Floral perfume at a glance
| The feeling | Romantic and full. Weddings, dates, any lovely day. |
|---|---|
| Typical notes | Rose, Jasmine, Tuberose, Peony, Orange blossom, Lily |
| Best for | Weddings, dates, spring and summer, and any day you want to feel pretty. Light florals work all day; rich white florals are best for evenings. |
| Neighbors | Soft and powdery, Gourmand |
The notes to look for
Perfume labels and shop pages list notes. These are the ones that make a perfume smell like this family.
- Rose. Fresh, petal-soft and slightly honeyed; it can be dewy, jammy or peppery.
- Jasmine. Rich, sweet and a little animalic; it smells heady and warm at night.
- Tuberose. Creamy, heavy and dramatic; the most opulent white flower.
- Peony. Light, airy and slightly fruity; the softest, most modern floral.
- Orange blossom. Honeyed and clean, with a fresh edge from the citrus tree it comes from.
- Lily. Cool, green and slightly spicy, with a dewy, elegant feel.
Fruity floral perfumes
A fruity floral adds fruit to flowers: peach, pear, berries, apple or tropical fruit alongside rose, peony or jasmine. The result is lighter, sweeter and more playful than a classic floral, which is why it is one of the most searched kinds of perfume. If you like flowers but find them too serious, start here.
Rose and jasmine perfumes
Rose is one of the most varied notes in perfumery: it can smell fresh and dewy, jammy and rich, or spicy and peppery. Jasmine is deeper and more sensual, and it is often paired with something fresh to keep it from feeling heavy. If you love one, look for the other next to it on the label.
When to wear floral perfume
Weddings, dates, spring and summer, and any day you want to feel pretty. Light florals work all day; rich white florals are best for evenings.
How to wear it
Light florals like peony and rose are happy in an eau de toilette or an eau de parfum in daytime. Heady florals such as jasmine and tuberose are strong, so one or two sprays is enough.
Is this family for you?
You will probably love it if…
You love a rose garden, a bouquet, jasmine on a warm night or a bunch of peonies on the table.
Look elsewhere if…
You dislike anything that smells like flowers, soap or old-fashioned perfume, or you want a scent that is not feminine in the traditional sense.
Neighboring families and layering
Most people love two or three neighboring families. If you like floral, you will probably also like:
- Soft and powdery: Cosy, elegant, close to the skin. Office, autumn.
- Gourmand: Sweet and edible. Cold weather, cosy days, evenings out.
Florals layer well with a soft musk or a little vanilla to turn a light bouquet into something warmer.
How to test it
Judge a perfume after thirty minutes, not three seconds. Spray paper first, put your two finalists on skin, then smell again at 30 minutes, two hours and six hours. Our guide to choosing a perfume walks through the whole trip, and eau de parfum vs eau de toilette explains the strengths.
Not sure this is your family?
The free perfume quiz scores all eight families from the smells you already love and gives you a three-bottle wardrobe.
