Woody Perfumes
Woody fragrances are built on sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, patchouli and oud. They are the backbone of modern perfumery — grounded, warm and long-wearing, with none of the sweetness that defines gourmands or the lift of a citrus.
The main woods and how they smell
Sandalwood is creamy, soft and slightly milky — the gentlest of the woods. Cedar is dry and pencil-shaving sharp. Vetiver, from a grass root rather than a tree, brings earthy and smoky facets. Patchouli is dark, damp and slightly sweet. Oud is the most intense of them all.
Wearing woods
Woody compositions perform reliably in heat because the base materials are heavy and evaporate slowly. They work for office and evening equally, and they tend to read as mature and considered rather than youthful. If you find sweet fragrances cloying, this is the family to explore.
