Your Guide to Understanding Scent Profiles and Fragrance Notes

Scent Profiles

When it comes to fragrances, understanding scent profiles is like unlocking the secret code to finding your perfect fragrance match. Enter: the fragrance wheel. It's a visual roadmap that helps us sort and make sense of all those scents out there, based on their similarities and unique characteristics.

The fragrance wheel is all about four main fragrance families: fresh, floral, amber, and woody. These families hold the keys to different scent profiles, each with its own unique personality.

Getting to grips with these different types of fragrances and scent profiles will help you discover what suits you best.

Fresh

The fresh scent profile is all about capturing those crisp, clean, and invigorating scents that will give you an energy boost. We're talking citrus and aqua accords and lush green fragrance notes that'll leave you feeling fresh.

Let's break it down even further and check out the key fragrance notes of each category...

Citrus

Fragrance notes: Lemon, bergamot, orange, lime, grapefruit

Characteristics: Zesty, bright, invigorating

Aquatic

Fragrance notes: Sea breeze, marine accords, water notes

Characteristics: Fresh, clean, oceanic

Green

Fragrance notes: Freshly cut grass, leaves, earth

Characteristics: Natural, outdoorsy, crisp

Fruity

Fragrance notes: Juicy fruits, such as apple, melon, or pineapple

Characteristics: Refreshing, sweet, vibrant

Fresh fragrances are often used in men’s body sprays, deodorants, and antiperspirants because they are great for making you smell just that.

Our new Fine Fragrance Collection makes use of the fresh scent profile to keep you smelling like a summer breeze. Check out our Aqua Bergamot Premium Deodorant Body Spray to add a little freshness into your routine.  

Floral

The floral scent profile is all about fragrance notes that bring the flower power, capturing the essence of delicate petals, colorful gardens, and the beauty of nature. Floral types of fragrances know how to bring charm: think elegance and romantic allure. Let’s find out more.

Floral bouquet

Fragrance Notes: Rose, jasmine, lily of the valley

Characteristics: Romantic, feminine, classic

Soft floral

Fragrance Notes: Lavender and violet

Characteristics: Sweet, powdery and musky scent

Amber floral

Fragrance notes: Orange blossom, orchid

Characteristics: Smooth, sweet, lightly spicy

Floral green

Fragrance notes: Green leaves, fresh grass

Characteristics: Natural, crisp, rejuvenating

Looking for a deodorant that delivers a balanced floral scent profile? Check out our Blue Lavender Premium Deodorant Body Spray.

Amber

The amber scent profile is all about exotic, cozy, and sensual notes. These fragrances mix up some rich spices, resins and balsamic fragrance notes to create a scent that’s captivating and downright irresistible.

Amber types of fragrances are all about that mysterious, seductive allure and a touch of pure luxury. They're the perfect choice for those date nights and extra special occasions when you want to bring the heat and leave a lasting impression.

Spicy amber

Fragrance notes: Cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg

Characteristics: Warm, spicy, sensual

Soft amber

Fragrance Notes: Vanilla, tonka bean, musk

Characteristics: Cozy, comforting, inviting

Gourmand amber

Fragrance Notes: Vanilla, chocolate, caramel

Characteristics: Sweet, indulgent, enticing

Woody

The woody scent profile captures the essence of nature with earthy, warm, and sometimes smoky fragrance notes. These types of fragrances give off a sophisticated and masculine scent  and bring a touch of the rugged outdoors into your everyday life.

Dry woods

Fragrance notes: Sandalwood, cedarwood, leather

Characteristics: Luxurious, smoky, sensual

Mossy woods

Fragrance notes: Oakmoss, patchouli

Characteristics: Elegant, sophisticated, earthy

Amber woods

Fragrance notes: Resin, vanilla, cedar

Characteristics: Warm, creamy, opulent

Want to know more about scent profiles and different types of fragrances? Read our full article exploring fragrance notes.

Fragrance pairing and layering

Understanding the different types of fragrances and scent profiles is a great place to start, but knowing how to layer fragrances is going to take your grooming routine to a whole new level.

When it comes to fragrance pairing and layering, the fragrance wheel can serve as a helpful tool. By understanding the fragrance wheel and the relationships between different scent profiles, you can make smart choices when combining fragrances.

When it comes to mixing and matching fragrances, there's a handy rule called the "rule of thirds." Basically, it means you can combine fragrances from the same scent profile but with different levels of strength. For instance, you can layer a lighter and fresher version of a fragrance with a more intense and concentrated version of the same scent. It's all about finding that perfect balance and creating a unique blend that's just right for you.

You can also go for a contrasting effect by pairing scents from opposite ends of the fragrance wheel. It's all about finding that balance of contrast and complement. For example, you can mix fresh and citrusy fragrance notes from the fresh family with rich and warm fragrances from the amber or woody scent profile. This contrast adds a whole new level of complexity and intrigue to your scent combo. It's like having the best of both worlds in one sniff.

If you’re trying to layer up different types of fragrances, it’s also important to know how to apply fragrance correctly to get a balanced overall scent. Here are a couple of pointers to get you heading in the right direction...

Start with a clean slate

If you want to smell good, hop in the shower and wash away all that sweat, odor and any lingering body spray or deodorant. This creates a neutral base to start layering those fragrances on.

Test and experiment

Try out different combinations and experiment with different ratios of the different types of fragrances you're using. Start small and build up to find that perfect intensity.

Check if the notes get along

Pay attention to the individual fragrance notes and see if they click together. Look for ones that complement and harmonize, and don’t clash. The fragrance wheel can be your trusty sidekick here.

Find a balance

Don't let one fragrance overpower the others. Aim for a blend that's just right, where you can detect different types of fragrance without it being too strong.

Consider the occasion and your style

Pick your fragrance pairings based on the situation and what fits your personal taste. Some combinations are more suited for the day, while others are perfect for nights out or special events. Trust your gut and go with what feels like your signature scent.

Have fun

When it comes to fragrance pairing and layering, there's no right or wrong. Fragrance is all about what speaks to you and lifts your spirits. So, don't be afraid to dive in and have some fun. Try out different combinations, mix and match, and create your own signature scent that suits you. It's all about personal expression and feeling uplifted.

In a blind study, 70% of guys said they'd be willing to replace their current fine fragrance with their favorite tested scent from the Axe Fine Fragrance Collection. We’ve already recommended a few from the collection in this article – check out the full range now to find your new fragrance.

Finding your favorite fragrance profile

When it comes to truly defining your personality, nothing compares to finding out the different types of fragrances and scent profiles that fit your mood.

You can now head out and find the men’s body spray, deodorant, antiperspirant or cologne that suits you best.

If you’d like to learn more about the different types of fragrances, read our article on the 9 types of fragrances.