The quickest way to choose an essential oil is to stop thinking about individual bottles and start thinking in families. Most oils fall into a handful of scent groups, and once you know which group you are drawn to, the rest gets easy. Here is the simple map, with our pure oils sorted into each one.

Citrus – bright, clean, lifting

The most universally liked group. Light, fresh and sharp, these are the open-a-window scents. In our range: lemon (crisp and clean) and bergamot (citrus with a soft, almost floral edge). Citrus oils are also the shortest-lived, so enjoy them fresh.

Floral – soft, round, romantic

Florals are the heart of most fragrances, from delicate to heady. We carry lavender (soft and herbaceous-floral, easy to love), rose (deep and classic), neroli (orange blossom, bright and honeyed) and jasmine (rich and intense, a little goes far).

Woody – warm, grounding, calm

The scents of forest and timber. These add depth and a sense of calm. Our woods: cedarwood (dry and warm), pine (fresh and resinous) and spruce (soft and green). If you love the smell of a sauna or a cabin, this is your family.

Herbaceous and green – fresh, natural, complex

Less sweet, more garden-and-apothecary. Here you will find clary sage (soft and nutty), oregano (warm and spicy-herbal) and patchouli (earthy and deep, its own world but at home among the greens).

Minty and camphoraceous – cool, sharp and fresh

The wake-up group. Peppermint is cold and green, eucalyptus is fresh and camphor-like, and tea tree and camphor bring a clean, crisp sharpness. These are the scents that read as fresh and clean.

How to use the map

Pick the family that appeals to you and start with one oil from it. Then try blending across families – a citrus with a wood, or a floral with a green – which is exactly how perfumers build depth. Our guide to using oils at home covers the practical side, and you can see every oil in the collection here.