Expert encyclopedia · 6 min read
Types of Fragrances: A Complete Guide to Classification
The Main Fragrance Families
In 1990 the French Fragrance Committee proposed a universal system dividing scents into seven main groups. That classification became the gold standard, a shared language for describing and organizing thousands of fragrances worldwide.
Floral
The largest and most popular family. It is built on notes of rose, jasmine, peony, lilac, ylang-ylang, and other flowers. These fragrances bring freshness, softness, and romance, and they are ideal for creating a relaxing atmosphere in a bedroom or living room.
At BAGO home, floral notes are the heart of many collections: “Peony” opens into a soft, natural floral composition, while the ETERIA COSMO collections sound with refined notes of jasmine, narcissus, and neroli.
Citrus (Hesperidic)
The most energetic and uplifting fragrances of all, dominated by notes of bergamot, lemon, orange, grapefruit, and mandarin. They lift the mood instantly, wake you up, and fill a space with freshness. Ideal for the kitchen, the entryway, or a home office.
Woody
The scents of warm, dry wood: sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, vetiver. A grounded, steady family, often associated with elegance, natural balance, and a sense of safety. Woody notes create a warm, enveloping atmosphere that works beautifully in a study or a quiet corner.
Oriental
Warm, sensual, spicy, and lightly sweet compositions built on vanilla, tonka bean, cinnamon, clove, amber, and frankincense. These fragrances create a feeling of warmth, comfort, and luxury. ETERIA COSMO offers oriental fragrances such as “Jasmine, Lemongrass, and Amber,” which wrap a space in refinement and a touch of magic.
Chypre
Complex, many-sided compositions with notes of oakmoss, bergamot, labdanum, and patchouli. They sound refined, slightly sharp, and very stylish, and they give a room an elegant character.
Fougère
Fresh, faintly bitter fragrances dominated by notes of lavender, oakmoss, coumarin, and bergamot. Often associated with men's perfumery, though increasingly used in home fragrance as well.
Leather
Dry, smoky, tannic scents of smoke and tanned hide, often with floral facets. Bold, statement compositions for true connoisseurs. The Abel brand works with leather notes in its niche fragrances — for example, in compositions built around leather, tonka, and vanilla.
Alongside these seven, two more families are often singled out: fruity and gourmand. Gourmand fragrances (with notes of vanilla, cocoa, caramel, and coffee) bring warmth and sweetness; fruity ones bring juiciness and playfulness.
Classification by Concentration (Longevity)
Perfumery uses a clear scale of fragrance-oil concentration, and it directly determines how long and how strongly a scent is felt. This classification matters especially for home fragrance, where the balance between richness and restraint is critical.
| Type | Concentration | Longevity | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extrait | 30–40% | Up to 60 hours | The richest and most expensive format |
| Parfum | 20–30% | 6+ hours | Deep, dense presence |
| Eau de Parfum (EDP) | 15–20% | 5–8 hours | The best balance of longevity and delicacy |
| Eau de Toilette (EDT) | 5–10% | 3–4 hours | A light, daytime version |
| Eau de Cologne | 3–5% | 2–3 hours | A very light, refreshing concentration |
| Eau Fraîche | 1–3% | 1–2 hours | The lightest trail of all |
Home fragrance most often works in the range of eau de parfum and eau de toilette: strong enough to last, gentle enough not to overwhelm — no headaches, and no drowning out the other scents in a room.
Classification by Price Segment (Market Positioning)
The fragrance market is traditionally divided into several tiers, and they define more than price: they shape positioning, the approach to creation, and the customer each product is made for.
Exclusive Perfumery
The most expensive segment. These fragrances are often made by hand to individual order, in limited runs or for specific projects, using rare and costly ingredients. Prices can reach several hundred euros per bottle.
Niche (Selective) Perfumery
Fragrances for enthusiasts, built around a distinctive concept rather than mass demand. The components are high grade and often natural. What matters most here is the perfumer's own voice.
Premium Mass Perfumery
High-quality but more affordable fragrances aimed at a broad audience. They typically use proven, popular formulas and good — if not unique — ingredients. BAGO home and ETERIA COSMO are strong examples of this segment, offering high quality at an accessible price. Prices start at 1,000 rubles.
Mass Market (Everyday Perfumery)
The most affordable category. These fragrances are built with synthetic ingredients, which keeps production costs down. They are designed for the widest possible audience. AROMATONIX and Abel are positioned in this segment as accessible luxury for every day, offering fashionable, on-trend fragrances at an attractive price.
The State of the Home Fragrance Market
The home fragrance market is growing fast, both in Russia and worldwide. In 2024 it was worth 330.2 million dollars, and by 2033 it could reach 746 million dollars. The market is growing at roughly 6–9.5% a year.
Key trends for 2025–2026:
- Personalization: Brands are moving away from off-the-shelf solutions toward distinctive, personalized fragrances.
- “Quiet luxury”: Soft, understated scents are in demand — sandalwood, cedar, amber, patchouli. Fragrance is no longer a way to announce yourself; it has become a barely perceptible personal accessory.
- The rise of Russian brands: Russian perfumery now accounts for 40% of the market — a significant increase on previous years.
- Sustainability and natural ingredients: Demand keeps growing for products made from natural, safe components. BAGO home, for instance, uses a unique plant-based solution with no scent of its own, and every brand in the BAGO family ecosystem builds on environmental responsibility.
BAGO family: Classification and Innovation in Balance
Each brand in the BAGO family ecosystem occupies its own niche and offers a different category of fragrance:
- BAGO home — premium mass: accessible quality and the broadest choice of collections, from simple, naturally sounding scents to intricate multi-layered compositions.
- ETERIA COSMO — premium mass: craft fragrances built on herbs, spices, and floral compositions with a calming, relaxing effect.
- AROMATONIX — everyday segment: fashionable, on-trend fragrances, accessible luxury for an active audience.
- Abel — everyday segment: modern, of-the-moment compositions for anyone looking for a stylish, well-made home fragrance at an attractive price.
So everyone can find their perfect fragrance — from the simple and straightforward to the complex and niche — all within one family of brands, united by a shared philosophy of purity, quality, and care for people and nature.