Choosing the Right Fragrance

By Lara Okusanya

Choosing a scent is a very personal task. Buying for someone else, is even harder, it’s often a good idea to ask them what perfumes they already wear, so you can get an idea of what ‘family’ their favorite fragrances belong to. What suits one person will smell completely different on another person. How many times have you purchased a perfume only to have the scent change on you the next day? Or you smell a perfume on a friend, rush to the store to buy it, only to find out it doesn’t smell the same on you as it does on your friend? Choosing a new fragrance can feel a bit overwhelming and confusing, especially when facing a wall of numerous fragrances.

To help you in choosing the perfect scent, here are some few tips.

Know the fragrance family; As discussed in one of my previous articles, there are various fragrance families – Floral, Fruity, Oriental, Woody, Spicy and so on. When it comes to picking a fragrance you’ll love, ‘It’s important to get down to that dry down note — which is that last note that’s left on your skin — because that’s what’s going to stay with you.’ The final note of a fragrance is the ‘missing note’ – each individual’s skin chemistry that helps determine the intensity and longevity of a fragrance. This explains why fragrances can vary on each individual.

If you want to change your perfume or you want to buy a fragrance gift for a friend, it is best to look at what you/your friend already like and try to find something else within that particular family group. The chances are if you/your friend like one floral fragrance, you/your friend may also like others in the same family

Customize with your Personality: A good perfume will reflect the personality of the wearer.

For the Ladies –

If you love the outdoors, smell of freshly cut grass then you are ‘Green’.

If you are a romantic, girly girl at heart, then you are ‘Floral’.

If you are a sultry seductive, more mature lady, then you are ‘Oriental’.

If you love the fresh smell of the ocean and the fresh air, then you are ‘Fresh’.

If you love masculine smells, woody, earthy and smoky smells then you are ‘Woody’.

If you love lemons, citrus and sharp fruits then you are ‘Citrus’.

For the Men –

If you have a determined nature coupled with a sophisticated yet mysterious allure, select a musky, amber-based scent.

Charismatic guys who are always chasing their next adventure should invest in a woody concoction.

Clean-cut, sporty types will feel most comfortable with a smell that’s as energetic and enthusiastic as they are, so seek out fresh and invigorating citrus, green or aquatic fragrances and reapply them throughout the day for renewed vigor.

If you tend toward the romantic side, try a fragrance with florals.

Dominant, ambitious men who love being in control will send a powerful message with a heady fougere cologne.

Day or Night Wear: An important point to note when choosing a fragrance is what time you will be wearing it. There are some perfumes which have been specifically designed for different periods of the day. Decide whether you are looking for something to wear during the day, for evenings or just for fun! People usually prefer lighter scents for daytime and more intense for evening. Eau De Toilette [EDT]/Eau De Cologne [EDC] works best during the day while Eau De Parfum[EDP] works best at night.

Budget: Be clear in your mind how much you want to spend before you begin to shop for any scent. You can speak with sales attendants at any perfume store to help ensure you find something to suit your budget and not blow it completely! If shopping at an online store, click on the price range you have set in your budget and choose your scent from that column.

Never Judge a Bottle by its Cover: Just go on smell alone, it’s better to not even look at the bottles or names on the label.Take a Smell Break; it’s important when finding a new scent that you don’t try more than three at any one time. Your nose may become de-sensitized (smell fatigue) if you try more than a handful so take a break. You can take a ‘smell break’ when trying different scents by simply taking a deep breath through your nose and smell your sleeve or cuff. This will clear your nose of any lingering perfume notes.

*Okusanya is the CEO of Perfume Colony. She can be reached viainfo@perfumecolony.com