Choosing The Right Fragrance

Finding a new fragrance for yourself or a loved one, can be an exhausting task, and with so many scents, and so many combinations it can feel incredibly daunting. The first rule of fragrance finding is to think about what notes you like, and other scents you’re attracted to. Finding a new fragrance for yourself or a loved one, can be an exhausting task, and with so many scents, and so many combinations it can feel incredibly daunting. The first rule of fragrance finding is to think about what notes you like, and other scents you’re attracted to.

Try samples! Many perfume stores are more than happy to provide you with samples. It’s a great way to spend a week wearing a fragrance before investing in a whole bottle.

Before you can choose a fragrance you need to know the basics. Perfumes fall under several categories of scent and it can be helpful to know what they are before making your next perfume purchase.

Floral: Probably the most popular scent option, floral perfumes contain the scent of either one flower (rose, gardenia, lavender) or a bouquet of several varieties. Floral scents are feminine and romantic. If you like floral fragrances, try Daisy by Marc Jacobs or Romance by Ralph Lauren.

Oriental: These scents tend to be muskier and small rich and slightly spicy with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and clove. If you like Oriental fragrances, try Dior Addict by Christian Dior or Flower by Kenzo.

Chypre: This family of perfumes are characterized by an earthy, woodsy scent, with hints of oak, moss and citrus. Try Gucci Rush 2 by Gucci.

 Green: Think fresh cut grass, crushed leaves and other fresh, cool scents that bring to mind the outdoors and open spaces. If you like green fragrances try Be Delicious Green Apple by DKNY.

Fougere: Meaning fern in French, this family of scents is stronger and often used in men's fragrances. They contain hints of oak, moss and fresh herbs. If you enjoy the fougere scents, try Havana Pour Elle by Aramis.

Oceanic: These scents are influenced by the sea and evoke being by the ocean (sandy beach, salty air). Oceanic scents are clean, almost-masculine with hints of spice and citrus. If you like oceanic fragrances try Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden or Cool Water Woman by Davidoff.

Wood: Step into a forest and these are the notes you will get with a woody scent. Think pine, cedar, sandalwood - scents that are earthy and musky. If you like woody scents, try Black by Bvlgari.

Tips to select the best perfume for you

1 Consider scents you enjoy.

Make a list of your favorite smells as a starting point. From clean laundry and freshly cut grass to campfires and lilacs, your faves might be all over the place. No matter: The point is to remember the scents that mean something to you so you can choose a perfume with similar notes.

2 Think about your personality.

If you usually wear little to no makeup and love the outdoors, opt for a fresh, clean scent versus something spicy or musky. If you love getting dressed up and can't help but think of yourself as glamorous, choose a scent that lingers and that matches your notice-me outlook on life. The idea is to choose a fragrance that best represents who you are.

3 Test perfumes before buying.

You can't tell much from the scent strips in magazines or fragrance testers at department stores; plus, perfume smells different after you've worn it for a few hours, as we mentioned. So before getting out your wallet for the first scent you spritz, ask for a larger sample and try your potential new fragrance for a few days before you commit.

4 Ask opinions.

Ask your friends and family what they think. Is it too strong? Does it linger too long? Do they like it? Ultimately, the choice of fragrance is yours, but a second (or third) opinion on whether it suits you is helpful.