Picking the right fragrances

Finding the perfect fragrance is a lot like finding the perfect life partner—sometimes you get it all wrong, sometimes the relationship is fun for a short period of time, and if you’re lucky, sometimes you find the perfect one with whom you have unparalled chemistry. For those of you who are still confused with the plethora of fragrances available at stores, worry no more!

Let us guide you on how to find the perfect fragrance. Most retailers offer little pieces of paper to sniff when you test perfumes, but you should also apply it on yourself to see how well the scent smells on you. Everyone has a different chemical composition and thus, each perfume will smell differently on each individual.

Don’t purchase a perfume based on how good it smells on a friend or on a piece of paper, and in that same line of thought, don’t ignore a scent that smells mediocre on paper. After spraying perfume, don’t sniff right away. When you spray a fragrance, the alcohol evaporates into the air. If you sniff too soon, you’ll be smelling more of the alcohol and less of the final smell.

Wait fifteen minutes, or at the very least, two or three minutes before sniffing and making a verdict. When you’re sniffing a whole slew of scents your nose undergoes a phenomenon called sensory adaptation. Essentially, your nose gets accustomed to the fragrances and you soon can’t tell the difference between several scents.

Sniff coffee beans to counteract sensory adaptation to cleanse your nasal palette. Most high-end retailers have little packets of coffee beans, but to be safe, take some in a Ziploc bag from home. Fragrances these days come in a lot of different forms that are distinguishable by their complicated jargon: Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum, Parfum, Eau de Cologne, Bodyspray.

Essentially, these are all varying concentrations of the same scent which means if you like a perfume and it’s too strong, you can opt for a lighter version. Here’s what you need to know: Parfum (also called Extrait de Parfum) has 15 to 40% concentration of the fragrance oil, Eau de Parfum has a 10 to 20% concentration, Eau de Cologne has a 5% concentration and body splash has 1 to 3% concentration.

The higher the concentration, the longer the scent lasts and typically, the stronger the scent. All fragrances have varying undertones (e.g. floral, citrus, spicy) so try to determine which family of scent your’re typically drawn to. This can drastically narrow down your selection process.

Don’t fall for advertising and brand gimmicks when purchasing a perfume. See which perfume makes you happy when you smell it and purchase that. After all, you’re the one who will be smelling it all the time and the right perfume can set the tone for your day.