Which Perfume Should I Wear?
What
Perfume Should I Wear?
Knowing
what perfume to wear is not always easy. With so many different brands and
“flankers” of the same scent, knowing which perfume to get yourself is
challenging.
It
goes without saying that your budget matters. How much we can afford to spend
on perfume is often the first thing that crosses our minds.
Secondly,
we would also like to know what perfume is right for us and the occasion. As a
regular perfume buyer, I always advise men and women on what perfume to buy.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give is that you should have a couple of
different perfumes.
As long as you look after your perfume it will last several years, meaning you
won’t constantly be having to buy new fragrances once you find one that suits
you.
What
Is the Best Size Perfume to Get?
Buying
the right size perfume is important. If you have a go-to scent you like to wear
every day, I recommend buying a large bottle.
Here’s
a thing to bear in mind. If you like a particular scent, I recommend buying a
perfume gift set. I am a big believer in perfume gift sets and go out of my way
to buy them.
Using
a body lotion as part of your morning or going-out routine helps to make the
scent last longer. In gift sets, you often get a smaller bottle of the same
scent. A smaller bottle of the same scent is perfect for your handbag, gym bag
or weekend holder, and is great if you feel your scent start to fade through to day.
Most
of us wear different perfumes for going out or on special occasions. As you are
likely to use this perfume less, there is no reason why you should not buy a
smaller bottle. You won’t be getting the same value for money from a small
bottle, but you don’t want to have a big bottle of fragrance sat there for so
long that you still haven’t reached the bottom in 5 years.
I
like to have a couple of different special occasions perfume on standby. When
it comes to daywear, I often choose a freshie perfume. For a date night, I like
romantic, seductive or gourmand perfumes. On special occasions call on a
perfume that not everyone is going to wear.
How
Do I Know What Perfume Suits Me?
When
you go out to buy perfume, it is best not to try too many in one go.
Personally,
I read up about perfumes before I go shopping. It is important to know what
notes you like. If you love magnolia, Issey Miyake
makes a wonderful perfume.
It
is important to try to understand what you are smelling. Perfumes are made up
of essential oils. They all smell differently. In the perfume industry, we
refer to them as notes or tones.
As you spray the perfume, see if you can
figure out what notes you can smell.
Strong
teas and coffees affect your sense of smell. So does spicy food and cooking a
meal. Try to avoid strong and spicy tastes before going perfume shopping. That
makes it easier for you to choose the perfume which is right for you.
Yes,
the price matters. I know that it is easy to make the purchase price the main
influencing buying factor. Once again, think about what you are purchasing. If
you are thinking about buying a more expensive perfume, it is probably made
from better quality ingredients. Used and looked after in the right way, it
should linger for longer.
Always
buy a perfume that suits your needs and appeals to you.
How
Do You Pick A Perfume Without Smelling it First?
This
is where perfume categories come into their own. Should you choose a freshie,
romantic or special occasion perfume? Further down on this page, I am talking
more about what perfumes fall under each category.
It
is also good to know your scent palette. If you already have a perfume from the
Marc Jacobs range, you may want to stay within that range. Daisy Eau So Fresh is great for the office or school run. For
evening wear, you could opt for Marc Jacob Daisy Love.
Don’t
rush into making a buying decision. Reading reviews is a good idea before you
click on buy now.
Buying
perfumes online saves money. It is also a great place to pick up perfume gift
sets.
Should
I Rub In the Perfume?
Rubbing
in the perfume does not make it last longer. Many ladies rub perfumes thinking
more fragrance is going to be released. All that happens is that the perfume is
absorbed by the skin, and this can actually suppress
some of the perfumes notes that needed that time to breathe.
If
you have an eau de perfume,
there is no reason why you should not put a few drops behind your ear. You
should be careful when it comes to applying perfume to your neck as it may dry
out your skin.
Spraying
an eau de toilette on your
hair is a good idea. When you move your hair about, the scent releases and
wafts. It is a good idea to spray it on your wrists. If you think the perfume
is not going to stain your clothes, you can spray it on your clothes.
Perfume
Selections
If
you want to know more about perfumes, you should explore the different
categories of perfume
There is also something called the Fragrance
Wheel or Perfume Families as perfumers like to call them. This is a bit like Color Me Beautiful but using fragrances instead.
On
this page, we are taking a nitty and gritty look at what I call Freshies,
Sweet, Romantic and Special Occasions perfumes.
Freshies
What
are freshies? Freshies are great scents for wearing during the day. They are
often uplifting and perk you up first thing in the morning and are great for
summers days.
The
most popular zingy notes in freshies are citrus including grapefruit and mandarine. Orange is often listed as a freshie note.
Personally, I find orange a bit heavy for daytime wear. You can also count on
bergamot and rosemary to lift you up in the morning. Many floral scents also
make excellent fresh perfumes
Good
examples of freshie scents include Dolce&Gabbana
Light Blue. The scent has a nice range of light floral notes that starts the day
off easily. It is perfect for the school run as well as the office.
