Finding a new fragrance for yourself or a loved one, can be an exhausting task, and with so many scents, and so many combinations it can feel incredibly daunting. The first rule of fragrance finding is to think about what notes you like, and other scents you’re attracted to, see our fragrance finder below to find your favourite scent group.

Don’t forget a perfume is made up of notes, the top note is the first hit of scent you smell when you spray it, the heart notes follow which makes up the main body of the fragrance, the base notes are finally released which add depth to the perfume.

Fragrance finder

Floral/Fruity
From emotive rose to heady jasmine, floral fragrances are effortlessly feminine and are the most widely used scents, thanks to their diverse notes. A floral fragrance can either be a mixed bouquet or a single scent and are often layered with fresh, spicy and fruity notes to add more depth. Fruity scents work wonderfully with florals, creating light, optimistic scents. Notes include: Iris, rose, jasmine, gardenia, plum, apple, pear, berry. Popular scents: Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf, Plum by Mary Greenwell, Balenciaga by Balenciaga Paris.

Energising/Zesty
Fresh fragrances are light and easy-to-wear. Aquatic and ozonic scents also come under this label and give a fresh and airy aroma. Citrus scents are one of the oldest fragrance families and create refreshing, zingy scents. Due to their light aroma, Energising/Zesty scents are less typically feminine and are often favoured by both men and women. Notes include: Orange blossom, neroli, bergamot, lemon, lime, grapefruit, mint, basil and lemongrass. Popular scents: Infusion d’Iris by Prada, Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford, Colonia Intensa by Acqua di Parma.

Spicy/Oriental
The most sensual group of scents belongs to the Spicy/Oriental fragrance family. There is a warming feel to these fragrances, which have a distinct and exotic aroma. Spicy and Oriental scents are often mixed with floral scents to create lighter blends, as Orientals are renowned for being heady and rich. Notes include: Resin, amber, musk, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, ginger and nutmeg. Popular scents: Gucci Guilty by Gucci, Shalimar by Guerlain, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent.

Woody/Musk
This fragrance family is made up of more earthy, deep scents. These are definitely fragrances you either love or loathe. Wood and musk-based scents are intoxicating and rich, they're typically masculine in nature but are often softened with spices and florals. Mossy woods and Chypres also come under the woody family. Notes include: Patchouli, sandalwood, cedar, pine, vetiver, oakmoss, amber, musk, agarwood, birch, juniper, leather and tobacco. Popular scents: Miss Dior Cherie by Dior, Alien by Thierry Mugler, Essence by Narciso Rodriguez.

Fragrance trivia

• Perfumery is an ancient art, dating back more than 4,000 years.
• Louis XV’s court was known as the ‘Perfumed Court’ as new scents were applied daily to every member of court, their clothing and the furniture.
• The fragrance term Chypre is French for Cyprus, which is where oakmoss originates from.
• Fragrance recipes are kept as well guarded secrets, and are usually only passed down by the creator to the next generation of perfumer, also known as a Nose.