Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards is the international expert and ambassador of fragrance classification and a true fountain of all perfume knowledge. Working exclusively with The Perfume Shop in the UK for 15 years, his wealth of expertise is right at the heart of our passionate culture, training and development.
In 1984 he developed the fragrance ‘bible’, Fragrances of the World, a beautifully illustrated database of perfume. It makes finding a new fragrance an exciting journey of discovery, explaining the relationship between 14 different fragrance families. His work has become the industry’s most trusted reference for classification - twice recognised for a prestigious FiFi award for Technological Breakthrough.
Edwards is also the author of one of the most significant books written on modern perfumery. Perfume Legends: French Feminine Fragrances.
Please see below just a few of the fragrance families mentioned in his books and online database.
Citrus
Fragrances from this group are characterised by the fresh elements of lemon, orange and grapefruit, bergamot or pomelo.
Floral
Fragrances built around either a single floral note (eg: rose, jasmine, lily and ylang-ylang) or a bouquet blend of flowers.
Amber
Warm, spicy and sometimes gourmand fragrances, often with soft vanillas and golden ambers.
Woody
The rich evocative notes of Cedarwood, Sandalwood or the deep earthy elements of Patchouli and Vetiver define fragrances form this group
Aromatic
The universal fragrance family built around the aromatic notes of lavender, with woody aspects, florals elements and citrus highlights.