If dressing up were baking, perfumes would be the icing on the cake.
Indeed, we all know what a perceptive, personal compliment ‘‘you smell nice’’ can be, denoting an intimacy and attention to detail that ‘’you look good’’ just doesn’t.
Yep, we’d go as far as to say that a person’s fragrance may accentuate their existence in our minds more so than ever their appearance, deeds or character.
However, just like that icing on top of your metaphorical cake, getting the right fragrance requires a careful consideration of various competing elements. And unless you’re fiercely loyal to a particular brand (or flavour…are we still doing the cake thing?) and that devotion dictates your shopping habits, then choosing a new scent can be tricky. To help you with that important decision, here’s our top tips on how to choose a new fragrance that’s right for you.
Review The Fragrance Notes
Perfumes come in three notes – head notes, heart notes, and base notes. Perfume companies may source from different natural elements to hit each indicator, with light, citrusy elements usually considered ‘top’, floral and aromatic compounds falling in the ‘heart ‘category, and ‘base’ notes usually composed of musky, deeper tones.
Things can get really specific here, which can be super useful if you’re looking for a truly unique scent. As an example, one of the world’s most loved fragrances, Dior Homme Parfum, boasts top notes of bergamot lavender, its heart is amber cardamom, and the perfume’s base note offers a heady mix of leather, patchouli, and vetiver.
Notes in perfumery are the proportions that combine these elements to create the final fragrance, and identifying them is an intricate art. That’s why it’s often wise to defer to the fragrance notes to better understand what you’re buying. Here’s a quick summary of what the terminology refers to:
Top Notes
Top notes form a huge part of the scent a user picks immediately after application. Whilst they have a solid scent, top notes are very volatile and evaporate quickly.
Heart Notes
Also known as the main body or ‘middle’ of the perfume, heart notes play a crucial role in taking the baton from the top notes and running with it, adding extra longevity to the aroma.
Just before the top notes disappear, middle notes emerge to keep the dispersion process going. Middle notes make up a significant portion of a perfume’s chemistry – cinnamon, jasmine and anise are all common here.
Base Notes
Base notes often emerge 30 minutes after a perfume’s application. They are slow to evaporate and thus preserve a perfume’s scent after all the more convincing fragrances have relaxed a little.
It’s generally recommended to avoid placing too much emphasis on the top note, which is most discernible during a test application. Instead, it’s wise to live within any test spray for the whole day prior to purchase, to notice how a fragrance changes and develops on your skin.
Know What Concentration Is Right For You
How strong do you like your perfume? Identifying your preferred concentration level is a good starting point in choosing a new fragrance that’s right for you.
There are five main categories of fragrance, and they all come with their distinct concentration levels, among other features:
- Parfum
Parfum has the highest concentration of essential perfume oils and fragrance blends. Usually, the concentration level ranges from 20% to 30%, and, in some cases, it could go up to 40%. They are dense and richer — thus, are the strongest and most expensive fragrances on the market. In most cases, parfums have a longevity of an entire day on the skin.
- Eau de Parfum
Eau de parfums have a concentration level of 15 to 20%. They are less solid and long lasting than parfum and, accordingly, more affordable. They contain more alcohol and water in their fragrance blends, making them less dense. Generally speaking, an eau de parfum fragrance will last between six and eight hours.
Look for brands and shops who ensure that concentrations are clearly denoted on their bottles or website and, as such, facilitate the making of an informed decision about your next fragrance is made easier.
- Eau de Toilettes
This category of perfume tends to dissipate quickly due to its high percentage of alcohol and low combinations of fragrance blends. It has a concentration level of between 5% and 15% and doesn’t last for a particularly long time; a couple of hours is standard. This means an eau de toilettes are fine for a quick top-up spritz, but won’t leave you smelling fantastic if you’re stepping out for a special occasion that lasts the whole day.
- Eau de Colognes
Contrary to the popular misconception that eau de colognes is strictly for men, there are colognes for women, too. The term ‘cologne’ simply refers to the comparative lightness of fragrance concentration levels, of between 2% to 4%, present. These are comparably inexpensive and generally won’t last more than two hours after being applied to the skin.
- Eau Fraiche
As its name depicts, water is the main ingredient of eau fraiche. They are often just used to freshen up the wearer and may last for a maximum of an hour.
Try Before You Buy
Exploring the perfect fragrance is a personal journey, and the best way to embark on this is by sampling. Most stores offer samples or small vials, allowing you to test how a scent melds with your skin over several days. Brands may also provide discovery sets, which are curated collections of their fragrances in miniature form, giving you the opportunity to experience a variety of scents without committing to a full-size purchase.
Additionally, consider subscription services that deliver a range of perfume samples to your door monthly, enabling a continuous exploration of new and unique fragrances.
Finally, visiting a sample fragrance website allows you to explore a plethora of options, especially niche scents that might not be widely available.
When testing a new perfume, apply it to your pulse points and wear it throughout the day to observe the evolution of its notes from the initial spritz to the lingering base. Keep a fragrance journal to track your impressions, noting the scent’s longevity, sillage, and the emotions it evokes. This reflective practice will guide you to a scent that not only smells good but also resonates with your identity, ensuring your final choice is one that you’ll appreciate fully.
Beware Of Knock-Offs
The perfume industry has become a lucrative target for knock off or counterfeit products. Purchasing a fake perfume can be, at best, disappointing and, at worst, dangerous, since you’re applying it directly to your skin.
Knowing your favourite brand of perfume is one thing, but knowing if it’s authentic or not is another. Luckily, with the virtual transformation of product identification today, your phone might help you detect a knockoff.
The top notes of an authentic perfume and a rip-off might have similarities, making it hard to differentiate. Only after a few hours of wearing a particular scent might you begin to detect a more malignant profile, as the middle and base notes tell a more honest story of the perfume’s origins. Be scrupulous in your testing, sampling and wearing, to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth from your new fragrance purchase.
Now you’ve got the ‘how?’ down, let’s focus on the ‘what?’; check out these 5 IDEAL perfume fragrances with a timeless appeal. We can’t wait to within smelling distance of you soon!