Scents are evocative— just a whiff can instantly take you back down memory lane, bringing forth passions and emotions which run deep. This is why it’s crucial to be meticulous whilst picking a fragrance for your vanity. After all, this scent will serve as an extension of your aura — with the unique ability to leave a long-lasting impression on the psyche of those you surround yourself with!
If you have a signature scent best suited to your personality, well and good. However, if you are on a hunt for ‘that’ divine scent or want to switch things up in your vanity, we are here to help you make the decision. Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding a powerful and long-lasting fragrance for yourself!
1. Check The Concentration
Before we mull over the assortment of scent families, let’s focus on another crucial attribute of your signature fragrance. Its longevity! If the fragrance lasts 10 to 12 hours, it will save you the trouble of reapplication. This is why we recommend opting for EDP formulations. EDP is an acronym for Eau De Parfum which boasts an incomparable oil concentration of 10 to 20%.
These perfume for women are ideal for special occasions as they linger on your clothing,
around the clock. Alternatively, you can pick EDTs, carrying a perfume oil concentration of 5 to 10%. Lasting anywhere between 6 to 8 hours, these perfumes are fitting for regular use.
PRO TIP: If you want to ensure that your scent lasts longer, apply it on your pulse points, the nape of your neck, and behind your earlobes— all on a thin layer of Vaseline.
2. Zero On The Scent Family
Picking a scent family is a crucial intermediate step to locking and carting your signature perfume! Universally, the fragrance wheel carries four mega families -woody, floral, fresh and oriental. As the name suggests, floral scents are crafted from flowers and house four different sub-families-fruity, floral, oriental and soft floral. It’s the perfect captivating scent for a brunch date with your girlfriends or a trip to the art gallery.
Oriental scents carry notes reminiscent of herbs and spices, a clear distinction from the floral family. Woody scents are created with ingredients like cedar and sandalwood amongst others which weave a memorable experience for the wearer and the people who come in contact with them.
Last but not least, the fresh family mimics the scent associated with the greens, aquas and citruses.
Selecting a scent family is a unique experience that varies from person to person!
3. A Little Research Will Stand You In Good Stead
If you are someone with li’l to no experience in the fragrances’ department, commit to researching the topic before you buy a product. We recommend reading up on the different notes of your last league of perfume contenders. For the unversed, a perfume boasts three notes- top, heart and base .
The top note (common eg. lemon, lavender, rose, etc) is the lightest, dispels away easily, but creates the first impression on the user. The middle note or heart note forms a solid 50 to 60% of your fragrance and dominates the experience weaved by your choicest perfume. The base note (cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli) lingers when the heart note evaporates in thin air, adding character and complexity to the overall scent.
4. It’s All About The Chemistry
The same perfume can smell very different on two people— smelling delightful delish when a friend spritz it, but not so much on you? But have you ever wondered why? We can attribute this distinction to the way a formulation interacts with the skin’s chemistry and is perceived by the brain. We recommend testing the product in real time, as your theoretical knowledge on everything fragrance may go awry based on the skin’s pheromones.
5. The Right Method Of Application
Now that you have worked through the various parameters to find your perfect match— it’s integral to enhance the blend’s effectiveness, by wearing the perfume right. If the perfume of your choice sits in a bottle with a nozzle spray on the brim, keep it at least 5 to 8 inches from your body before spritzing. As mentioned earlier, aim for the 8 pulse points, like the wrists, the back of the knee, the nape, and behind your ears, to name a few.
Additionally, it’s also recommended to spray your fave scent on your hair to pack a holistic sensorial experience for yourself. You can try spraying your hairbrush with your signature perfume and running it through your tresses for an easy-breezy application process.
Alternatively, if your perfume bottle isn’t equipped with a nozzle— take a small amount of the formulation and dab it on your pulse points.
Conclusion
Picking the perfect fragrance is a unique experience that varies from person to person. While technical attributes like the concentration of the perfume oil, the varying notes in the formulation and the consideration of the scent families are crucial— it also depends a lot on your personality! This is why we recommend testing and trying your top scent contenders in a beauty kiosk before shelling out the big bucks. This will help you experience the scent and the boatload of emotions it unravels in all its glory. Furthermore, the same fragrance can smell different on two people, owing to how the formulation reacts with the skin’s pH..
