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The scent guide
Everything we wish we knew at fifteen.
Fragrance families, top, heart and base notes, the words perfume people use, and how to make your favourite scent last all day.
8 min read · Beginner friendly
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Chapter 01
The six fragrance families
Almost every perfume belongs to a family — a group of scents that share the same personality. Once you know which family you love, shopping gets so much easier. Not sure which is yours? Take the signature scent quiz.
Floral
The biggest and most classic family. Florals can be fresh and dewy (lily of the valley, freesia), lush and romantic (rose, peony) or rich and heady (tuberose, jasmine).
rose · peony · jasmine · tuberose · orange blossom
Try it if you love brunch, bouquets and a little bit of romance.
Fruity
Juicy, playful and often a little sweet. Fruity scents are the ones that made body sprays so iconic — and modern versions balance them with musks and woods.
pear · peach · raspberry · lychee · blackcurrant
Try it if your favourite era is the lip-gloss era and you’re not leaving it.
Gourmand
Scents that smell good enough to eat: vanilla, caramel, chocolate, coffee and toasted nuts. Warm, cozy and famously compliment-getting.
vanilla · caramel · tonka bean · praline · pistachio
Try it if you’d rather smell like dessert than a garden.
Fresh & Citrus
Bright, clean and energising. Think lemon zest, sea spray, cut grass and crisp laundry. Easy to wear and great in warm weather.
bergamot · neroli · grapefruit · sea salt · green tea
Try it if you want to smell like you just stepped out of the shower — on vacation.
Woody
Warm, dry and grounding. Woody scents use notes like sandalwood, cedar and vetiver, and they add depth to almost every other family.
sandalwood · cedar · vetiver · patchouli · oud
Try it if you love a moody hotel lobby and a good wool coat.
Amber
Once called “oriental”, amber scents are rich, glowing and sensual — resins, spices, vanilla and warm musk. Perfect for evenings and cold weather.
amber · benzoin · cinnamon · incense · labdanum
Try it if you want a scent that lingers in the room after you leave.
Chapter 02
Top, heart and base notes
A perfume changes as it sits on your skin. Perfumers describe this as a pyramid: light notes on top that you smell first, and heavier notes underneath that last for hours. That’s why you should never judge a perfume in the first five minutes.
01
Top notes
The first impression. Bright and light — citrus, herbs, fruits. They fade in about 15 minutes.
02
Heart notes
The personality. Usually florals or spices, showing up after the top notes and lasting a few hours.
03
Base notes
The memory. Woods, musks, vanilla and amber that stay on skin (and scarves) the longest.
Chapter 03
Perfume words, decoded
The words you’ll see on perfume reviews, in shops and all over PerfumeTok, explained like a friend would.
Eau de Parfum (EDP)
A stronger concentration that usually lasts longer than an EDT.
Eau de Toilette (EDT)
Lighter and often fresher — great for daytime and warm weather.
Body mist
A light, playful spray. Lovely for layering and re-spritzing.
Notes
The individual smells in a perfume, like rose or vanilla.
Accord
Several notes blended to create a new smell, like "beach" or "clean laundry".
Sillage
The scent trail you leave behind when you walk through a room.
Projection
How far your perfume radiates from your skin.
Longevity
How long a scent lasts on you before it fades.
Dry down
How a perfume smells after an hour or more, once the base notes take over.
Skin scent
A soft perfume that smells like your skin, but better.
Flanker
A new version of an existing perfume — same family, new twist.
Blind buy
Buying a perfume without smelling it first. Brave.
Chapter 04
How to make perfume last longer
Fragrance holds on best to warm, hydrated skin. These six habits will stretch every spritz.
01
Moisturise first
Unscented lotion or a matching body cream gives the scent something to cling to.
02
Hit your pulse points
Wrists, neck, inner elbows and behind the knees are warm and help it lift.
03
Don't rub your wrists
Rubbing heats and breaks up the top notes. Spray, then let it dry.
04
Mist your hair (lightly)
Hair holds scent beautifully. Spray from a distance or use a hair mist.
05
Layer your products
Shower gel, lotion and perfume from the same scent family build staying power.
06
Carry a mini
A travel spray or decant in your bag means a midday refresh is always there.
Chapter 05
Layering 101
Layering means wearing two scents at once to create something new. The golden rule: put the heavier, warmer scent on first and the lighter, fresher one on top. Start with one spray of each and adjust from there.
Vanilla + citrus
A creamsicle in perfume form. Sunny and sweet.
Rose + musk
Your-lips-but-better, in scent. Soft and polished.
Coconut + sandalwood
Holiday skin, all year round.
Lavender + vanilla
Bedtime-story cozy. Great as a night-time ritual.
Pear + white musk
Fresh laundry with a juicy twist.
Amber + pink pepper
Warm and a little spicy — instant date-night energy.
Chapter 06
How to store perfume
Light, heat and humidity are perfume’s worst enemies — which makes the bathroom the worst place to keep it. Store bottles somewhere cool and dark, like a dresser drawer, a closet shelf or the original box. Keep the caps on so air doesn’t sneak in.
Stored well, most perfumes stay lovely for years. If yours starts to smell sharp or sour, or the colour changes a lot, it may have turned. When in doubt, spray a paper strip and trust your nose.
In this guide
Quiz time
Not sure which family is yours?
Eight questions, two minutes, one very accurate answer.
