Fragrance families explained: Which one are you?

When choosing a perfume, it’s easy to focus on the name or the bottle. But understanding the fragrance family you’re drawn to can change everything, it helps you find scents that match your mood, your style, even your identity.

At Layer Parfums, every fragrance is unisex and designed for layering, meaning you can combine different scent families to create something uniquely yours. But first, let’s explore the five major fragrance families and discover which ones suit you best.

 

 

Citrus – fresh, uplifting, light

What it smells like:
Sicilian bergamot, pink pepper, davana, white amber, Haitian vetiver, leather, and musk, a sunlit fusion of citrus, spice and depth.

While traditional citrus scents stop at "fresh," Soleil de Sicile goes further, adding soft spices, aromatic herbs, and luxurious musky woods for a radiant yet refined drydown.

Ideal for:
Fresh starts, warm days, Mediterranean escapes, and anyone who wants to feel bright, polished, and endlessly modern.

Personality Match:
You’re radiant, curious, and unapologetically free. You seek out warmth, clarity, and experiences that feel both effortless and elegant. You're drawn to the kind of freshness that’s anything but basic.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Soleil de Sicile
Unlike simple citrus colognes, Soleil de Sicile is built with layers, combining sparkling bergamot with velvety amber and earthy leather. It’s both energizing and sensual, like golden sunlight touching warm skin.

 

 

Amber – warm, resinous, sensual

What it smells like:
Amber, labdanum, incense, benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean

Ideal for:
Evenings, colder months, date nights, adding a luxurious aura

Personality Match:
You’re magnetic and mysterious. You love depth, warmth, and leaving a lasting impression.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Ambre Voyage
A refined blend of saffron, iris, vetiver, and warm amber, designed to stand alone or add richness to a brighter top layer like Fantôme d’Amour.

 

 

Floral – romantic, soft, classic

What it smells like:
Rose, jasmine, lily, iris, orange blossom, peony

Ideal for:
Springtime, everyday wear, special moments, feeling elegant

Personality Match:
You’re graceful and expressive. You love beauty with a touch of poetry.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Rose Intense
A celebration of Turkish rose with a modern twist of bergamot and sandalwood. Elegant alone, and transformative when layered over deeper notes like Leather Noir or Vendôme Nocturne Oud.

 

 

Woody – deep, dry, sophisticated

What it smells like:
Sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, agarwood (oud)

Ideal for:
Evenings, fall/winter, minimalist luxury, grounding your mood

Personality Match:
You’re composed and confident. You value understated elegance and quiet power.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Leather Noir
A bold composition of oud, black leather, saffron, and vanilla, this is a statement scent that deepens anything it touches. Try it over Rose Intense or under Fantôme d’Amour for a captivating contrast.

 

 

Gourmand – sweet, addictive, cozy

What it smells like:
Vanilla, praline, honey, caramel, chocolate, tonka bean

Ideal for:
Colder months, evenings, cozy layering, comfort driven moments

Personality Match:
You’re playful and sensual. You love indulgence and crave scents that feel like a second skin.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Fantôme d’Amour 
Its subtle vanilla and raspberry notes give it a soft, gourmand edge, especially when layered with Vendôme Nocturne Oud to add smoke and mystery.

 

 

Smoky – deep, mysterious, elegant

What it smells like:
Frankincense, oud, amber, musk, African vanilla, a rich, smoky blend that opens with soft incense and dries down to a deep, velvety trail.

Ideal for:

Nighttime, cooler months, slow rituals, dressing up, or commanding subtle attention without saying a word.

Personality Match:
You’re calm, discerning, and magnetic. You don’t chase trends, you build presence. You appreciate scent that lingers, not shouts. Classic on the outside, mysterious at heart.

Layer Parfums Suggestion:
Vendôme Nocturne Oud
Its smoky blend of frankincense, oud and musk creates a soft but striking aura. Powdery and warm, it lingers on the skin with quiet confidence. Perfect on its own or layered with a brighter citrus like Fantôme d’Amour to reveal contrast and dimension.

 

Bonus: Layering across families

One of the reasons Layer Parfums exists is to invite experimentation. Try combining:

• Citrus + Amber for fresh sensuality
  (Fantôme d’Amour + Ambre Voyage)

• Floral + Oud for romantic power
  (Rose Intense + Vendôme Nocturne Oud)

• Leather + Vanilla for depth with sweetness
  (Leather Noir + Fantôme d’Amour)

• Citrus + Wood for a gender-neutral, confident scent
  (Soleil de Sicile + Leather Noir)

 

 

How to find your fragrance family

Not sure where to begin? Start with the Layer Experience Kit, featuring four miniature fragrances from our collection. It includes a €40 voucher toward your favorite full-size bottle and it’s the perfect way to explore your scent identity.

 

 

Final word

Fragrance families are more than categories, they’re emotional worlds. Whether you’re drawn to the brightness of citrus, the comfort of vanilla, or the mystique of oud, your perfect match (or mix) is waiting.

Ready to layer your story?
Explore the full collection at layerparis