Learn the note families once — then buy fragrance with confidence.
Scents.bio is the education hub in the network. We explain families, accords, and how performance works so you can pick better on Fragrance.bio.
- What “citrus”, “amber”, and “gourmand” actually mean in real life.
- Top notes vs base notes — why scents change over hours.
- Layering without creating chaos.
- Longevity basics: application, climate, projection, and nose-blindness.
Table of contents
Jump to the section you need.
Scent families (high-level)
Families are shortcuts. They predict “vibe”, typical performance, and where a fragrance fits (office, summer, date night). Most popular scents blend multiple families — the dominant one usually decides the feel.
Citrus
Bright, uplifting, and often “clean”. Common in summer and office-friendly profiles. Can fade faster; many citrus scents rely on a woody or musky base to last.
Woody
Cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, dry woods. Often reads as mature, calm, or “premium”. Great for office and year-round wear.
Amber
Warm resins, sweetness, and depth. Often stronger, better in cooler weather, and popular for date night. Can be overwhelming in tight spaces.
Gourmand
Edible notes: vanilla, caramel, chocolate, creamy sweetness. Cozy, attention-grabbing, and often high compliment potential. Best when you like sweetness and don’t need strict office subtlety.
Fresh
“Fresh” is a broad umbrella: clean laundry musks, airy woods, soft aromatics. The safest family for blind buying and gifts.
Aquatic
Water-like freshness, marine breezes, sporty profiles. Great in heat and casual settings. The downside: some aquatics feel synthetic to some noses.
Musky
Musks range from clean “skin scent” to animalic warmth. Many modern bestsellers use musk to improve blend smoothness and wearability.
Notes & accords (simple explanation)
Notes are descriptions; accords are the combined “impression” you smell. Top notes appear first, heart notes define the theme, base notes last and anchor performance. If you love the opening but hate the dry-down, you likely dislike the base accord (often amber/woods/musk).
Layering (without ruining it)
Layering works best when one scent is simple and acts as a base (clean musk, soft woods), and the other adds character (citrus, gourmand, amber). Avoid stacking two loud, complex fragrances.
Longevity & projection
Longevity is how long it lasts on you; projection is how far it radiates. Strong projection is not always “better”. For office, controlled projection wins. For cold weather and nights out, stronger compositions can shine.
Mini glossary
EDT: often lighter/airier. EDP: often richer/stronger. Parfum: can be dense and long-lasting — but composition matters most.
Dry-down: the later hours. Projection: how far others smell it. Silage: the scent trail you leave.
Find your style (then buy smarter)
Pick the closest description. These links take you to Fragrance.bio comparisons and buying CTAs.
If you prefer EU spelling, see: Parfume.bio
Scents.bio is educational and does not provide medical advice. Definitions are simplified to help purchasing decisions.
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