Perfumery is an art, and like any art, it has its own language. Whether it’s fragrances for women, for men, and even for children, perfumes borrow their primitive notes from nature, with ingredients of vegetable and animal origin sometimes reproduced synthetically.
Today, the choice of raw materials that go into the composition of a perfume is made from among more than 1,500 ingredients! To find your way around, the perfumers have nevertheless classified them into 7 olfactory categories, which we really want to present to you. Ready to begin on a journey to the heart of scents?
AMBER
The Ambrée family, known as Oriental
Scents from elsewhere
Amber fragrances with dominant amber are placed in a separate group thanks to their accentuated warmth and sensuality. Their opulent bouquet includes intoxicating and intensive substances such as musk, vanilla, exotic resins and wood, often accompanied with exotic flowers and spices.
Here is another family that borrows its name from the beginnings of modern perfumery. In 1905, when François Coty – him again! – publishes Ambre Antique , it is once again the forerunner of a trend that will be confirmed some 20 years later by Jacques Guerlain with his mythical Shalimar . Benzoin, balms, cistus labdanum, opoponax very often complete the amber compositions which leave a warm and deep trail to these perfumes…
Some classics to awaken your senses:
LOLITA LEMPICKA – My first perfume (eau de parfum): here, LOLITA LEMPICKA wanted to recreate the forbidden fruit through gluttony and sensuality. Its accords of liquorice, cherry, anise, violet but also tonka bean give off carnal and intoxicating oriental notes. A real invitation to travel and passion.
CACHAREL – Yes I Am (eau de parfum): are you a bold, independent woman, ready to assert yourself? Yes I Am will live up to your ambitions! Raspberry, mandarin, white flowers, spicy cremoso accord in a bottle reminiscent of your lipsticks, this is a fragrance that can very quickly become your essential!
AROMATIC
The aromatic family
Those scents you know so well
Aromatic notes are usually combined of sage, rosemary, cumin, lavender and other plants which possess a very intensive grass-spicy scent. They are often combined with citrusy and spicy notes. Aromatic compositions are typical of fragrances for men.
We group under this name all the compositions comprising aromatic herbs such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, mint, mugwort. This family is also sometimes called rustic. These notes are often the base of most male perfumes.
Here is our selection of aromatic perfumes, both for you ladies and gentlemen:
MOLINARD – Habanita (eau de parfum): in 1921 the first oriental perfume in history was born, Habanita. He mainly magnifies vetiver, geranium and amber to create a fragrance for femme fatales. A century of existence is not insignificant, because Habanita is not a perfume like the others.
GUY LAROCHE – Drakkar noir (eau de toilette): when we think of Viking longships, of Nordic countries, we think of courage, strength, powerful men, born for action. And that’s exactly what Guy Laroche has achieved by combining notes of lavandin and coriander, oak moss and notes of patchouli.
CHYPRE
The Cyprus family
Mr. Coty’s agreement
This olfactive group was named after perfume Coty Chypre created in 1917. Chypre means Cyprus in French. This sharp scent is based on harmony of oak moss, labdanum, patchouli and bergamot.
He was not the inventor, but it was François Coty who gave birth to this family thanks to his Chypre perfume , so representative of the chypre accord that made him successful, which has remained unchanged since. Taking its name from a moss that grows on oak, Evernia Prunastri, oak moss represents the key note present in the chypre accord, usually accompanied by citrus, floral and patchouli notes.
It is this time for you ladies that we have made a selection of two flagship fragrances:
ARMANI – Si (eau de parfum): sensuality and emotion, this is what ARMANI fully masters. Thanks to blackcurrant nectar, freesia and woody musk, this eau de parfum is an invitation to assert your femininity and your courage. The courage to say yes to life!
CLINIQUE – Aromatics Elixir (eau de toilette): bewitching, timeless, modern, bewitching and magical, this fragrance reveals the femininity, seduction and sensuality that are hidden in every woman. A floral chypre harmony, with a heart of dominant scents: Bulgarian rose, patchouli, iris, around which live notes are exalted: ylang ylang, vetiver, and chamomile…
CITRUS
The Citrus family
The timeless dean
Citrus fragrances are old and abundant. Its compositions are based on lemon, orange, bergamot, grapefruit or mandarin, with other citrusy, aromatic and tart notes for men and floral notes for women.
It’s not an innocent choice to start with this family. Bringing together citrus scents, such as lemon, mandarin, bergamot, and many others used in precious colognes, the Citrus family is the oldest in modern perfumery!
