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How fragrance family labels match up to everyday, familiar smells
When you’re browsing fragrances, you’ll see words like citrus, floral, sweet, spicy, oriental, musk and gourmand come up a lot. While some of these terms are pretty obvious, others are less familiar and easy to pass over – even though they might be perfect for you.
Not many people can! And yet, it’s a huge favourite for many of us. Think the smell of a kitten’s fur, a newborn baby’s head, or clean skin – that’s musk.
Knowing how these terms match up to everyday, familiar smells makes a huge difference in making the right purchases for what you actually enjoy. Check out the cheatsheet below of the terms you’ll come across, and the real life smells they actually represent.
Fragrance family cheatsheet:
- Aquatic: Sea spray, sliced cucumber, the air before a storm, a swimming pool
- Citrus: Peeling an orange, a glass of lemonade, grating lime zest
- Clean: Hot towels, a bar of soap, crisp white bedsheets
- Earthy: Potting soil, a mossy rock, fresh mushrooms, beets
- Floral: Crushed rose petals, jasmine vines, sun-warmed lilies, a bouquet of gardenias, lavender fields
- Fresh: Mountain air, ice cubes, a sliced green apple, a refreshing tonic
- Fruity: A bag of ripe peaches, raspberry jam, fresh cut mango, a bowl of strawberries
- Gourmand: Chocolate chip cookies, a caramel latte, toasted marshmallows, waffle cones
- Green: Freshly cut grass, tomato stems, snapped green beans
- Herbal: A bunch of fresh basil, dried rosemary, chamomile tea, a crushed mint leaf
- Leather: New car interior, a vintage leather jacket, a tack room, a luxury handbag
- Musk: A clean person’s neck, a kitten's fur, a cashmere sweater, a newborn baby’s head
- Oriental: Unlit incense, a spice market, a vanilla pod
- Powdery: Baby powder, makeup compacts (blush, eyeshadow palettes etc)
- Smoky: A campfire, blowing out a candle, liquid smoke
- Spicy: Cinnamon sticks, cracked black pepper, fresh ginger, whole cloves
- Sweet: Fairy floss, honey, vanilla icing, gummy bears
- Warm: Sun-baked sand, a wool blanket, freshly toasted bread
- Woody: Pencil shavings, hand-made wooden furniture, a wooden sauna, fresh chopped firewood
Unravel the fragrance note system
As we touched on in our post, The Smart Way to Try Out Fragrances: Why Perfume Decants Beat the Department Store, fragrances change significantly 10-15 minutes after you first spray them. It takes several hours to get the full experience of every single perfume or cologne you try.
Fragrances all have 3 layers of notes that they evolve through over around an hour of wear. These are referred to as:
- Top Notes
- Heart Notes
- Base Notes
A quick spritz in the shop only reveals a hint of the top notes, which only last for a very short time. Think of them more as the opening act at a concert, rather than the headliner.
This means that what you smell in those first few moments is usually very different to what you’ll actually end up smelling like the vast majority of the time.
So in reality – even in the shop, unless you’re standing at the counter for an awkwardly long time, it’s just as much of a blind buy as purchasing fragrances online.
Key takeaway:
When you’re reading the notes, don’t focus too much on the top or heart notes. The base notes are the ones you’ll experience most of the time.
- While you want to make sure you enjoy all of the notes, prioritise fragrances whose base notes most appeal.
- Likewise, if you don't like a certain smell e.g. vanilla, definitely avoid any fragrances that list it in the base notes.
What the abbreviations really mean
If you’re fairly new to the world of fragrance, or even for some of the veterans, it can be easy to overlook the abbreviations tucked into the names of each perfume and cologne, for example EDP, EDT, Extrait, Elixir and so on. Generally speaking, they refer to the strength or concentration of the fragrance.
Check out our glossary below to help determine the right strength for you.
Ever wondered what the letters mean?
There are several common abbreviations and labels you’ll find in the names of most fragrances. Find out what they actually mean below!
