What Are the Different Types of Scents That Exist Today?

Did you know that scented wick candles date back to 500 BC? Ancient Romans used animal fat as candle wax which, as you can imagine, didn’t smell great. So they burned papyrus to cover the bad odor.

Creating pleasant smells at home isn’t new. But there are many more types of scents available from the fragrance industry now than there were back then. It can be overwhelming trying to find the best scents for you to diffuse around your home because you have so much choice.

Lucky for you, there are four main “fragrance notes” that can categorize every single scent in existence. Keep reading to find out more about them and discover which scents you will likely enjoy the most.

Floral Scents

Floral scents are types of scents that smell like fresh-cut flowers. They often have a powdery or fruity smell to them too. This scent evokes memories of spring and summer when gardens are blooming and colorful.

These are the best types of essential oils or scented candles with a floral fragrance note:

• Ylang-ylang
• Jasmine
• Lily
• Magnolia
• Orange Blossom
• Rose

You can use a scent fragrance diffuser or a spray to disperse these scents around your home.

Oriental Scents

If you gravitate to more unusual and exotic scents, then ones with an oriental fragrance note might appeal to you. These smell like a luxurious, creamy lotion or a spicey, herbal tea.

Here are the best essential oils with an oriental fragrance note:

• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Musk
• Patchouli
• Orris
• Myrrh

These scents are often described as seductive so if you want to create a romantic atmosphere, oriental scents are a great choice. Though keep in mind that even the best scent diffuser cannot perform miracles on your love life!

Woody Scents

Do you want to smell like you’re running through a forest or lying down in a meadow? Then woody scents are the best type of scents for you. These smell earthy and strong.

These are some examples of woody scents you will be able to find as essential oils:

• Sandalwood
• Cedarwood
• Amber
• Oakmoss
• Leather
• Vetiver

Many consider these to be these masculine scents. But as long as you like them, it doesn’t matter what gender you are!

Fresh Scents

If you love the smell of clean laundry or a calm sea then you likely enjoy fresh scents the most. Anything that smells light and bright counts as a fresh scent. It takes some characteristics from the other types of scents because some fresh scents are fruity and herby too.

Here are some examples of fresh essential oils you can get:

• Lavender
• Mandarin
• Bergamot
• Sage
• Saltwater
• Grapefruit

These are the best scents for your diffuser if you have pets because they will make your home smell a lot cleaner than it might be.

Which Types of Scents Do Your Senses Prefer?

Everyone’s olfactory sense is different so you will prefer certain types of scents to others. Regardless of whether you prefer floral, oriental, woody, or fresh scents, there is no shortage of gorgeous scents. You cannot go wrong either way.

There are so many other things you can do to improve your general well-being. Browse our health and lifestyle articles for more top tips!