what’s in a scent? quite a bit. 

a journey through fragrance

fragrance beginner guide

our olfactory is the strongest of the senses, reminding us of memories, places, and favorite people. when you wear a philosophy fragrance, you’re further enhancing that experience with our expertly designed scents, which we hope will evoke joy and carry you through special occasions and everyday life.

our sense of smell is the strongest scents, instantly bringing back people, places, and moments that matter.

our olfactory is the strongest of the senses, reminding us of memories, places, and favorite people.

the fragrance wheel

all scents fall under categories on the fragrance wheel, but there can be overlap. this wheel, created by fragrance expert michael edwards in 1983, breaks down the notes of fragrances visually, allowing for the commonalities of a fragrance to shine through and help you identify scents you like and want more of. 

for example, our fresh cream soft velvet eau de toilette is an amber scent with overlaps of gourmand, floral, and spicy, thanks to its notes of vanilla, chocolate, casablanca lily, and ginger that result in a fresh, bright, and indulgent wear. 

the types of fragrances at philosophy typically fall under one or more of the following categories: fresh, floral, woody, and amber (formerly known as “oriental”). within that are citrus, fruit, gourmand, green, or spicy subcategories. 

the fragrance pyramid

you may have heard of top, middle, and base notes (alternatively called head, heart, and soul notes), but what do they mean? we’ll break it down for you featuring amazing grace eau de parfum.

top notes: the first thing you smell in a fragrance and the lightest. these notes typically last under an hour during your wear time. 

the top note in amazing grace eau de parfum: bergamot

middle notes: this is the scent that “develops” on your skin after the top notes have faded and helps round out a perfume. depending on perfume oil concentration, these last longer, 1-2 hours on the skin. 

the middle note in amazing grace eau de parfum: lily of the valley   

base notes: the final act in a perfume. the base notes are the heaviest and longest-lasting scents in a fragrance. we often smell base note scents on others long after we’ve stopped smelling our perfume.   

the base note in amazing grace eau de parfum: musk

fragrance concentrations

philosophy fragrances are eau de toilettes or eau de parfum, with the main difference being the concentration of perfume oil in the fragrance. eau de parfum may last longer on your skin, whereas de toilette is an excellent option for the day or when you want something a little lighter.

here’s a handy guide on the strengths of fragrances: 

eau de toilette: 5-10% perfume oil

eau de toilette may last 2-4 hours on the skin

eau de parfum: 10-20%.

eau de parfum may last 4-8 hours on the skin