- ylang-ylang
🍮 Gourmand (edible)
- sweet
- reminiscent of desserts
Examples:
- vanilla
- maltol
- coumarin
🌶️ Spices
- warm
- intense
Examples:
- pepper
- cinnamon
🔥 Amber
- warm
- deep
- resinous
Examples:
- labdanum
- ambroxan
- vanilla
🌲 Woody
- dry
- earthy
Examples:
- sandalwood
- cedar
- vetiver
🐾 Animalic
- intense
- reminiscent of leather or fur
Examples:
- leather notes
- animalic bases
🤍 Musk
- soft
- clean
- velvety
Examples:
- galaxolide
- cashmeran
Can a perfume have more than one family?
Yes, and that's very common.
A perfume can be:
- citrus floral
- woody amber
- green floral
The combinations are practically endless.
How to use olfactive families to choose a perfume
This is the most useful point.
If you know you like:
- florals → look for perfumes from that family
- citrus → you'll like fresh fragrances
- woody → you prefer something deeper
This greatly reduces the risk of error.
Especially useful when:
- shopping online
- gifting perfume to someone
How to discover your olfactive family
Ask yourself:
What kind of scents attract me most?
- fresh → citrus / aquatic
- sweet → gourmand / fruity
- warm → amber / spicy
- natural → green / aromatic
Why it's important to know olfactive families
This knowledge helps you to:
- better understand perfumes
- communicate about scents
- develop your sense of smell
- choose fragrances with more confidence
Conclusion
Olfactive families are one of the most important tools in perfumery.
They allow something subjective (scent) to be transformed into something understandable.
And the more you know them:
the easier it becomes to choose — and create — perfumes.
🎧 Listen to the full episode
This article was inspired by episode 007 of the podcast Todos os Caminhos Vão Dar ao Aroma (All Roads Lead to Aroma), where I explore olfactive families with practical examples.