How to Find Your Fragrance Family

Test fragrances on your skin in the morning when your nose is fresh, focusing on how they develop over 6-8 hours rather than the initial spray.

Most people overthink fragrance and end up with bottles they never wear—find what makes you feel like the best version of yourself and stop there.

1. Start with the basics. Learn the four main families: fresh (citrus, green, aquatic), floral (rose, jasmine, lily), oriental (vanilla, amber, spices), and woody (sandalwood, cedar, vetiver). These are your foundation categories.
2. Test strategically. Visit a fragrance counter in the morning with clean skin and no other scents. Test maximum three fragrances on different pulse points. Let each develop for at least an hour before deciding.
3. Track the evolution. Notice how each fragrance changes from the initial top notes (first 15 minutes) through the heart notes (15 minutes to 3 hours) to the base notes (final dry down). Your preference might surprise you.
4. Consider your lifestyle. Think about when and where you wear fragrance. Office-appropriate scents lean fresh or light floral, while evening calls for deeper orientals or woods.
5. Trust your instincts. Your body chemistry is unique and will pull certain notes forward. A fragrance that smells divine on someone else might fall flat on you, and vice versa.