Fragrance Guide

[PerfectMistake]

• Floral - This is the largest category, and it includes fragrances who's primary ingredients are derived from flowers such as jasmine, rose, violet, carnation, orange-blossom, gardenia, ylang-ylang, etc. Examples: Carolina Herrera, Paris, White Diamonds
  
  Subcategories: Floral-Green
  
  Floral-Ambery
  
  Floral-Fruity
  
  Floral-Citrus
  
  Floral-Woody Example: Bvlgari, Chanel 19
  
  Example: Adrienne Vittadini
  
  Example: Amarige, Baby Doll
  
  Example: Curve
  
  Example: Romance, L'Eau D'Issey, 1881 Cerruti
  
• Oriental - Generally full-bodied compositions that create an exotic, warm impression due to the inclusion of ingredients like spices, musk, balsams and resins. Example: Shalimar, Royal Secret, Contradiction
  
  Subcategories: Oriental-Citrusy
  
  Oriental-Ambery
  
  Oriental-Spicy
  
  Floriental
  
  Oriental-Gourmand Example: Candies
  
  Example: Obsession
  
  Example: Opium
  
  Example: Wings, Hugo Woman
  
  Example: Casmir, Angel, Wish
  
• Chypre - pronounced "sheepra", French for "Cyprus" and first used by François Coty to describe his impression of aromas he encountered on the island of Cyprus. He created a woodsy, mossy, citrusy perfume named Chypre, which is no longer made, but the word is still used to describe fragrances that are made in that style. Chypre fragrances generally owe their soft, sweet, earthy natures to ingredients like bergamot, oakmoss, citruses, and that 60's favorite, patchouli (making a comeback!). Example: Y, Dalimix
  
  Subcategories: Chypre-Fruity
  
  Chypre-Floral
  
  Chypre-Animalic Example: Femme
  
  Example: Paloma Picasso, Fendi
  
  Example: Miss Dior, Ysatis
  
• Citrus - These are compositions where the inclusion of citrus fruits like lime, lemon, tangerine, mandarin and bergamot (often called hesperides) are blended to create a fragrance that has effervescent or exhilarating qualities. More common in men's fragrances, but increasingly popular in women's, too. One of the oldest fragrance categories, dating back to ancient times. Example: CK One
  
  Subcategories: Citrus-Floral Examples: Jess
  
• Fougère - pronounced "foozh-air", French for "fern", these are fragrances with fresh, herbaceous notes on a mossy fernlike base. Example: Cool Water
  
• Green - These are compositions where the predominant notes are derived from green plant parts and notes such as pine, juniper, grass, leaves, and herbs. Example: Safari, Bvlgari Extrême
  

Source

 

[magosienne]

thanks !! i hate oriental scents, i noticed they're usually "powerful", especially compared to floral fragrances.

 

[AngelaGM]

That thread was very informative. Thanks for posting!

 

[pinksugar]

thanks for posting! I might take this list with me next time I go fragrance shopping to help me pick the perfect thing!

 

[iatreia]

thanks for posting

I love fragrances, but I actually wear none. I just like thinking about the notes and analyzing the layers. Same goes with wine

 

[PerfectMistake]

It was helpful for me, too! Wanted to share it

 

[ivette]

thanks alex

 

[Fire]

I like vanilla based scents, which I think they usually classify under orientals. And yet I agree with Magosienne I find most scents termed "oriental" to be way too heavy.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

Thanks for posting this!

Another site that I like is The Basenotes Fragrance Directory.