"No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory." – Coco Chanel

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Have you ever gone into a perfume store, ready to make a purchase, but you're overwhelmed by the number of options? And what if you want to buy online where you can't try on the perfumes?

There are so many different kinds of perfumes and scents, and they all smell so good! When it comes to fragrance, how do you know which one is right for you? 

Well, I'm here to help! In this blog post, I'll share all of the tips and tricks I've learned over the years on how to choose a new perfume.

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Choose a new perfume using the Fragrance Wheel

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Fragrance is like music, and the way we choose our perfume can be a lot like choosing a new piece of music.

Fragrances are abstract art: they can embody love, drama, and ecstasy. They're also elusive and sensual, which makes them hard to grasp.

A good way to get started is by using the fragrance wheel.  A fragrance wheel is a tool used by perfume makers and experts to help them decide which fragrances will go well together. It also can be used as a guide for choosing new perfumes.

The fragrance wheel consists of 12 main categories: Floral, Woody/Earthy, Fresh, Aquatic, Citrusy/Fruity, Oriental/Spicy, Chypre, Gourmand/Foody, Chilled/Aromatic, Musky/Woody and Clean (or soapy).

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Choose Fragrance Family 

Much like music, perfume has its own genres. So consider the genre of the fragrances that you are already drawn to.

Classic perfume genres are:

Oriental: This is a warm and rich perfume with usually uses more exotic and unusual notes, including vanilla, cinnamon, orris, jasmine, orchid, and orange blossom. It is usually a strong scent. Some examples are Shalimar, Opium, or Poison. 

Chypre: This scent has a woody, earthy base with floral top notes and spicy middle notes. It is often described as being fresh, green, and herbal. Some examples are Orhanza or Clinique Aromatics Elixir. 

Fougere: Fougere perfumes have a woody base with a floral middle note and herbaceous top notes. Many modern fougère perfumes include citrus, herbaceous, green, floral, and animalic notes. Typical masculine scents like Dolce & Gabbana. 

Gourmand: These perfumes have sweet notes like vanilla, caramel, or chocolate mixed with other ingredients like musk or rose petals to create a unique scent that smells both sweet and sexy at the same time! YSL Black Opium and Prada Candy. 

Woody: woody notes come from wood materials like trees, resin, moss, bark, pine cones, and bushes but also roots. Grasses and leaves can have a strong earthy, woody flavor (like Patchouli and Vetiver). Example: Tom Ford Oud Wood. 

Floral: Floral scent is, as the name implies, the scent of flowers. This can be a single flower scent or a blend of several flower scents. These scents are soft, feminine, and subtly sweet.

Citrus: Fresh fragrances awaken your senses with bright citrus notes like bergamot or minty aromas like lavender or vetiver grasses. These scents are also great for summertime because they feel so light and fresh! Some examples are Jo Malone’s Lime Basil and Mandarin. 

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Choose Fragrance Concentration  

There are a lot of different terms that get thrown around when you're looking at perfumes and fragrances, but one of the most important is concentration.

The concentration is what determines how long your scent will last, as well as how strong it is. This can be confusing because there are actually five different levels of concentration: Eau Fraîche, Eau de Cologne (EDC), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Parfum (EDP), and Parfum/Extrait de Parfum (Parfum).

Parfum/Extrait de Parfum - Perfume oil concentration of 20-40% 

Eau de Parfum - Perfume oil concentration - 15-20%

Eau de Toilette - Perfume oil concentration - 5-15%

Eau de Cologne - Perfume oil concentration - 2-5%

Eau Fraîche - Perfume oil concentration of 1-3%

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Parfum - lasts for about 6 to 8 hours or even more.

Eau de perfume-   lasts for 4 to hours.

Eau de toilette -  lasts for 2 to 4 hours.

Eau de cologne - lasts for 2 to 3 hours.

Eau Fraîche - lasts upto 2 hours

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While there are some variations between perfume lines, generally speaking: EDPs tend to have the strongest scent, while EDTs have a lighter scent. Parfums have an even lighter scent than EDTs but can last longer on your skin.

But what does all this mean for you? Well, it means that if you want your perfume to last all day and night—and maybe even longer—you'll need to choose a fragrance with a higher concentration like an EDP or Parfum.

And if you're looking for something more affordable and less powerful, EDTs tend to be cheaper than either EDPs or Parfums so those might be good options for you.

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Fragrance Notes 

Fragrance notes are the individual ingredients that make up a fragrance, or what we refer to as the "perfume accord."

Top notes are the most dominant and noticeable scents in a perfume. They are generally crisp and sharp, taken from citrus fruits or fresh herbs. 

Heart or Middle notes are more subtle than the top notes and provide depth to the scent. 

Base notes bring depth and complexity to a perfume after all of the other notes have disappeared. Base notes can be woody, musky, or vanilla-like.

It is important to know what order these notes appear in because they will affect how long your scent lasts on your skin and how long it takes for it to fade away completely.

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Does perfume have a gender?

Is there a difference between perfumes for men and perfumes for women? Is perfume gender specific? A frequently asked question, but where does gender come from in perfumes?

The answer is no, it's not. Perfume is not gender specific, nor does it have a 'masculine' or 'feminine' scent. The reason why so many people think this way is because of cultural influences.

