Fragrance Journal

Woody perfume is a broad idea. One fragrance can suggest dry pencil shavings, another smooth creaminess, and another smoke or forest-floor depth. The word woody alone does not tell you how intense or sweet it will be.

If you think you dislike rose perfume, you may only dislike one interpretation. Rose can be presented as crisp and airy, softly powdery, fruity, spicy or wrapped in dark woods.

Gourmand fragrances evoke edible pleasures: think dessert, coffee or confectionery rather than a literal list of food ingredients. The style can be playful and sugary, but it can also be dry, smoky or softly comforting.

Fresh and sweet are useful shopping words, but they are not opposing teams. A perfume can begin with bright fruit and settle into soft vanilla, or combine crisp herbs with a warm base.

A perfume description can read like a shopping list: bergamot, rose, cedar and musk. These notes describe the intended smell. They are not necessarily a complete ingredient list, and they do not tell you exactly how a fragrance will smell on you.