The Fragrance Wheel is the modern English name for this beautiful wheel. Its current form was developed by the renowned fragrance expert Michael Edwards, though its earliest version dates all the way back to 1949 in a book by perfumer Paul Jellinek.
The point of the fragrance wheel is to illustrate the relationship between scent families based on their similarities and differences. It’s widely used in retail to help narrow down which types of perfumes a person might be interested in.
Michael Edwards has been developing the modern fragrance wheel since 1983, and today it looks like this:
To figure out which notes you might enjoy, it's helpful to understand the main categories and their subcategories. Once you’re familiar with them, you can dive into our perfume test and discover scents that are worth exploring.
Main Categories and Their Subcategories
Floral
This main category includes floral notes – either single flowers or complex floral blends.
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Floral: fresh and alluring scents such as rose, jasmine, and lily.
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Soft floral: defined by sweet, powdery, and musky notes, often including lavender or violet.
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Floral amber: a sweet and elegant floral scent with warm, spicy undertones like orange blossom or soft spices.
Amber (earlier referred to as "Oriental")
A broad category defined by rich, exotic materials often associated with warmth and sensuality.
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Soft amber: silky incense notes and warm spices like anise.
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Amber: exotic floral and spicy notes marked by musk, vanilla, resins, and cinnamon.
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Woody amber: warm, earthy, and smooth scents with creamy wood notes like sandalwood and patchouli.
Fresh
This category includes uplifting, bright, and vibrant scents – think crisp, clean and energizing.
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Citrus: tangy, juicy, and zesty scents such as lemon, bergamot, and mandarin.
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Water: fresh and moist, evoking marine or aquatic notes – like a beach breeze or the air after a thunderstorm.
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Green: fresh, awakening, and earthy scents reminiscent of freshly cut grass or newly-sprung green leaves.
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Fruity: sweet, juicy, and edible fruit notes like peach, pear, and apple.
Woody
A warm, luxurious group that includes dry, rich, or fresh woody compositions.
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Woods: fresh and aromatic wood scents such as sandalwood, vetiver, and cedar.
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Mossy woods: earthy, soft, and slightly sweet scents like oakmoss and amber.
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Dry woods: glowing, smoky notes combined with leather, resulting in a bold character.
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Aromatic: clean, fresh, and simple blends combining woody notes with lavender, often mixed with rosemary or basil.
We’ve categorized all the perfumes in our collection accordingly, and you can filter by main or subcategories directly in our product overview.
Now that you’re familiar with the wheel, you can also take our perfume test and select the families you'd like to explore.
Still unsure which category suits you best? Try searching for a perfume you already like on our website and see which category it belongs to – it’s a great starting point.
