What Is the Fragrance Wheel?

The Fragrance Wheel is a classification system that dates back to the 1940's but the most popular and relied upon version is one developed by fragrance expert Michael Edwards, designed to help consumers and professionals understand the relationships between different scent families. 

The fragrance wheel is a visual guide that categorizes scents into families based on their characteristics. It typically includes four main categories:

• Floral – soft, romantic, and often powdery (e.g., rose, jasmine)
• Amber – warm, spicy, and exotic (e.g., amber, vanilla, cinnamon)
• Woodsy – earthy, rich, and grounding (e.g., sandalwood, cedar)
• Fresh – clean, bright, and uplifting (e.g., citrus, green tea, ocean breeze)

Each category is further divided into subfamilies, and neighboring scents on the wheel tend to blend well together.

How to Use It

1. Start with What You Love

Think about scents you naturally gravitate toward. Do you love the smell of fresh flowers, spicy chai, or a walk in the woods? Find that scent family on the wheel. Did you choose floral, amber and woodsy? Yay! You're on your way to choosing scents you love.

2. Explore Neighboring Families

If you love floral scents, you might also enjoy soft ambers or fresh green notes. The wheel helps you branch out without straying too far from your comfort zone.

3. Match Scents to Seasons or Moods

• Spring/Summer: Fresh and floral scents feel light and energizing.
• Fall/Winter: Woody and oriental scents offer warmth and coziness.
• Relaxation: Try soft florals or calming woods.
• Focus: Look for fresh citrus or herbal notes.

4. Layer and Experiment

Use the wheel to mix and match complementary scents across your home—like pairing a floral candle in the bedroom with a fresh room spray in the kitchen.

Find Your Signature Scent

At Mae & George Home Fragrances, we design our candles, reed diffusers, and room sprays with the fragrance wheel in mind—so you can easily find scents that suit your space, your mood, and your memories.

👉 Explore Our Collection and discover your perfect fragrance family today.