Floral Materials
Today we are speaking about the most recognisable perfume family. It has the widest smell range and is present in 90% of all perfumes – Floral Family.
A step forward
In the past Floral Materials used to be a major category for women’s perfumes and adding them to men's fragrances was some sort of a taboo. Modern days are more relaxed, and Floral Family is broadly used in men’s perfumes too.
Actually, it is still an open debate whether scents should be divided by gender or sex, but most good perfumes are unisex nowadays.
Purity
Purely Floral perfumes fall into two categories – soliflores and bouquets.
Soliflores consist of just one floral note that is dominating the perfume, and basically imitate the smell of a single flower.
Bouquets consist of several floral notes, that sometimes recreate an armful of flowers. In some cases bouquets may even compose a completely new smell of an imaginary flower.
The choice is yours
Flowers are great at being dominant in perfume, but are also perfect as a complimentary note. They blend well with other materials and bringing overall balance to a perfume.
Flowers have the widest smell range, from being fresh and watery, to being deep and dark, almost intoxicating.
Floral notes themselves can be divided in two major categories: White Flowers and Bright Flowers.
White flowers include: Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Orange Blossom, Gardenia, Tuberose.
Bright flowers include: Rose, Orris (Iris), Violet, Geranium, Ilang-Ilang.
Popular materials
Some may disagree with our choice but here is our top-5 of Floral Materials:
1. Rose
Rose is synonymous with romance and femininity. It has a fresh, sweet, floral scent, that pairs well with Violet, Orange Blossom, Vanilla, and Pink Pepper.
2. Iris
Iris boasts an earthy, powdery scent that is reminiscent of the air after a thunderstorm. It is a long lasting scent with an earthy, floral aroma, that pairs well with Jasmine, Violet, and Tuberose.
3. Lily of the Valley
Lily Of The Valley offers herbaceous, sweet, and slightly spicy notes to fragrances. This garden-fresh aroma blends well with Violet, Lemon, and Lavender.
4. Orange Blossom
Orange Blossom offers a romantic and citrusy scent and is one of the main ingredients in most White Flower blends. Pair Orange Blossom with Grapefruit, Lemon, Jasmine, and Vanilla for a sugary scent that packs a punch.
5. Geranium
Geranium has a strong sweet floral scent with a hint of spices and slightly fruity undertones. Blends exceptionally well with Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Rose, and Pink Peppercorn.
Tips and hints
We will provide only general guidance on good combinations for Citrus Materials, as we don't want to spoil your experience of creating your own perfume.
1. Citrus Materials
Add Citrus notes to freshen and lighten the blend.
2. Spicy Materials
Add Spicy notes to make your blend more rich and exotic.
3. Green Materials
Add Green notes to give your blend a spring twist with a sharp freshness.
4. Woody Materials
Add Woody notes to cool and deepen heavy floral notes.
5. Fruity Materials
Add Fruity notes to create a modern twist, making your blend more rich and juicy.