Choosing a Perfume by Olfactory Notes: The Guide to Families and Ingredients
When choosing a perfume, many factors come into play. But for a discerning and knowledgeable customer, the key criterion remains the olfactory note. Knowing how to identify the ingredients you love allows you to find a fragrance that truly matches your deep tastes.
1. Knowing Your Olfactory Family (The Basics)
In general, knowledgeable customers can identify which family they belong to. This greatly simplifies the search.
Here are the major olfactory families:
- Citrus family (Freshness, hesperidic)
- Floral family (Femininity, nature)
- Chypre family (Character, elegance)
- Woody family (Depth, warmth)
- Fougère family (Classic virility)
- Oriental or Amber family (Sensuality)
2. How to Choose Your Perfume by Dominant Notes?
A curious customer can be more precise and gravitate towards specific facets. Here is how to target your search:
Fresh and Airy Notes
- Citrus: Look for bergamot, lemon, or mandarin (see Hesperidic notes).
- Aromatic: Target lavender, mint, or rosemary.
- Fresh Florals: Lily of the valley, freesia, or peony.
Warm and Sensual Notes
- Solar: Exotic flowers, ylang-ylang, frangipani (see Solar facet).
- Musky: For a “clean skin” and cocooning effect (see Musk facet).
- Oriental / Gourmand: Vanilla, tonka bean, caramel (see Gourmand facet).
Character Notes (Woody and Leathery)
- Woody: Patchouli for mystery, or vetiver for earthy freshness.
- Leathery: Smoky notes, tobacco, birch (see Leather facet).
3. Where to Find Your Perfume by Notes?
In classic perfumery, the choice is immense, and advisors do not always know the olfactory pyramids of all products. For a precise search by ingredient, prioritize:
- Niche Perfumery: The experts there are passionate and know their juices inside out (niche perfumeries).
- Specialized Sites: Fragrantica or Auparfum allow you to filter perfumes by note.
- Brand Sites: On the Delacourte Paris website, each perfume reinvents a raw material (Musk, Vanilla, Orange Blossom).
4. Beware of Preconceptions!
In perfumery, everyone can be surprised by their own perceptions. A person thinking they hate rose might be seduced if it is worked differently, greener or woodier.
Some perfumes are true works of art: they are so well orchestrated that the notes blend into a unique accord. Don’t close any doors: the only judge is the emotion felt during the skin test.
