Photo Credit: cottonbro via www.pexels.ocm
When you think about it, choosing a fragrance is one of life’s trickier decisions. After all, how do we truly know our own body chemistry or which smells are best suited to that? The only thing we know when heading to the perfume section is what the bottle looks like. But otherwise, we have almost nothing to go on when making that decision.
Even when you go over for the obligatory test and sniff on your wrist, how do you know if it works for you? The first step in choosing the right scent, however, does begin with you, which may sound like an oversimplification, but it’s the truth.
Who are you?
The first question to ask is what scents are you most fond of? What products do you already use on your body – think shower gels, shampoos and hairsprays, even hand washing soaps. Maybe even consider the types of washing powder or fabric softeners you use on your clothes. You could even think about the unconventional smells that you enjoy more than some others might, such as coffee, freshly cut grass or even gasoline.
That’s not to say you should buy a perfume that smells of petrol, but maybe consider pinpointing just what it is that makes that scent or fragrance seem to appeal to you. There may be an underlying note in women’s perfume that you find particularly appealing. If you do some research, you’re bound to find something that suits you to the ground.
Hitting the right notes
So, with all these notes, which is the most important to consider? As renowned perfumier Kilian Hennessy says in an article by Vogue, the customer’s attention will be driven by the top notes, as they are the first that will be noticed. But delve a little deeper into the middle and bottom notes, and you’ll find the real heart and signature of the scent.
Hennessy goes on to say that the type of perfume ultimately depends upon many personality factors. You may feel the need to wear strong perfume on a regular basis, or maybe it’s something saved for special occasions. The selection of a scent is deeply personal – perhaps more so than we care to admit. Doing the requisite research on notes and tones can help you find a scent that you’ll absolutely adore.
5000 years of scents – time to experiment?
Another renowned perfumer Guy Delforge states, perfumes have existed for 5,000 years, more or less sticking to the same scents – think floral tones, jasmine, bergamot and roses. But the tide is beginning to finally turn after all this time, as millennial customers look to reshape the perfume sector.
Gender neutral and vegan scents are becoming more common, with a basis on citrus smells. As one of seven families of smells, citrus is seen somewhere in between the woody masculine and floral feminine scents. With this in mind, we exist in a golden age of experimentation when it comes to the scents, we give off via the perfume chosen and bodily chemistry. It may be that this brave new world gives you a brave new scent to embrace.