Not sure where to start? Try a few scents before committing to a full bottle.
Shop the Discovery Set - £9.99When people say they like "fresh" or "woody" scents, they are describing fragrance families, the broad groups perfumers use to organise the world of smell. Knowing which families you gravitate towards is the single fastest way to shop for fragrance with confidence. Here are the main ones, with an example from our range for each.
Fresh and aquatic
Cool, clean and airy, built around citrus, green notes and marine freshness. These are light, unisex and easy to wear, perfect for daytime and warmer weather. Our Blue Mystral, with its floral-ocean character, lives here.
Floral
The most classic family of all. Rose, jasmine, iris and blossom, from dewy and delicate to rich and heady. Floral scents feel graceful and timeless. Our Queens Night, with soft florals over gentle spice and creamy woods, and the radiant, fruity-floral Sunset Harmony are lovely examples.
Woody and oud
Warm, deep and grounding. Sandalwood, cedar and, at its most luxurious, oud. These scents feel elegant and enveloping, ideal for evenings and cooler days. Our Golden Rose is a warm, woody oud with a rosy heart. For the deepest expression of this family, our luxury oud perfume Exotic Oud sits almost entirely on smoky oud and deep woods.
Amber and oriental
Rich, warm and a little opulent. Amber, resins, spice and saffron. This is the family for a statement scent with real presence, and the natural home of Arabian perfumery. If you want to understand where this family comes from, our guide to attar perfume covers the tradition properly.
Musk
Soft, warm and skin-like. Musk adds sensuality and depth, and blends beautifully with your own skin. Our floral-spicy Damask Musk is a perfect introduction.
Vanilla and gourmand
Warm, sweet and comforting. Vanilla is the flagship note here, often paired with amber, sandalwood or benzoin to keep it from tipping into pure dessert. Grown-up rather than childish when it is well built, and best in autumn and winter. Our Silk Vanilla vanilla perfume oil, an alcohol-free warm-woody vanilla, is the vanilla-forward option in the range.
Finding your family
Most people love two or three families rather than just one, perhaps fresh for work and woody for evenings. The easiest way to discover yours is to try a few on your own skin with our Discovery Set, or browse the full range of alcohol-free perfume oils once you know the direction you like. You can also read what UK customers say about each scent on our Trustpilot page.
