Floral Woody

Guerlain's Samsara (1989), composed by Jean-Paul Guerlain, is often cited for its large doses of jasmine and sandalwood, with ylang-ylang, orris and vanilla. Because of its rich vanilla and sandalwood, some tables place Samsara in the Amber family.

In composition: East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) is rich in alpha and beta santalol. This source is now scarce, so many formulas use Australian Santalum spicatum, New Caledonian sandalwood, or molecules such as Javanol, Sandalore and Polysantol. Cedar brings cedrol; vetiver brings khusimol.

Rules to note: rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang oils and extracts are named individually on the expanded allergen list of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545; new products placed on the EU market after 31 July 2026 must be labelled according to it. Santalum album oil, santalol, Juniperus virginiana oil and Atlas cedar oil are also on that list.

The SFP website publishes only subfamily names; perfume lists per subfamily are in the printed Classification officielle des parfums. Perfumes named here are commonly cited examples, not official SFP placements.

B7 is close to B6 Floral Woody Fruity, differing by the lack of a clear fruit note. When the woods outweigh the flowers, the scent belongs to the Woody family.

This branch builds well with natural materials: jasmine, ylang-ylang and rose in the heart; sandalwood (East Indian, Western Australian or New Caledonian), cedar and vetiver in the base.

Choose sandalwood from legal, managed sources; Western Australian sandalwood smells drier and greener than East Indian. Amyris gives a lighter, cheaper woody note but does not replace sandalwood. Check IFRA limits and the EU allergen list for each material. This page gives no formula percentages.