How to Choose a New Perfume
Have you ever loved a perfume on someone else, tried it out on yourself and been disappointed? Or worse yet, have you ever purchased a perfume that didn't smell the same on you the first full day after you bought it?
With so many glorious fragrances on the market today, choosing a new one can be a daunting task. The following are a few facts and tips to assist in your next attempt to find the right scent for you.
What, When and Need to Knows
There are 6 main scent categories that your final fragrance selection will comprise of in some combination. They are Floral, Fruity, Oceanic, Greens, Orientals and Woody.
A floral over-tone is soft and light for a young woman whereas a perfume rich in sultry Orientals is seductive for the more sophisticated woman.
In the same sense, some fragrances work better during different seasons for instance Spring and Summer bring out the best in Citrus scents, whereas heavier, spicier fragrances are more conducive to Fall and Winter.
There are also appropriate times to wear different fragrance concentrations: daytime and warm weather calls for lighter concentrations, while evening and cooler weather allows for stronger concentrations. From strongest to weakest, the fragrances are concentrated as follows: Perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne, and then Aftershave.
The scent of each can be divided into 4 specific notes:
- Top: strongest smell, within the first 5 – 10 minutes of spritzing
- Middle: after 20 – 30 minutes when almost all alcohol has evaporated
- Bottom: after approximately 2 hours, the staying power of the fragrance
- Missing Note: personal body chemistry that determines variation in scent and staying power
How to Shop for a Fragrance
Our experts from Avon Canada suggest the following techniques when hunting for your new fragrance:
- Shop before lunch as your sense of smell is sharpest then. Don't eat beforehand as some flavourful foods (such as curry) can affect your olfactory senses.
- Spray onto a sample card first, wait for a few minutes for the alcohols to evaporate, and if you like it, spray it onto your skin.
- Spray 10” – 12” away from the wrist.
- Do not rub your wrists together as the scent might distort.
- Wait up to 10 minutes for the top note to settle and smell again.
- If possible, leave for a further 20 – 30 minutes to get an appreciation for the middle note.
- Ask for samples so you can truly test the fragrance before committing to it.
- Carry moisturizing wipes to cleanse skin where previous fragrances have been sprayed.
- If your budget does not accommodate your favourite fragrance, consider a smaller bottle for special occasions and look for a less expensive alternate for everyday where.
Optimum Application
Avon Canada also gives us this advice for lasting application:
- Apply to pulse points..
- Never spray closer than 10“ – 12” away.
- Re-apply every 3 – 5 hours.
- Layering a scent deepens it so it is able to entice and allure for longer periods. A perfectly layered scent begins with deodorant, then body lotion, then baby powder and finally fragrance.
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