I could never understand why I adore some floral perfumes but abhor others. That was, until I learned about Michael Edwards and the Fragrance Wheel.
Fragrance expert, Michael Edwards, created the Fragrance Wheel to help us distinguish between perfumes. Considering our sense of smell is tied up with our emotions, it’s a useful tool to figure out which perfumes you actually prefer.
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Up until recently, I thought floral perfumes were all floral perfumes. But no, in the the Fragrance Wheel, all of the fragrance families are broken down into subgroups. In the floral family, there are floral, soft floral and floral oriental fragrances.
Image via @fragrancesoftheworld
If you’re like me, knowing the different types of floral perfumes might help to clarify why you like some and not others…
Floral
Florals are the most popular. They can either be single notes of particular flowers like rose, jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia, or a variety of flowers in a floral bouquet.
Perfumes like the Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose, Estee Lauder Pleasures Eau De Parfum and Jurlique Essence of Rose Roll-On Fragrance Oil are examples of floral perfumes.
Soft Floral
When a floral perfume takes on a more powdery presence, it becomes a soft floral. Aldehydes are added to give them this more soft, powdery and musky scent.
Fragrances like the Eilzabeth Taylor White Diamonds EDT, Revlon Pink Happiness and the Prada Candy Kiss Florale Eau de Toilette are soft floral perfumes.
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Floral Oriental
These are fragrances that bridge the gap between the floral and oriental families. The oriental family of fragrances are considered warm and sensual. So a floral oriental is when spices, notes of orange flower and aldehydes are added to a floral scent.
The Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Floral Shock, Michael Kors Wonderlust and Avon Far Away Eau De Toilette are all examples of a floral oriental perfume.
Do you have a favourite floral perfume? Do you tend to favour one of these types of floral fragrances?
I found this so interesting. I don’t necessarily like floras, but I do like really sweet smelling perfumes or something along the lines of woodsy with a sweet note.
This chart is awesome. I’m more into the fruity/slight floral types. Anything too floral makes my head ache.
Ilike florals. The fragrance wheel is interesting with its overlaps
black opium floral shock for sure.