Which types of floral perfumes should you be wearing this Spring?

I could never understand why I adore some floral perfumes but abhor others. That was, until I learned about Michael Edwards and the Fragrance Wheel.

Fragrance expert, Michael Edwards, created the Fragrance Wheel to help us distinguish between perfumes. Considering our sense of smell is tied up with our emotions, it's a useful tool to figure out which perfumes you actually prefer.

Up until recently, I thought floral perfumes were all floral perfumes. But no, in the the Fragrance Wheel, all of the fragrance families are broken down into subgroups. In the floral family, there are floral, soft floral and floral oriental fragrances.

Which types of floral perfumes should you be wearing this Spring?

Image via @fragrancesoftheworld

If you're like me, knowing the different types of floral perfumes might help to clarify why you like some and not others...

Floral

Florals are the most popular. They can either be single notes of particular flowers like rose, jasmine, tuberose, and gardenia, or a variety of flowers in a floral bouquet.

Perfumes like the Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose, Estee Lauder Pleasures Eau De Parfum and Jurlique Essence of Rose Roll-On Fragrance Oil are examples of floral perfumes.

Soft Floral

When a floral perfume takes on a more powdery presence, it becomes a soft floral. Aldehydes are added to give them this more soft, powdery and musky scent.

Fragrances like the Eilzabeth Taylor White Diamonds EDT, Revlon Pink Happiness and the Prada Candy Kiss Florale Eau de Toilette are soft floral perfumes.

Floral Oriental

These are fragrances that bridge the gap between the floral and oriental families. The oriental family of fragrances are considered warm and sensual. So a floral oriental is when spices, notes of orange flower and aldehydes are added to a floral scent.

The Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Floral Shock, Michael Kors Wonderlust and Avon Far Away Eau De Toilette are all examples of a floral oriental perfume.

Do you have a favourite floral perfume? Do you tend to favour one of these types of floral fragrances?

66 Member Comments

Susmat 27 Jun 2020 10:30 AM

Ilike florals. The fragrance wheel is interesting with its overlaps

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Jay.dogga1986 14 May 2020 5:14 PM

This chart is awesome. I'm more into the fruity/slight floral types. Anything too floral makes my head ache.

Chan Mac 6 Apr 2020 10:32 AM

I found this so interesting. I don't necessarily like floras, but I do like really sweet smelling perfumes or something along the lines of woodsy with a sweet note.

Yohanna 9 Jan 2020 3:15 PM

I am more deep unisex, obnoxious a bit, dry or sweet orientals with a gourmand touch. All but: florals, aquatic, clean citrus, soapy....those I can't...no...nope.

angie_robyn 9 Jul 2019 3:38 AM

Florals are among my favourite perfumes. I have always loved rose, but at the moment I am really loving tuberose and have been trying a lot of tuberose perfume samples.

careglio 8 Oct 2018 11:35 PM

Love it!

perthchick 30 Jul 2018 11:13 AM

I am not a fan of floral, however I like Floral Orientals.

Trish_D 28 Jun 2018 10:34 PM

Lavender and lilac have so many happy memories attached to them for me.

clearcrystalwater 26 Jun 2018 1:38 PM

I love how this article helps to systemise my fragrance preferences. It's great to see it in a visual context.

Bronterose 12 Jan 2018 4:44 PM

I love floral perfumes, finding one that lingers is my big quest. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

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Robyn6045 5 Nov 2017 8:59 AM

I love white floral fragrances. Marc Jacob original was my favourite and now it’s been discontinued. I the hunt for a new fave now.

Kimi Vee 4 Nov 2017 10:10 AM

This is actually super interesting, I'm going through my perfumes now to try figure out what I gravitate towards!

I have the Michael Edwards book from 2007 which I purchased for $99.95 from Perfume Empire where I worked and I love that it has all the details of every fragrance released that year!

onlyoni 4 Nov 2017 9:23 AM

I prefer soft florals or citrus based.

KleeeeJ 26 Oct 2017 9:30 AM

The most delightful floral fragrance I ever found was a fragrance by the designer Leona Edmiston. It was like an old fashioned garden full of flowers and was divine! You could only purchase it at Myer or in her stores and I still miss it. Actually if anyone knows of it (and something similar) I would love to know about it xx

You beauty 22 Oct 2017 8:58 PM

My favourite floral fragrance is Chanel Chance.

Shop A Everyday 22 Oct 2017 8:01 PM

I love so many different fragrances, the more the merrier I say

ErinLady 21 Oct 2017 11:57 PM

I love such a huge range of difference scents that I need to own a lot of different perfumes to allow for variety on the days I'm loving one more than the other! A rather expensive habit indeed.

jodieleigh 21 Oct 2017 3:27 PM

Seashells 16 Oct 2017 12:24 PM

Everything on the left hand side of the wheel, from Citrus up to Floral Oriental is me. I'm not entirely sure which category Calvin Klein's DownTown fits into, but that's the only perfume I like that has a woody, peppery scent in it.

Jessica712 16 Oct 2017 11:22 AM

This was really useful to read. It will help when I pick my next floral perfume.

Meedee 16 Oct 2017 8:58 AM

I adore anything with a citrus base so mine would be the Fresh Floral. I tend to like that crisp scent like Green Tea. One of my favorites at the moment is Just Cavalli which has top notes of Neroli and Tahitian Tiare flowers.

Diamah 15 Oct 2017 9:05 PM

The fragrance wheel is interesting and informative.

Ellelily 15 Oct 2017 5:40 PM

I love the Florals

2663anne 15 Oct 2017 10:38 AM

I like floral oriental, and some woody ones. My all time favourite Is Ellie Saab eau de parfum.

Hayley644 15 Oct 2017 10:17 AM

I prefer musk scents, anything too flowery makes me sneeze.

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