Fragrances are more than a bottle that works to make you smell good. A great fragrance can improve your mood and boost your confidence. But with so many scents available in the market, how do you choose your signature perfume scent?
If you feel overwhelmed with your scent choices, don’t worry. Here are some tips to guide you to the path leading to the scent you can truly call yours.
Understand Scent Families
Scents are generally divided into different categories. There are about four to eight scent families with distinctive fragrance notes. Although category names and sub-categorizations differ, most sources agree on four scent families: floral, fresh, oriental, and woody.
Floral
A single flower or a bouquet of several different flowers dominates the floral scent. The most popular flower-turned-scents include rose, lily, freesia, gardenia, and lavender.
Fresh
Citrus fruits are often associated with the fresh scent family. However, some would include scents with notes of leaves, grasses, and cucumber in the family.
Oriental
Some would describe oriental as a scent family with a blend of sweetness, warmth, mystery, and exoticness. Scents like vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are categorized under the oriental or ambrée family.
Woody
Woody scents are warm aromatic scents reminiscent of wood. This is where you can find perfumes with distinct cedarwood, patchouli, oud, and sandalwood.
Try exploring the different scent families. If you are partial to a certain category, then look into the different scents under that. Go with the aroma that makes you feel good when you smell or wear it.
Look into the Concentrations
Fragrances are generally made from perfume, oil, and alcohol. The proportion of fragrant oil to alcohol determines a fragrance’s concentration.
The three fragrance concentrations include:
- Eau de Cologne: 2 to 4 percent
- Eau de Toilette: 5 to 15 percent
- Eau de Parfum: 10 to 20 percent
Fragrance concentrations are also responsible for how strong the scent is and how long it stays. Higher concentrations will last longer and make you smell great from day to night without reapplication.
Test It Out
When you have identified the scent you like and determined the concentration, test it first before buying a whole bottle. Sometimes the way a fragrance smells on a tester strip or in the air will smell differently once you apply it to your body.
Your body’s chemistry can make the perfume react differently. Maybe the scent you chose may not agree with the chemistry of your natural oils or sweat. This can alter the whole scent experience.
If you still like the scent after spritzing it on, purchase a smaller bottle. Doing so allows you to fully enjoy the perfume without wasting money in case you grow tired of it. If you are still in love with the scent after finishing the bottle, upgrade to a larger bottle.
Spray It Skillfully
Consider applying the perfume to your hair. Your hair’s natural oils make it the ideal medium for capturing and retaining scent. Spraying it on your hair can also diffuse strong smells.
However, be mindful of how much fragrance you spritz. If you own an Eau de Parfum, use it sparingly because the scent can be pretty strong, so it is easy to overdo it.
When you use a scent for too long, you may get used to how it smells. Ask a loved one or a friend what they think of the perfume. Although your opinion is what ultimately matters, you should be respectful of other people, too. You can still have the perfume you love; you need to adjust your spray method or play with the concentrations.
Conclusion
Discovering the right fragrance for you can be overwhelming. But once you understand and explore the scent families, play with the concentrations, and test it out, the task will be infinitely easier. Remember to spritz with caution and wear it with confidence.
If you are looking for a scent that is distinctly you, explore Alexandria perfumes by Alexandria Fragrances. Inspired by famous brands from Chanel to Jo Malone, these scents can capture your alluring essence in a bottle. Explore our shop today!