- Usually 20-40% fragrance oil (sometimes higher)
- Projection lasts around 8-12+ hours, though it may subtly linger for longer
- The strongest and most concentrated form, usually applied in smaller amounts
- Well suited to evening or winter wear
- Sometimes referred to as Elixir or Parfum de Extrait
- Usually 15-20% fragrance oil
- Projection lasts around 5-8 hours, though it may subtly linger for longer
- Usually the “main” or most-purchased concentration
- Versatile, well suited as daily signature scents
- Usually 5-15% fragrance oil
- Projection lasts around 3-5 hours, though it may subtly linger for longer
- Fresher, brighter & typically intended for daytime, summer or office wear
- A good option for those who are sensitive to scent, or are in close proximity with others for long periods (e.g. office)
- Usually 2-5% fragrance oil
- Projection lasts around 2 hours, though it may subtly linger for longer
- Light, citrus-forward, often intended for post-shower, gym, or a quick refresh
- Sometimes referred to as just Cologne, or Aftershave
- A good option for those who are sensitive to scent, or are in close proximity with others for long periods (e.g. office)
- Usually <3% fragrance oil
- Projection lasts around 1 hour, though it may subtly linger for longer
- Very subtle scent
Key takeaway:
Know what you’re aiming for so you can narrow search results effectively. Some situations, occasions or climates/weather:
- Call for lighter concentrations (EDT, EDC, Eau Fraîche) e.g. the office, casual home-wear, gym-wear, hot weather etc. Lighter scents are also often more suitable for people who can be sensitive to scents, or for those who find some fragrances cause them headaches.
- While others call for moderate to heavy concentrations (EDP, Parfum) e.g. holiday/travel, nights out, formal or special occasions, cooler weather etc.
Tip: It can be hard to find stores where these labels are applied consistently, and are easily filtered. At Scent Collection, we’ve categorised our entire library, so you can easily narrow your search down to fragrances of your preferred strength level. Just use the “Classification” filter in our shop’s sidebar.
Bring it all together with discovery sets
You’re not wrong to be wary of committing to a full bottle. Unless it’s a tried and true favourite, and you’re not interested in variety, full-size bottles are often something that sit on the shelf collecting dust once the novelty wears off.
The solution: Discovery Sets
Discovery sets are collections of multiple different fragrances in smaller sizes – either 5ml or 10ml. The benefits of Scent Collection’s discovery sets include:
- Enjoy a range of different scents at far more affordable price point
- No restriction to just one brand - try scents across multiple designer fragrance houses
- Test fragrances properly across a whole day of wear, rather than a 2 second spritz in the department store which tells you next to nothing. See how it reacts with your skin, how it smells at the 1-hour mark, and most importantly, how it makes you feel
Why buy online from Scent Collection?
Buying perfume online in Australia doesn’t need to be a gamble. By shopping with a Melbourne-based, trusted retailer like Scent Collection, you get:
- Authenticity guaranteed: No dupes, no fakes, just 100% genuine designer and niche fragrances
- Fast dispatch and shipping: No waiting weeks for an international package to clear customs, all while sitting in a hot warehouse!
- Curated discovery sets: We’ve done the hard work of creating a range of discovery sets to suit various personalities and lifestyles, making it super easy for anyone to get started
Our current top 4 best selling discovery sets:
Life’s better with a little sweetness, and this collection is giving main character energy. From juicy pear to creamy florals and cosy vanilla, this dreamy mix of soft and feminine scents is perfect for those who love feeling cute, classy, and confident.
✨ Think: brunch dates, flirty texts, and sunny strolls with your besties.
- Size options:
- 5ml: $157.95 inc. GST Shop Now
- 10ml: $275.95 inc. GST Shop Now
Life’s better when you smell like confidence, and this set delivers just that. From fresh citrus bursts to deep woody notes and smooth spices, this lineup of bold, masculine scents is made for the man who owns every moment. It’s powerful, refined, and perfect for those who like to stay sharp, stylish, and in control.
✨ Think: early mornings, business meetings, late nights, and everything in between.
- Size options:
- 5ml: $170.95 inc. GST Shop Now
- 10ml: $308.95 inc. GST Shop Now
Turn every evening into a statement of style and confidence with a versatile selection perfect for romantic nights, formal occasions, or any time you want to stand out and leave a lasting impression. This curated collection brings together five of the most captivating and luxurious men’s fragrances, designed to leave a memorable impression.
- Size options:
- 5ml: $152.95 inc. GST Shop Now
- 10ml: $271.95 inc. GST Shop Now
Meet your new everyday rotation: five iconic men’s EDTs, decanted into travel-size glass atomisers so you can try more scents for less. This set covers the full spectrum, from fresh and aquatic to smooth and warm, giving you options for work, weekends, and nights out.
EDTs are popular because they’re typically lighter, brighter, and easier to wear day to day. They tend to project nicely without feeling heavy, which makes them great for work, warm weather, and close-range settings where you want to smell good without overwhelming anyone. A lot of EDT versions also lean into the “opening” of a fragrance, so you get more of that crisp, fresh, energising character upfront.
- Size options:
- 5ml: $88.95 inc. GST Shop Now
- 10ml: $150.95 inc. GST Shop Now