Perfume is a cultural and individual phenomenon. The fragrance of your perfume depends on many factors: from the ingredients used, to the way you smell and feel about yourself, to your personality and age group – everything plays a part. So where does gender come into play?

The answer is simple: gender is determined by culture and individuals themselves.

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Unisex perfumes are designed without any regard for gender - they simply smell good! But don't be fooled - they can still have their own unique characteristics that make them stand out from other unisex fragrances on the market today. A great example of this is Tom Ford's Black Orchid - it has a strong base note of vanilla which gives it its distinct masculine edge but also contains notes of tuberose, jasmine, and orange blossom which give off an airy feminine vibe at the same time! It's very difficult to tell if this perfume was made with men or women in mind because it just smells so good on everyone!

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Occasion 

Perfume is a vital piece of your outfit. You can't just wear any aroma with any outfit. It's important to consider the occasion you're dressing for when choosing your scent, as well as which scents work best with different types of events. 

First, consider the occasion: is it a formal wedding, or a casual party?  Do you want people to remember you as sophisticated, or fun?

If you're going to a formal event, then you'll want to find something appropriate like Chanel No. 5. If you're going to a more casual event, then it's okay to go wild with your choices! Just make sure that you are comfortable with whatever scents you choose.

The second thing to consider is the season: which weather conditions will be present at the event? If it's hot outside, then something with a cooling effect might be best; if it's cold, then something warm and comforting would be appropriate.

Finally, try to consider what kind of person you are: do you enjoy being bold or subtle? Do you prefer sweet or spicy scents?

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Budget 

If you're on a budget, you don't have to sacrifice your perfume-buying experience.

In fact, it's possible to get quality fragrances at any price point—it just takes some savvy shopping and attention to detail.

First tip: Don't buy into the hype. Just because a fragrance is popular now doesn't mean it will always be. Take your time and shop around for a fragrance that speaks to your tastes—and not just what's hot right now. Buy classics instead of trendy fragrances: classics have lasted the test of time because they're good quality scents that everyone loves (and they'll save you money in the long run).

Second tip: Perfume packaging can very attractive and seductive, but it can be misleading as many very poor-quality perfumes are sold in stunning boxes and bottles. By contrast, some high-quality perfumes, such as Chanel No.5, are presented in very simple packaging. If your budget is bottomless - lucky you! The sky is your limit. If this isn’t the case, you should look to the sales assistant for advice so they can best assist you as to what to buy within your budget

Third tip: Look for sales at department stores and other retail outlets. Sales happen all the time, so keep your eyes peeled for them and try to buy when the price is right. You might even want to set up an alert on your phone so you'll know when new sales go live!

Fourth tip: Try looking for alternatives. Once you've found fragrances you love, keep an eye out for lower-cost versions that are similar or even better than the original. If they're just somewhat similar and not quite as great, then go with the original!

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Remember: buying lots of cheaper fragrances that you don't really like is more expensive than a single great premium bottle!

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If your budget is bottomless - lucky you! The sky is your limit. 

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Test the Fragrance

"Just like men, perfume is never perfect right away you have to let it seduce you."– Jean Patou

When you're trying out a new perfume, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First off, don't judge the perfume based on your first impression. You'll want to use fragrance strips and put them in sandwich bags so you can smell them over time. This is important because it will allow you to experience the full scope of the perfume's scent.

When you first spray the perfume, you'll be hit with top notes—the top notes are designed to make an initial impression and then fade away after 10-20 minutes. But don't judge based on that! You really need to wait until the base notes come out before making any decisions about whether or not you like it.

Base notes make up most of a perfume's composition and can't be enjoyed until top notes fade away (at least an hour). That means if you judge too soon, then your experience won't be as complete as possible.

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Narrow it Down 

Don't rush your decision.

It's easy to get caught up in the moment and make a purchase when you're trying out a new perfume, but it's important to wait until you've had enough time to test the scent and see how it reacts with your body chemistry.

The best way to do this is by putting each individual strip into separate sandwich bags, then leaving them out for a few hours. You'll be able to smell them again later, and your initial impression will have changed.

You should not combine the strips in one bag if you want to compare them—that way, you won't be smelling a blend of different scents. 

After testing a few different perfumes, you will have a much better idea of what you like, and what you don't. You will also know what kind of scent you want to wear on a daily basis.

After about an hour or two, go back in and smell all of the perfumes again. This time, pick up each strip and smell each one individually so that each one stands out on its own. You may find that some scents are better than others at this point in time!

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Conclusion

Finally, it's critical to understand where you are in your perfume journey. If you're just starting out with fragrances, keep in mind that your tastes will evolve. Even if you've sampled a lot of perfumes and discovered your signature scent. You may find that you no longer enjoy it after a few weeks or months. That's perfectly fine.

So, in the beginning, stick to inexpensive fragrances that you enjoy, as well as purchasing samples. When you feel your taste has stabilized, it may be time to invest in those pricey bottles on your shopping list!

Now you are equipped with some tips on how to choose a perfume, therefore you can invest wisely. You will be able to find the perfect fragrance for any occasion, mood, and style!

So in the end, there are no rules. Follow your nose and your bank account, but you'll never go wrong with those above-mentioned factors.

If you have any questions regarding this blog or topics you would like to see me cover please leave a comment below!

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