This is the final installment in a series about fragrances. You can find the other two installments here and here.
What do you do when you find one of those scented pages in a magazine or catalog? Do you rub your finger over it a few times and stick your nose on the page like a scratch and sniff sticker? Or, when presented with a bottle, do you stick your nose up to the bottle or spray it in the air? Well, you might begin there, but actually, all you're getting is how that scent smells on that piece of paper or in the air or in the bottle. Do you take a spray bottle or vial and spray it on your wrist then rub it vigorously on your other arm? All that does is heat the fragrance up more than it should be and destroys the texture of the fragrance.
It is very important to know how to test a fragrance correctly, because each of us has different body chemistry and so that fragrance will smell slightly different on every person. What smells terrific on my best friend may smell like my Aunt Fanny's old tennis shoes on me. You want to know that the fragrance you are considering is going to smell the same when you get it home as it did when you tested it.
To find out how that fragrance will smell on you, rub your wrist on the scent page or spray it on your wrist. Wait for a few seconds and then smell it. That way you be sure to get all the top notes that the fragrance designer intended you to get. If you smell it too soon, you risk getting a kind of "alcohol wipe" scent. Wear the scent for a while, taking note of the changes in it. For the first few minutes, you'll smell the top notes, the first things you smell when you encounter a fragrance. Usually the top notes are the main family scents, the things that identify the scent. As your body warms the fragrance up, you'll begin to notice new smells. These are the middle notes. These form the body of the fragrance. They take between 5-10 minutes to develop. These notes are some of the sub-family scents I talked about in my previous post. Then, after about 20 minutes, the base notes come out. These are the scents that are the most long lasting and they may linger after the wearer is gone from the room. Usually these are the heaviest of all the scents in the fragrance.
It is important not to try more than 2 or 3 scents at a time because it confuses your nose and it becomes difficult for you to distinguish between the different scents. You will want to wear your new scent for several hours to see how it develops over time. What smells good initially, may not be as good in a couple of hours because a different scent comes to the center stage of the fragrance.
How do you know what to pick for your fragrance? If you are a lover of fragrance, you probably already have a "scent personality". But if you aren't, you may be working on developing that personality. So, in that case, we'll start with a little bit of general information. Usually, lighter scents are for daytime wear and heavier ones are for night. You can't really classify them by family for day or night because an Floral with Fresh/Green notes (like Haiku) is lovely for daytime, while an Floral with oriental notes (like Far Away Dreams) is a heavier scent and could be used for evening. You have to use your own judgement in this arena. Past that, everything depends on you and what you do.
Think about what you do. Are you kind of an alterna-mom? Woody and Chypre fragrances with their earth-based notes may be a good place to start. Are you really into light fresh fragrances that aren't "perfumey"? Look at fragrances from the Citrus family and Light Florals with Fresh/Green notes. Are you looking for something for a big night out that will leave an impression even after you've gone? Try an Oriental or Chypre fragrance, or a Floral with Woody or Oriental notes. Are you adventurous and like a little excitement? Try something unusual for women like a Woody fragrance with Leather and Floral notes such as "Outspoken". Are you a woman who is most comfortable in classic clothing and conservative styles? Try a classic Floral with Floral or Oriental notes such as "In Bloom".
For men: Light and Fresh? Aim toward fragrances in the Citrus family, like "Jet Homme" or Woody family with notes of Marine, Fresh, Spicy or Green. Dark and mysterious? Orientals and Chypre family fragrances are a good choice. For everyday wear Fougere family fragrances, like "True Force", are great. They last well and make a good, but not overpowering impression.
I hope that this series has been helpful and I hope to hear some feedback on it, good or bad, about how you did with your fragrance shopping. Just drop me a line or put a comment below.
Have a beautiful day!!
No comments:
Post a Comment