Fragrance Classification

Fragrance classification has always fascinated me. I remember my first visits to Basenotes and Fragrantica and my introduction to the concept of fragrance families. I quickly learned that fragrance classification was a highly subjective endeavor—everyone seemed to have their own classification system. The mystery of fragrance classification captivated me immediately and I quickly became fascinated with the ways in which fragrances are classified and with what these classification systems tell us about fragrance history and genealogy.

In order to demystify the process of categorizing and classifying fragrances, we are hosting an event that will delve into the history of fragrance families and examine some of the most widely-used classification systems including the system developed by Michael Edwards, the Haarmann & Reimer classification system and the system employed by the Société Française des Parfumeurs. Most importantly, we will explain how fragrances are divided and classified (i.e. what is the difference between a floral oriental fragrance and a woody oriental fragrance) and what fragrance classification can teach us about our own tastes and preferences.