How to Learn About Perfume

Learn about perfume before adding to your collection.

Fragrance is a very personal thing. What smells good to one person may be off-putting to another. If you are looking to grow your fragrance library, you may want to learn about the notes that you like and the ones that you dislike. Perfume notes are responsible for the scent changing when it's on your skin. Perfumes contain top notes, middle notes and final notes. The middle notes are what last the longest.

Instructions

Instructions

1. Read books about the basic perfume notes. Another idea is to search online using the term "perfume notes". Some of the most common perfume notes are floral, leather, oriental, citrus and chypre. Visit the website www.basenotes.net to conduct your research.

2. Visit a boutique or department store that specializes in fragrances, and obtain as many perfume samples as you can.

3. Take time to smell different types of perfume, from musky to aquatic. Smell the perfume samples, then test them on your own skin. It is important that you do try the perfumes on your skin, as the notes in each perfume react differently to skin chemistry. If the perfume smells pleasant on your skin after about 10 minutes, then you know that it works well with your body chemistry.

Tips & Warnings

• To remove offensive perfume from your skin, wipe it with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.

References

• Elle: The Scent Detective
• Made How: How Perfume is Made
• Perfume Select: What Exactly is Perfume?
• Base Notes: Independent Online Guide