Aroma families and classifying essential oil fragrances

There are eight main categories which the aromas or fragrances of essential oils are divided into. Some of the essential oils are classified into more than one category, since they can have the aroma that could be indicated by either of the categories.

on this page

• Citrus
• Floral
• Herbaceous
• Camphoraceous
• Spicy
• Resinous
• Woody
• Earthy

In her book, The Fragrant Mind, Valerie Ann Wormwood uses a different classification of aromas, but they are linked to the personalities of people and that of the corresponding essential oils.

But for our purposes to divide the essential oils into aroma categories, the following would apply:

Aroma families

• Citrus

  • Bergamot

  • Grapefruit

  • Lemon

  • Lime

  • Orange

  • Tangerine

• Floral

  • Camomile

  • Geranium

  • Jasmine

  • Lavender

  • Neroli

  • Rose

  • Ylang-ylang

• Herbaceous

  • Basil

  • Camomile

  • Clary sage

  • Hyssop

  • Marjoram

  • Melissa

  • Peppermint

  • Rosemary

• Camphoraceous

  • Cajuput (Cajeput)

  • Eucalyptus

  • Peppermint

  • Rosemary

  • Tea tree

• Spicy

  • Aniseed

  • Black pepper

  • Cardamom

  • Cinnamon

  • Coriander

  • Cumin

  • Ginger

  • Nutmeg

• Resinous

  • Benzoin

  • Elemi

  • Frankincense

  • Myrrh

• Woody

  • Cedarwood

  • Cinnamon

  • Cypress

  • Juniper berry

  • Pine

  • Sandalwood

• Earthy

  • Angelica

  • Patchouli

  • Valerian

  • Vetiver

Other pages of interest

• Safety with essential oils
• Abortifacient essential oils
• Banned essential oils
• Cancer and essential oils
• Cardiac (heart) problems and essential oils
• Children and the use of essential oils
• Diabetes and essential oils
• Emmenagogue essential oils
• Elderly people and the use of essential oils
• Epilepsy and essential oils
• Skin irritation caused by essential oils
• Essential oils to avoid when concentration is required
• High blood pressure and essential oils
• Liver toxicity and essential oils
• Pregnancy and essential oils
• Sensitive skin and essential oils
• Sun sensitivity (phototoxicity)
• Toxic essential oils
• Essential Oil Index
• Carrier oils
• Specialized blended oils
• Dilutions when working with essential oils
• Therapeutic properties of essential oils
• Treatments with essential oils
• Use of essential oils
• Air freshening
• Bathing
• Compresses
• Recipes for creams and lotions
• Floral waters
• Foot and hand baths
• Hair care
• Jacuzzis
• Massage
  • Video clips on how to massage
• Saunas
• Showers
• Sitz bath
• Steam inhalations
• Vaporization
• Why Aromatherapy and essential oils
• Related essential oil articles
• Glossary
• Recipes
• Extraction methods used in the manufacture of essential oils
• Allergies, contact dermatitis and essential oils
• Aroma families and classifying essential oil fragrances
• Aromatherapy
• Blending fragrances
• Botanical Material
• Components of essential oils
• EEG's, the brain, brainwaves and essential oils
• Fatty acids
• Fragrance notes
• Herbalism versus Aromatherapy
• History of essential oils
• Doing a skin patch test
• Holistic and alternative medicine
• Manufacture of essential oils
• Medical aromatherapy and medicinal applications of essential oils.
• Mood properties of essential oils
• New research on epilepsy
• Olfactory bulb, the limbic system and the influence of odors
• Storage and buying essential oils
• Treating ailments with essential oils
• Different ways of using essential oils
  • Bathing
  • Compresses
  • Creams and lotions
  • Exfoliating scrub with oats, honey and essential oil
  • Natural face packs (face masks)
  • Home made toners (facial tonics and astringents)
  • Floral waters
  • Foot and hand baths
  • Hair care
  • Dry shampoo recipe
  • Recipe for final rinse
  • Hair loss - helpful remedies
  • Oil treatment for hair
  • Scalp stimulation lotion
  • Jacuzzis
  • Massage
  • Saunas
  • Showers
  • Sitz bath
  • Steam inhalations
  • Vaporization
  • Air freshening
• Holistic health and healing
  • Acupuncture
  • Alexander technique
  • Ayurveda
  • Chiropractic
  • Flower remedies (Dr. Bach)
  • Herbal medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Hypnosis
  • Iridology
  • Macrobiotics
  • Massage therapy
  • Meditation
  • Naturopathy
  • Reflexology
  • Spiritual healing
  • Tai Chi
  • Yoga

SPECIAL AFRICA OILS