A guide to fragrance formats and scent profiles
The format tells you how a fragrance is made to be worn; the profile describes the impression it gives. Neither is a guarantee of strength or wear time.
What is the difference between a fragrance type and a scent profile?
Words such as attar, eau de parfum and extrait describe formats or concentration labels. Floral, woody and gourmand describe scent profiles. A woody fragrance, for instance, might come as an oil or a spray.
What are common fragrance formats?
Attar is generally an oil-based fragrance applied sparingly to skin. Eau de toilette, eau de parfum and extrait de parfum commonly refer to alcohol-based perfume formats with different concentration conventions. Labels alone do not tell you exactly how a particular perfume will smell or perform.
What does floral mean?
Floral scents evoke flowers such as rose, jasmine or orange blossom. They may feel airy, lush, soft or bright, depending on the blend.
What does fresh or citrus mean?
Fresh scents can suggest clean air, crisp greenery or a breezy impression. Citrus scents often evoke fruits such as bergamot, lemon or mandarin. They can overlap with floral, aromatic or woody notes.
What does woody mean?
Woody scents evoke materials such as cedar or sandalwood. They can feel dry, smooth, creamy or warm rather than all smelling alike.
What does amber mean?
Amber describes a warm, often resinous or softly sweet scent impression. It is a style of accord, not necessarily a single ingredient.
What do spicy and aromatic mean?
Spicy scents suggest notes such as cardamom or pepper. Aromatic scents often evoke herbs, lavender or other brisk, botanical impressions. A fragrance can be both.
What do green and aquatic mean?
Green scents suggest leaves, grass or stems. Aquatic scents evoke a cool, watery or sea-breeze impression; the term describes an effect, not an ingredient list.
What does gourmand mean?
Gourmand scents evoke edible notes such as vanilla, coffee or caramel. Some are sweet, while others balance those notes with woods, spice or florals.
Can one perfume belong to more than one profile?
Absolutely. Floral-woody, citrus-aromatic and woody-gourmand are all useful ways to describe layered scents. These labels are guides, not strict categories.
Does the profile tell me which fragrance lasts longest?
No. Wear varies with the composition, concentration, application, skin and surroundings. Choose by the scent you enjoy, then test how that particular fragrance wears on you.
How should I choose a profile?
Think about the atmosphere you want: floral softness, citrus brightness, woody warmth or gourmand comfort. Start with the descriptions that appeal to you and let your own experience be the final word.