What Are Fragrance Families?Updated a day ago
Fragrance families are broad categories that help describe and organize different types of scents. At Votivo, we group our fragrances into five main families: Fruit + Citrus, Green + Herbal, Floral, Woody, and Fresh.
Understanding fragrance families can help you discover new scents you'll love or describe what you're looking for when shopping for candles.
Fruit + Citrus
Fruit and citrus fragrances incorporate a broad range of familiar notes. Think juicy berries, tart citrus, tropical fruits, and classic notes like apple, grape, or pear. The possibilities here are endless.
These scents can be sweet and ripe, tart and zesty, or somewhere in between. They often feel vibrant, uplifting, and approachable.
Best for: Creating energetic, cheerful spaces that feel welcoming and lively
Green + Herbal
Green and herbal fragrances capture the essence of nature. These scents provide the impression of freshly crushed foliage, sun-warmed gardens, and aromatic herbs.
They can evoke evergreen forests, tomato vines, lavender fields, or wild landscapes. These fragrances feel grounding, natural, and refreshing.
Best for: Creating calm, nature-inspired spaces or bringing the outdoors inside
Floral
Floral fragrances provide the comforting aroma of freshly picked blossoms. These scents capture the essence of gardens, bouquets, and blooming flowers.
Some absolute staples in this category include rose, jasmine, and lavender. Floral fragrances can range from light and delicate to rich and heady, depending on which flowers are featured.
Best for: Creating romantic, elegant, or garden-inspired atmospheres
Woody
Woody fragrances employ rich, grounding facets such as cedar, oak, pine, and sandalwood. These are deep, earthy scents that feel sophisticated and anchoring.
This family can also include warm spices, smoky notes, amber, and musk. These fragrances often have a masculine quality but work beautifully in any space that calls for depth and richness.
Best for: Living rooms, offices, dens, or neutral spaces that need grounding warmth
Fresh
Fresh fragrances capture the airy essence of a breeze. These scents evoke crispness, cleanliness, and open spaces.
They can suggest clean laundry, ocean air, fresh water, or white tea. Fresh fragrances feel light, refreshing, and versatile.
Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens, or anywhere you want a light, refreshing atmosphere
How to Use Fragrance Families
Discovering new scents: If you love Red Currant (Fruit + Citrus), try other fragrances in that family like Island Grapefruit or Pink Mimosa.
Creating variety: Choose candles from different families for different rooms. Fresh scents in the bathroom, woody scents in the living room, floral in the bedroom.
Describing what you want: Shopping for a gift? Fragrance families give you language to describe preferences. "She loves warm, woody scents" is much more helpful than "she likes candles."
Seasonal rotation: Fresh and fruity scents often feel perfect for spring and summer, while woody and green fragrances shine in fall and winter.
The Bottom Line
Fragrance families are a helpful way to understand and explore scents. Votivo's five main families (Fruit + Citrus, Green + Herbal, Floral, Woody, and Fresh) offer something for every preference and every space. Understanding these categories can help you find your next favorite fragrance or create the perfect scent experience throughout your home.
More questions for us? Call 1.877.7VOTIVO (1.877.786.8486) or send an email to [email protected].