How to Choose the Best Perfume
Choosing a perfume can be a delicate process. The scent of a perfume when worn is affected by many different factors. The process can seem confusing and complicated at first, especially considering how many types and brands of perfume are currently available. Follow the steps below for advice on choosing a fragrance that you absolutely love.
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Things You'll Need
- Perfume
- Testing strips (available at most perfume counters)
- Cup of coffee (optional)
Instructions
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Know your perfumes before you shop. Ask friends and family members for perfume advice. Flip through a fashion magazine like "Cosmo," "Elle" or "Vogue"—many of them contain small sample strips that you can smell. Think about what kinds of smells you like. Are you partial to roses, or are you more of an earthy, fresh grass kind of person? There are many different types of perfumes: floral (with flower-scented notes), fruity (with fresh, warm scents), woody (invoking fragrant wood smells), green (which smell like woods and fresh grass) and oriental (with sensual and rich scents). Think about which of these scents appeal to you the most.
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Take a trip to a perfume counter, either in a beauty store or a department store. Ask the salesperson for assistance, and let her know what type of scents you prefer. The salesperson may be able to suggest types of perfumes to try based on your scent preferences. Pick out several perfumes to try.
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Take a testing strip (they'll be available at most perfume counters) and spray a little of the perfume on it. Wait several seconds, then take a whiff. Do this with two or three perfumes, but don't test more than that in one day—your olfactory senses will become overwhelmed and you won't be able to smell as well. If you have more than three scents you'd like to smell, come back on a separate day.
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Choose the scents you like the most to test on your skin. Spray your test scent on your wrist, then cover your wrist with the opposite hand for five or six seconds so that the warmth of your body brings out the perfume's notes. Smell the perfume's initial scent. This is called the top note, and it is the first incarnation of the scent. It lasts for about 10 minutes.
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Wait a half hour after spritzing—walk around, shop for a while or make a phone call. Then smell your wrist again—the scent will have changed by now into something richer. This is called the middle (or heart) note. Think about how well this scent appeals to you.
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After you've left the store—several hours after the initial spritz—smell your wrist once more. This new incarnation of the scent is known as the base note. Consider how well all three notes go together.
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Once you've wrist-tested all your chosen scents, decide which one appeals most to you. Then make a purchase.
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Tips & Warnings
When testing scents, bring along a cup of coffee. Smelling coffee in-between scents can help clear your olfactory system and prepare you for the next scent.
Don't rub your wrists together before smelling them when testing perfumes on your wrist—it can muddle the scent.
