Wood in feminine perfume
For a long time, wood mostly propped up flowers in women's perfumes. A bit of sandalwood or cedar in the base, and it was still called a floral. Today's feminine woody scents put wood in front, but not the same wood men get. Where a masculine woody leans on dry vetiver and cedar, feminine ones prefer softer woods. Think creamy sandalwood, cashmeran (a molecule that smells of musky, slightly powdery wood) and amber woods. Several styles stand out. The salty, mineral wood of Eau des Merveilles. The sunny amber wood of Alien. The floral woody, where tuberose or rose rests on patchouli, as in L'Interdit and Dior Joy. The more cerebral iris and incense wood of Infusion d'Iris. And finally the old leathery wood of Tabac Blond, a style that has nearly vanished.
How to choose a woody scent
Ask yourself one question first: do you want to smell the flower or the wood? If you still love flowers, L'Interdit and Dior Joy make a gentle bridge into the family. If you really want wood, Eau des Merveilles and Santal 33 are more direct. Then think about strength. Alien rates 5 out of 5, and one spray lasts all day. Infusion d'Iris, at the other end, stays almost private on the skin. Light woods work all year, while Tabac Blond and Alien need cold weather. At the office, Infusion d'Iris and Gypsy Water fit anywhere. In the evening, Alien and L'Interdit take up more room. Many woody scents in this selection are unisex. That is often the right place to look for a perfume that smells of neither flowers nor sugar.
