BY JULIA BENITO
It isn’t always as easy as 1–2–3.
Finding a perfume that resonates with you isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. While it may be easy to snatch up a bottle of cologne from the nearest drugstore, truly finding the perfume you may call “the one” is a much more personal process.
You can like a certain perfume when sprayed on paper, on somebody else, or even on yourself a few years back, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll enjoy it now or in the long run.
First Thing’s First, How Does Our Body Affect Perfumes?
The answer: your body’s chemistry. Each one of us is built with our own unique bodily makeups. This chemistry, as well as what we eat, our oil production, our hormones, the temperature, and the bacteria present on our skin, influences how a fragrance may smell and diffuse on us.
That’s why while some fragrances may smell good on other people, you may find that it’s not right for you personally. This chemistry also affects how long fragrances may last on our skin and what notes are best highlighted.
Take, for example, your skin type. If you have oiler skin, your body will be making a more distinct odor and, when mixed with your perfume, will create a stronger aroma. This could also translate to needing less perfume, as your natural oils will help your perfume be more impactful. Drier skin, on the other hand, may lead to your perfumes evaporating quicker, as oils are one of the main ingredients within perfume that allow them to stay.
Therefore, it’s important to test out your perfumes — not just at home, either! Have a go testing your fragrances in different environments at different times and occasions to see how the formulation reacts to your body.
Factors in Choosing a Perfume or Cologne
As mentioned, finding “the one” is a process of trial and error. However, there are some tips you can try to help shorten that process. You can, for example, take note of the scents that you’re already familiar with and enjoy in your daily routine. Perhaps there’s a citrusy scent in your shampoo, a floral scent you like from your garden or a sweet scent like vanilla from pastries. Perhaps you can even draw inspiration from the woodsy scent of the outdoors or the crisp scent of freshly pressed linens! See if you’re more drawn to subtle scents or bold scents.
Simply put, having in mind things you already love to smell (as well as what you want to avoid) is a great first step.
What comes after that is assessing the top, middle, and base notes of the fragrance, perfume, or eau de toilette that you’re eyeing. A good rule of thumb to remember when looking at a fragrance’s notes is that top notes are what you immediately smell, whereas middle notes are the scents that emerge once the top notes have evaporated. Base notes, on the other hand, are the lingering final scents that you’ll notice will stay longer on your skin.
You’ll find that top notes are typically sharper and more volatile, as these are the initial impressions you would get from your perfume. Middle notes and base notes make up the full body, lasting much longer than the top notes.
If you find that you like a scent initially but change your mind later, it may be that your senses are disagreeing with the middle notes. The same concept would apply if you found yourself not liking a scent on the get-go but becoming more interested in it after its top notes evaporate; you’re possibly not interested in the top notes but like the body of the perfume.
How to Test a Perfume
Now that we’re more acquainted with the concepts of body chemistry and notes, it’s time to get testing! To get a whiff of a scent’s top notes, you can spray it into the air or onto a card. Then, if you find yourself liking what you smell, test it on your wrist and give it a good sniff after about 20 minutes to see how the middle notes go with your skin. About an hour later, come back to smell the base notes.
Perfumes We Recommend
While testing out perfumes meticulously in department stores is definitely recommended, sometimes we’d prefer not to step out of our homes. That’s why we’ve curated this selection of fragrances that have a little bit of something for everybody.
An Aquatic, Masculine Scent for Men
Those looking for a crisp, aquatic, and woody scent that emanates masculine power can look no further than Paco Rabanne’s Invictus. With a name translated from Latin to mean “invincible” and packaging in the form of a trophy, this dynamic eau de toilette exudes nothing but confidence. With aquatic sea notes, grapefruit, and mandarin orange, this scent opens up with a biting citrusy freshness that deepens into a heart of aromatic bay leaf and Hedione jasmine. Its woody base includes patchouli, ambergris, guaiac wood, and oakmoss that leave you with an irresistibly sensual trail.
A Playful, Floral Scent for Women
The Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau de Toilette is a lovely floral scent that’s bright, playful, and perfect for millennials looking to bring a dash of fresh femininity to their daily routines. With a vibrant burst of floral top notes made from cloudberry that deepens into the delicate scent of daisies before intermingling with sparkling cashmere musk and driftwood, this spritely perfume brings out the joys and love of life.
A Gentle, Powdery Scent for Women
Taking its inspiration from the shimmering hues of the amethyst crystal, the Omnia Amethyst Eau de Toilette from BVLGARI is truly a scent that’s not only captivating on the outside but on the inside as well. This classic scent features top notes of refreshing grapefruit, middle notes of iris and Bulgarian rose, and base notes of heliotrope and other woodsy notes that come together to form a gentle, feminine perfume caressed with morning dew.
An Intriguing, Spicy Scent for Men
Enrapture those around you with the fresh, spicy scent of BVLGARI Pour Homme Extreme. A classic scent introduced back in 1999, this fragrance has a myriad of different alluring notes, starting off with black tea Darjeeling bursting with grapefruit before opening to a warm, pepper heart with cardamom, rosewood, and Gaiac tree. Finally, to wrap the whole scent together, it blends into its base notes of musk, cedar, oakmoss, and sandalwood.
A Passionate, Woody Scent for Women
Boss Alive by Hugo Boss is a fragrance that is for the bold. Designed to celebrate the bliss of being in the moment, this scent is defined by its entrancing femininity and magnetism. With top notes that open up with a phenomenal fruity blast of plum, apple, cinnamon, vanilla, and blackcurrant that blossom into a heart of jasmine sambac and thyme, Boss Alive is a great scent for a powerful woman on the move. Ending with base notes of cedar, sandalwood, olive tree, and other woodsy notes, this multifaceted perfume also brings a sense of confidence and strength.
Looking for more scents to captivate you? Browse through ZALORA Beauty to find the perfect scent to match your mood.