Chloe
Rose Tangerine is another daytime perfume I think works well as a Freshie. The
tangerine notes pick you up and the rose tones add to the longevity of this
scent.
Estee
Lauder's range of fragrances is great when you want fresh notes. White Linen is
a classic scent that is at home almost anywhere. It has a few sharp notes that
will keep you on your toes until you had your second cup of coffee.
Modern
Muse is another scent from Estee Lauder you may want to try, I like to call it
fun-loving. It has nice floral notes with added woody depths.
Sweet
Perfumes
What
about sweet perfumes? If you like sweet fragrances, you should check out scents
that contain a touch of vanilla. Floral scents are often sweet, but some berry
essences can smell sweet in the right combination of essential oils.
Marc
Jacobs Daisy is a classic with its range of floral notes. The Marc Jacob range
of perfume has grown. It is an excellent brand with many fragrant surprises.
One
fragrance many ignore when it comes to sweet perfumes is Viktor&Rolf
Flowerbomb. Rose mixed with patchouli makes this
perfume sweet and appealing. Let it linger and you soon discover freesia and
bergamot. By the way, it comes in an absolutely gorgeous
bottle.
Hugo
Boss The Scent For Her is another fragrance which
falls under the sweet category of perfumes. It offers plenty of fruity notes
which make it sweet.
DKNY
Be Delicious is another you should consider if you are buying for yourself or
someone else. For some reason, this often left off the list of sweet scents. I
don’t know why. It is a very feminine perfume with magnolia sweetness. At the
same time, it is a bit sassy.
Date
Night Perfumes
If
you are going on a date, you are probably looking for a romantic perfume unless
you want to be a femme fatale for the night. If you have a more adventurous
night in mind, YSL Opium and Poison are perhaps your best choices. DKNY Tempted
is another good choice.
When
it is romance you are after, you are looking for slightly different notes. The
choice of notes is varied. You are bound to find a perfume that suits you.
The
notes and tones you should look out for are tonka bean and rose. These two
notes are a match made in heaven. Lotus flower is another romantic fragrance
which is a bit dreamy as well. White gardenia, ylang-ylang and amber are all
classic romantic notes associated with romance.
When
you want a more interesting romantic fragrance, you should look out for black
currant and violet. Both essences have a slight edge to them which come through
in a scent. You often find them blending with other sweeter more mellow notes.
Some say that lavender is romantic. Personally, I am not sure
about that. But, I do think that lavender can add a
sense of depth to a romantic scent. It just mustn’t be overbearing.
Popular romantic offerings include Good Girl Carolina Herrera,
Armani Si and Mugler Angel Nova.
Mugler Angel Nova is one of those scents that you don’t smell a
lot. Not only does it come in a beautiful bottle, but it also has a beautiful
romantic scent of roses. Fruit notes along with a slight citrus fruit finish
make this a perfume that will last the night.
The Good Girl Carolina Herrera range has many qualities to
admire. It is slightly mysterious while offering elegant romantic nuances.
Armani Si has long been considered a romantic perfume. It is
sparkling with a sweet finish offered by vanilla. In many ways, you can say
Armani Si is soft and feminine. If you are shopping for Giorgio Armani romantic
perfumes, you should also check out In Love With You.
Giorgio Armani has become one of my go-to perfumes for nights
out. What can you expect from In Love With You? It is
sweet and warm thanks to black cherry. The addition of patchouli makes it
elegant. Let me just say that patchouli is one of those essences
men pick up on. For some reason, I am almost always the only woman in the room
wearing this scent. However, most men remark on how nice I smell.
Special Occasion Perfumes
What are special occasions perfumes? It depends a little bit on
what you consider a special occasion. Perhaps it is a holiday or special day
such as a wedding anniversary.
That does not mean you have to dash out and buy Amethyst Haze
from Carolina Herrera. Giorgio Armani My Way is an excellent special occasion
fragrance. White musk and vanilla from Madagascar make this scent interesting.
Notes of tuberose and orange blossom add depth. It is a great scent for new
beginnings thanks to its sparkling notes.
Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Parfum is
another special occasion fragrance you should look out for. First launched in
1992, it quickly became a hit. The first notes are oriental blended with the
sweetness of honey. You will also pick up on sandalwood, patchouli and fruity
notes including orange and melons. It is a rare scent and makes a great perfume
for special occasions.
Jimmy Choo I Want Choo Forever is another choice when it comes
to special occasions. It is sophisticated and fun at the same time giving
vetiver a chance to play with pink pepper. Rich in energy and intensity, I Want
Choo Forever is a very special perfume.
Final Thoughts
It is not easy to find the best perfume to wear. When my
girlfriends ask me, I recommend they have one perfume of each category in their
fragrance collection. Remember to look after your perfumes, keep them out of
the sun and cool. Buy larger bottles of the scents you wear a lot and smaller
bottles for special occasions perfumes.