Woody fragrances are some of the most renowned and admired fragrances within the world of perfumery and it is certainly for good reason. Adored by both men and women, the woody fragrance family is extremely versatile, palatable and extensive. With a wide range of sub-families within the woody category to choose from, there is undoubtedly something to be found for everyone.
However, being so spoilt for choice can make this family complex to navigate when it comes to choosing which scent is for you: Get it right, and you’ll find your signature scent for life.
What is a woody fragrance and what are characteristics does it have?
Fragrances that sit in the woody family are ones where the formulas are dominated by “woody” ingredients. Woody ingredients tend to come most commonly from trees – often the bark, leaves and roots as well as mosses that lie beneath and resins that the trees produce.
Distinctly known as being more masculine in nature and for their ability to provoke nostalgia of outdoor aromas, woody fragrances also tend to be extremely long-lasting due to their formulas being heavily made up of rich materials that sit in the base notes.
What ingredients do Creed use in their woody fragrances?
Today, Creed travels the world to source, research, inspect and commission the finest natural materials available for its perfume creations. Within their woody signatures, you’ll often find vetiver, sandalwood, cedar, birch and oakmoss nestled into their formulas. These ingredients have stood the test of time and helped perfect some of The House of Creed’s most iconic scents, including the Aventus Collection , Green Irish Tweed, Viking and Royal Princess Oud .
What are the different types of woody fragrances?
Woody fragrances can take on many different characters depending on the other ingredients that surround the woods and the story that the perfumer sets out to tell. It is important to understand the complexity of the woody fragrance family in order to understand which one is best suited to your style.
Fragrance families are designed to help make your scent search more approachable. When a perfumer creates a new fragrance, they do not necessarily think about which family they’d like their fragrance to fit into, which can mean that a fragrance can sit across multiple fragrance families.
Often, you get very different styles of woody fragrances, as a perfumer draws on other ingredients to form the complete olfactive experience. We’ve narrowed our woody fragrances down into five main sub-sections to help you choose the right woody scent for you.
Woody Green Fragrances
Often inspired by lush green countryside, thick forests and earthy aromas that linger beneath the treetops, woody-green scents tend to look to more refreshing ingredients, including mosses, vetiver leaves and iris as well as more prominent and earthy notes of musk, for a smooth and dewy finish.
Woody Fresh Fragrances
Refreshing woody fragrances tend to find themselves leaning more heavily on the top and heart notes to bring air to the scent. You’ll find zingy citrus’, including bergamot, lemon, lime and grapefruit in the top notes to help provide a lighter and more uplifting olfactive experience. Aromatic herbs are often more common in this fragrance sub-family. Both citrus and herbal notes help complement the richer base whilst drawing out the more refreshing notes found within the chosen woods.
Woody Leather Fragrances
A woody leather fragrance tends to be much drier, smokier and richer in character. The emphasis on the ingredients lies within the base of the fragrance where a “burnt wood” effect is created through the use of ingredients like tobacco, oud and vetiver. Woody leather fragrances often feel more luxurious, indulgent and seductive for the wearer.
Woody Spicy Fragrances
Fragrant, warming and seductive, woody spicy fragrances lean on oriental, taste-tingling ingredients, including peppercorn, peppermint, clove, cumin and cinnamon to blend with signature woods, for added depth. More suited to an evening or for winter, these fragrances have a grounded yet luxurious character.
Woody Floral Fragrances
Most typically found within women’s perfume collections, woody florals blend elegant flowers with a richer woody base. The floral notes can offer a sweetness or a powdery charm to a scent, providing a lighter, sophisticated or feminine twist to more traditional woody fragrances, often associated with being more masculine. You’ll find notes of iris, magnolia, rose, lilac and violet laced into woody floral fragrances at The House of Creed.
How do I know which woody fragrance to choose?
Understanding what you want your fragrance to say about you and recognising your own style and tastes will certainly help you narrow down which woody fragrance is right for you. Consider if you are looking for something to wear in the daytime or at night.
Are you an introvert and looking for something discreet or are you more extroverted and wanting something that will turn heads as you walk in the room? Would you consider your style more relaxed or refined? Do you prefer something more uplifting or indulgent?
The above questions are just a few ways you can help begin to narrow down your search. Discover our full guide on how to find your next signature scent for more tips from our in-house perfume expert.
