Florals are the largest family in perfumery by a wide margin, which makes "I like florals" almost as unhelpful as "I like music". The subcategories differ enormously.

The main subcategories

Soliflore — built around one flower. Rose, jasmine, tuberose, lily of the valley. Clear and legible; you know immediately what you are wearing.

Floral bouquet — several flowers together. Rounder, more complex, harder to pick apart.

Fresh or green florals — flowers with citrus or green notes. Lighter, more daytime.

Floral musks — flowers over a soft musky base. Very wearable, often described as clean.

Floral orientals — flowers with spice, vanilla or amber underneath. Warmer and heavier, more evening.

Powdery florals — with iris or violet, giving a soft, slightly vintage feel.

Which flowers do what

Broadly, and with plenty of exceptions:

  • Rose — the most versatile, from fresh and lemony to deep and jammy depending on treatment
  • Jasmine — rich and heady, more evening than day
  • Tuberose — the loudest floral there is; small amounts only
  • Lily of the valley — clean and green, very daytime
  • Iris — powdery, elegant, cool
  • Peony and freesia — light and modern

Choosing by occasion

  • Office — fresh florals, floral musks, light soliflores. Anything that stays close to the skin
  • Daytime — green and fruity florals
  • Evening — floral orientals, jasmine, tuberose
  • Warm weather — light and fresh; heat amplifies everything, so a heady floral becomes overwhelming
  • Cold weather — the richer end works better, since cold suppresses projection

If you think you dislike florals

It is worth testing what specifically put you off. Many people who avoid florals are reacting to heady white flowers or to a powdery, dated impression — and find fresh green florals or floral musks entirely different.

Testing

On skin, one at a time, and give it half an hour. Florals in particular change substantially as the top notes fade — an opening that seems sharp often settles into something much softer.

The current fragrance range and its note descriptions are in the Faberlic catalogue; for the other families see the perfume section.