For you ladies, the citrus-floral around jasmine or a chypre accord is ideal. Just like the Citrus-Musk by the way, on a background of soft musk that would suit you perfectly!
As for you gentlemen, the Citrus-spicy, just like the Citrus-aromatic will know how to satisfy you! Wood, aromatic plants, thyme, sage or marjoram, they have already proven themselves by hugging your neck without you even knowing it…
Our perfume ideas in this Citrus family:
DIOR – Eau sauvage (eau de toilette): thanks to its notes of bergamot, hedione, lavender from Vaucluse and a chypre accord in the base notes, DIOR offers us an eau de Refined and resolutely modern men’s toiletry.
MUGLER – Cologne (eau de toilette): based on citrus fruits, notes of white musks and a secret heart note, this unisex eau de toilette is fresh but tenacious, daring but subtle… A sense of paradox that many will appreciate!
CALVIN KLEIN – CK One (eau de toilette): pure, fresh and light, this is a fragrance that is suitable for both men and women. This eau de toilette with notes of bergamot, green tea, jasmine and musk is natural and relaxed.
FLORAL
The Floral family
the flowers reveal their character
This largest fragrant group encompasses numerous versions of compositions with a floral heart: freshly picked flowers, flowers with aquatic, green or powdery nuances, as well as floral-aldehyde, floral-fruity and gourmand compositions.
The fragrant flowers are so numerous and diverse… Among these varied and specific scents, you necessarily have your favorites. There are so-called spring green flowers, sensual white flowers, spicy flowers, roses, atypical flowers and finally powdery flowers.
Our favorite perfumes in this Floral family:
GIORGIO ARMANI – My Way (eau de parfum): this eau de parfum is an invitation to freedom, to life! It is made for those who are thirsty for new experiences, new encounters, and its notes of bergamot, orange blossom, jasmine and cedar wood affirm who you really are. Because all the experiences you have define who you are.
COACH – Coach dreams (eau de parfum): bitter orange, gardenia and cactus flower characterize Coach Dreams and redefine freedom, adventure and road trips! This eau de parfum accompanies you on your life’s journey and reminds you each time you wear it of the excitement of new beginnings.
LEATHER
The Leather family
Mr.
Leather scents in various nuances, from floral, velvety compositions to tart, smoky ones are placed in this group. Scenting leather products in order to mask unpleasant scent of leather itself, since urine and faeces of cattle, as well as blood and tar had been used in its traditional production, marked the beginning of perfumery.
WOODY
The Woody family
Wild nature inspires us
Opulent compositions of woody notes in a heart of perfume are accentuated with woody notes of a base. Warm, mysterious sandalwood, drier and sharper cedar and vetiver, resin-like and balmy exotic sorts are usually accompanied with aromatic and citrusy notes.
Woody notes have become essential notes in modern perfumery. They come from vegetable oils from wood or plants. The woody notes give a composition, warmth, depth, and above all a lot of character. They have often been considered the prerogative of male perfumes, but women are more and more seduced by these notes which give off something very special.
Here is our selection of fragrances for men and women for this Woody family. Attention, perfumes of character in sight:
DIOR – Sauvage (eau de parfum): it is not for nothing that the mysterious and charismatic Johnny Depp was chosen as the muse for this eau de parfum. The encounter between intense freshness and oriental sweetness celebrates the magic of freedom and wide open spaces! Its notes of mandarin, cedar and absolute vanilla have made this perfume an icon today.
GIVENCHY – The forbidden (eau de parfum): do not forbid anything, do not allow yourself to be prohibited, here is a true tribute to the audacious femininity that Givenchy offers us with this new fragrance. A white flower, an orange blossom and a black accord thanks to patchouli have made this perfume a liberating talisman.
HUGO BOSS – Alive (eau de parfum):with this eau de parfum, HUGO BOSS asks you just one question: what makes you feel alive? You all have your own answer, and this fragrance is the perfect way to say it! Thanks to its notes of apple, cinnamon, blackcurrant or even jasmine and vanilla, live your life to the full, and find your own way!
DOLCE & GABBANA – K (eau de toilette):Sicilian lemon, blood orange, cedarwood and vetiver make K so masculine, so authentic, and so captivating. It evokes the Italian countryside and the Mediterranean sun. The perfect fragrance for a summer under the theme of new masculinity: fresh and biting.
