Woody fragrances are incredibly versatile, have fantastic longevity and more popular than ever, especially amongst men. Typical hallmarks of woody perfumes are ingredients like sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, cedarwood or oud (also called agarwood), which give woody fragrances that instantly recognisable warmth.

They are often paired with citric, floral or spicy notes to add a fragrant twist, the versatility makes them perfect for everyday where or special occasions. Citrus notes pair beautifully with woody fragrances because they’re not only fortified by woody notes, but they are invigorating, adding a bright and super fresh character that’s truly mesmerising.  

Spicy-woody varieties add a soft and enveloping warmth, whilst green-woody fragrances gain their fresh and airy charm from aromatic herbs like sage, rosemary and lavender.

Alike spices, florals add a gentile warmth to woody fragrances and are often accompanied by base notes of musk. This combination adds an intense femininity to woody florals creating a sweet touch, like Avant L’Orage from Maison Matine; this fragrance fuses sambac jasmine with musk, sandalwood and tonka bean. Or, if you’re after something sweeter still, woody-fruity fragrances like Perris Monte Carlo’s Bois D’Oud features rich and syrupy notes of peach and plumb.

To finish off our woody fragrances guide we thought we’d spare a moment to talk about the ever-popular and mysterious ingredient of Oud. Oud (also called agarwood) is one of those ingredients that you’ll either love or hate, but it’s definitely worth a try even if only once. Oud comes from the heartwood of Aquilaria trees after being exposed to a fungus, which in turn causes the pale wood to turn dark brown. This dark wood is extremely precious, not only for its use in oud essential oils but some qualities are more expensive per kilo than gold! One of our favourites is Perris Monte Carlo’s Oud Imperial, this is drier and smokier than Bois D’Oud and features incense, patchouli and saffron alongside natural oud. 

If you like the sound of the woody perfumes and want to explore it further, why not delve into all the woody fragrances we have to offer. Or, if you require a little extra help, why not get in touch and we will happily assist in curating a refined floral selection that we know you will love.