Quick answer: Woody does not mean masculine. It is a fragrance family built from woods such as sandalwood, cedarwood, guaiac wood, amberwood and cashmere wood, and the Mykonos range has woody scents listed for her and as unisex. Choose creamy sandalwood in Mykonos Sparkling Rosé, dry cedarwood in Mykonos Satin Blanc or soft, radiant woods in Mykonos Luminos, and read on for three more.
Woody perfumes for women are easy to find once you stop reading "woody" as "masculine". In the Mykonos range, woods turn up inside florals, fruity scents and warm ambers that are listed for her or as unisex. This guide takes six of them, shows which wood each one actually lists and helps you choose between them. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe, and every note, accord and rating below comes from the brand's product data and handbook.
Are woody perfumes for women different from men's scents?
Woody is a fragrance family, defined by its notes, not by who wears it. Whether a scent is "for her" is a separate fact: the brand gives each perfume a gender label and our store lists it under For Her, For Him or Unisex. Our guide to Mykonos for men or women explains how the two fit together. Of the six picks below, two are labelled feminine and listed under For Her; four are unisex in both.
| Perfume | Woods in the pyramid | Accord | Listed under (brand label) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mykonos Sparkling Rosé | Sandalwood, guaiac wood | Rose - Fruity - Woody | For Her (feminine) |
| Mykonos Royal Ispahan | Soft wood, guaiac wood | Floral - Fruity - Soft Wood | For Her (feminine) |
| Mykonos Satin Blanc | Cedarwood | Floral - Woody - Soft Spicy | Unisex (unisex) |
| Mykonos Aphrodite | Cedarwood, sandalwood | Woody - Warm Spicy - Vanilla | Unisex (unisex) |
| Mykonos Luminos | Amberwood, cashmere wood | Floral - Fruity - Soft Wood | Unisex (unisex) |
| Mykonos Monaco Royale | Soft wood, cedarwood | Fruity - Woody - Vanilla | Unisex (unisex) |
What does a woody perfume smell like? Four kinds of wood
"Woody" covers several different effects. The pyramids above sort into four.
Creamy: sandalwood
Sandalwood is smooth, soft and slightly milky. Mykonos Sparkling Rosé wraps rose in it: Damask rose, orange and geranium on top, May rose, red berries, plum and sandalwood in the heart, patchouli, amber, guaiac wood and musk below. The brand likens it to a fine rose wine and calls it rich, velvety and sophisticated. Moderate in intensity and listed for all four seasons; Mykonos rates its sillage moderate to strong, its projection strong and its longevity 10+ hours. Listed in 100 ml and 15 ml.
Mykonos Aphrodite pairs sandalwood with cedarwood and tonka bean in the heart, after jasmine, burnt cinnamon and myrrh, and finishes on white musk, tobacco, vanilla and mineral amber. It is the darkest of the six: strong, listed for autumn and winter evenings and special occasions, with strong sillage, strong projection and 12+ hours of longevity in the brand's ratings. Listed in 50 ml and 100 ml.
Dry: cedarwood
Cedarwood is dry, clean and a little like fresh pencil shavings. In Mykonos Satin Blanc it sits in the heart with jasmine tea, a floral bouquet and aquatic notes, under bergamot, black pepper and green apple, over white amber, tonka bean and vanilla. Strong, listed for summer and winter, with strong sillage and projection and 12+ hours of longevity. Listed in 100 ml and 15 ml.
Mykonos Monaco Royale is the greenest of the six: pear, melon and green notes on top, soft wood and cedarwood in the heart, moss, caramel and musk below. Moderate in intensity, listed for spring and summer and for daily wear, evenings and work, with strong sillage, strong projection and 12+ hours of longevity. Listed in 50 ml, 100 ml and 15 ml.
Smoky: guaiac wood
Guaiac wood is smoky and slightly sweet, and in a floral it works like a dark edge on a pale petal. Mykonos Royal Ispahan shows it in a soft setting: bergamot, raspberry, lychee and cotton flower on top, violet, rose milk and soft wood in the heart, vanilla, guaiac wood and amber below. The brand calls it fluffy, dreamy and refined. Strong, listed for autumn and winter, with strong sillage, moderate to strong projection and 12+ hours of longevity. Listed in 50 ml, 100 ml and 15 ml.
Soft: amberwood and cashmere wood
Amberwood and cashmere wood are the velvet end of the family: warm, smooth and close to the skin. "Soft wood" on a note list is a term for that effect rather than one named tree. Mykonos Luminos has both, in a base under a heart of white florals, rose, tuberose, lily of the valley and orange blossom, after apple and banana on top (part of the brand's Blue Java banana accord). Moderate, listed for spring and summer and for daily wear and evenings, with strong sillage, strong projection and 12+ hours of longevity. Listed in 50 ml.
How do you choose and wear a woody perfume?
- For warm weather: Monaco Royale or Luminos, both listed for spring and summer and rated moderate in intensity.
- For the office: Satin Blanc or Monaco Royale, both listed for work.
- Warm, for cooler evenings: Aphrodite or Royal Ispahan, both listed for autumn and winter. More ideas in best autumn perfumes.
- One for every season: Sparkling Rosé.
The brand rates five of the six at strong sillage and several at 12+ hours of longevity, so start with fewer sprays than you think you need; how long a scent lasts on you depends on skin and climate. For a wider list by style, see the best Mykonos perfumes for women, or browse the woody and vanilla collection or the For Her collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is woody a masculine note?
No. Woody is a fragrance family, and the woods in these six appear in scents listed for her and as unisex. Two of the six are labelled feminine by the brand.
What is the difference between woody and musky?
Woody scents get their backbone from woods; musky scents from the soft, skin-like base. Many have both: Monaco Royale pairs soft wood and cedarwood with musk. Our comparison woody and musky fragrances compared sets four scents side by side.
Can a woody perfume be light enough for summer?
Yes. Monaco Royale and Luminos are listed for spring and summer and rated moderate in intensity, and Satin Blanc is listed for summer and winter.
Which woody perfume suits the office?
Satin Blanc and Monaco Royale are both listed for work. Their ratings are strong, so one or two sprays are a good place to start.