In this new episode of Masternose, Nose explores the woody family—the largest category in its selection, with more than 300 fragrances. It is a world that has undergone a profound transformation over the past few decades: from a historically masculine register to a fragrance family that is now decidedly gender-neutral.
An Ancient Family with a Modern Rise
Woods have long been used in the composition of ointments and incense for religious ceremonies. In modern perfumery, however, the woody family truly came into its own in the late 1950s with the emergence of mono-vetiver fragrances. Today, woody scents account for nearly 30% of the Nose selection, making them the most represented olfactory family in the catalogue.
For many years associated with masculine perfumery, the woody family has evolved through the introduction of new molecules and new facets—milky, fruity (notably peach), ambery, and musky. It is now one of the most widely worn fragrance families across all genders.
Eight Ways to Map the Woody Family
At Nose, the woody family is divided into eight distinct subfamilies. A few landmarks include smoky woods such as Bois d’Ascèse; amber woods such as Not A Perfume; dry woods such as Hinoki; animalic woods such as Dawn; sandalwood fragrances such as Tam Dao; and exotic woods such as Sacred Wood.
Watch this new episode of Masternose and discover our selection of woody fragrances by completing the Nose diagnostic below.
