Finding a perfume is a lot like falling in love: You let the aroma sweep you off your feet until you are happily head over heels about it, and vow to be faithful from this day forward. But sifting through hundreds of potential perfumes to find the one that suits you best can be a daunting task. No worries, because even if you're looking for the one or a wardrobe of fragrances fragrances to suit your mood, we've got these handy tips to help you sniff out a signature scent:
Concentration: The strength of the essential fragrance oils and how much they are diluted makes a difference in the type of fragrance you buy. The higher the concentration, the longer the scent will last on your skin. Perfume or parfum is the fragrance in its purest form, with 20% concentration or more; eau de parfum is next, around 15-20%, while eau de toilette has a lower amount, like 8-15%, and cologne or eau de cologne has the lowest amount, about 4-8%.
Classification: Fragrances are usually divided into two families, either traditional or modern, and identified that way. Traditional scents are based on classic perfume categories from the turn of the century, like single floral, floral bouquet, amber, wood or leather. Modern aromas are newer, and include bright floral (a combo of single floral and floral bouquet), green, ocean or marine, citrus or fruity and gourmand, scents with a sweet, dessert like aroma.
Notes: The components of the fragrance. Notes work together during the evaporation process to create a complex aroma. Top notes are lighter, middle notes are the heart of the fragrance, and the base notes provide the depth and richness to the scent.
Packaging: Fragrance packaging can be as elaborate as a cut crystal bottle and jeweled topper or as simple as a spray top and bottle. Perfume usually comes in a special flacon, with ornate detailing to put out on a dressing table. Eau de toilette and cologne are mostly packaged in spray bottles with less detail.
Aroma: Take time to become aware of scents around you before you buy, and you'll soon develop a nose for your favorite. You may be attracted to a fragrance, like gardenia or amber, because it triggers a wonderful memory. Or you might simply like the aromas you're exposed to every day, like lemon, grass, tea, vanilla, roses. Once you identify your likes, id the classification (ie, green, oriental, or citrus), then read the specific notes, to help you hone in on your perfect match.
"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration
Lisa Cohen Lee
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