How to Choose perfumes
Perfumes are as unique as the women who wear them. There are three components of each perfume–the top note which evaporates first, the middle note which develops after wearing and the base note which is the true scent. All interact with your body to create an individual scent.
Once a bottle of perfume is opened it should be used. Otherwise it will begin to fade or change its character with time.
Long exposure to strong sunlight or extremes in temperature can disturb the delicate balance of the perfume and change its scent.
Apply fragrance directly to the skin when you are testing new scents. You cannot get a true reaction to the fragrance from the bottle. Apply a few drops to your wrist. Allow the heat of the body to develop the fragrance on your skin and then sniff.
You’ll find you can only test a certain number of fragrances with each trip since the scents will get confusing, making perfume difficult to make a selection. One way to shorten the process is to ask the clerk at the cosmetic counter for sample packets of the scents that interest you. You can then take the perfumes home and try one each day until you choose the perfume scent you like. If samples aren’t available of the scents you like, bring along some cotton balls and small zip-lock plastic bags. Spray the cotton ball your selected fragrance and seal it in a plastic bag to test the fragrance at home. Be sure to write down the name of the perfume before placing it in the bag.
Decide on how much you are willing to spend on perfume. Do you want expensive elegance or a somewhat cheap classic? Do you want a famous label, or something simple?
Evaluate the scents you enjoy. It could be anything from flowers to fruits, so keep these in mind when browsing.
Think about how often this perfume is going to be used. Is it going to be used daily, or only for special occasions?
Modern “oceanic” fragrances are becoming more and more popular, particularly among younger people who appreciate the intense but often quite unusual scents, which instantly bring to mind seaside scenes. Naturally these are an excellent choice in the warmer months when thoughts turn to holidays.
Spicy fruity perfumes are also a good warm-weather choice, and can be a good all-round choice for the woman who wants to wear something with some traditional base-notes but is a little different to the classic floral scents.
Apply a small amount of your favorite and walk around the store for fifteen minutes. This allows the perfume to adjust to your body chemistry. During this time the alcohol will evaporate making it easier to determine the true scent.
If you’re going shopping, and one item on your list is perfume, visit the perfume counter first. Test a few fragrances on paper. If you find one or two you like, apply them to your skin, one on the back of each hand. Then wait… not necessarily at the perfume counter. Go shopping. Grab a latte. Then check the perfumes and see if you still like them.
Scents change over time relative to your body chemistry. What smells good on your friend may not smell as nice on you. And something that smells good on you now may not smell good two hours later.
Fragrance Dos:
Do allow the fragrance to come out of itself, remember, a fragrance has three layers. Be patient!
Do change your perfume with the change of the season. In winter you may need a stronger scent as the cold may reduce the scent’s power.
Do shop for perfume in the afternoon when your sense of smell is at its peak.
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