Fragrances are grouped into four main families: Floral, Amber, Woody and Fresh. If you know which family you enjoy, you can skip most of the guesswork when choosing a perfume. This guide uses the widely taught Fragrance Wheel, devised by Michael Edwards, and maps it onto the Reef and Lattafa fragrances we stock.
The four families at a glance
| Family | Sub-styles | Smells like |
|---|---|---|
| Floral | Floral, soft floral, floral amber | Jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, orange blossom |
| Amber (formerly “Oriental”) | Soft amber, amber, woody amber | Resins, vanilla, spice, warm sweetness |
| Woody | Woods, mossy woods, dry woods | Sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, oud, vetiver |
| Fresh | Aromatic, citrus, water, green | Lemon, bergamot, lavender, marine, cut grass |
Most perfumes straddle two families. A fragrance can be a woody amber or a floral woody. The families give you a starting point, not a cage.
Floral
The largest and oldest family. It ranges from single fresh flowers to lush bouquets. In Arabian perfumery, rose and jasmine are often paired with oud or musk for a richer, more traditional feel.
- Reef 19: lily of the valley, jasmine and white musk. A clean floral-musk.
- Lady Reef: Reef’s dedicated women’s release with a fruity-floral character.
- Lattafa Sakeena: a soft, calming floral-musk for women.
Amber
Warm, sweet, resinous and enveloping. This is the classic Gulf evening family, and it includes gourmand fragrances built on vanilla, caramel and other edible notes.
- Reef 31: saffron, amber and vanilla.
- Lattafa Mishlah: a spiced amber-woody.
- Lattafa Lail Maleki: a warm amber-musk.
Read more in what amber smells like.
Woody
Dry, warm, structured and grounded. Oud lives here, alongside sandalwood, cedar and patchouli. Woody fragrances tend to wear well in autumn and winter.
- Reef 33: saffron, rosemary and agarwood oud.
- Reef 21: red berries, cedarwood and patchouli.
- Reef 11: pink pepper, jasmine and sandalwood.
Read more in what sandalwood smells like and what oud smells like.
Fresh
Bright, clean and energising: citrus, aromatics, marine and green notes. These are the easiest fragrances to wear in warm weather and at work.
- Reef Pure Fruity: lemon, lavender and tonka, fresh with a warm finish.
- Lattafa Nasmaat: a fresh, breezy marine-citrus unisex fragrance.
- Lattafa Asad Blue: a fresh aquatic-woody, lighter than the rest of the Asad family.
Where does musk fit?
Musk is a supporting note rather than a family. It appears in the base of all four, softening and extending them. See what musk smells like for details.
How to find your family
- Think of scents you already love: fresh laundry, a bakery, a forest, a garden.
- Match them to a family: fresh laundry to Fresh, a bakery to Amber, a forest to Woody, a garden to Floral.
- Look at fragrances that sit in that family and one adjacent to it.
- Use our Perfume Finder to shortlist by mood and budget.
If you want to go deeper into reading a note list, see how to read a perfume note pyramid.
Frequently asked questions
What family is oud in?
Usually Woody, and often Woody Amber when it is combined with resins and vanilla.
What family is a gourmand?
Gourmands, built on notes like vanilla, caramel and coffee, sit alongside the Amber family.
Which family is best for beginners?
Fresh and soft Floral families are the easiest starting points. If you are new to Arabian fragrance specifically, read how to choose your first Arabian perfume.
Do families change with the season?
Yes, in practice. Fresh works best in warmth and Amber and Woody in the cold. See our winter and summer guides.
