Tips on How to Choose Perfume

Many of us may recall certain people who have touched our lives for various reasons. Our early memories always bring to mind the perfume of someone we have been closely associated. A school teacher may have worn the same perfume every day or you would know when your boyfriend arrived as he smelled of the same refreshing cologne. Many years later when you got a whiff of that particular scent, it would remind you of them.

How does one figure out their scent identity? It is important to compliment your personality by exuding a vibe that is typically you. You can select from a wide range of fragrances that will send out fresh, sensual or mysterious notes. The ideal time to spritz is when you are out of the shower. Make sure that you select the matching lotion and powders when you spray on the perfume.

What is the composition of perfumes?

Essential oils are mixed with alcohol in varying quantities and these are sold over the counter as Eau de Colognes, Eau de Toilettes or Eau de Parfum. Eau de Cologne has a mixture of three to five percent oil that is mixed with water and alcohol. This is light and refreshing and generally mixed with a component of citrus oil. Eau de Toilettes may have a higher concentrate of perfume oil in the range of 4% – 8% and this is mixed with alcohol. Nearly 15% to 18& perfume oil is mixed with alcohol to make up Eau de Parfums while 15% to 30% perfume oils are used for perfumes which is the reason they are more expensive than the other types of scents.

Here are a few tips on how to select your perfume

1. Our body temperature and skin chemistry differ from one person to another which is the reason why a perfume will smell slightly different on every person. Whenever you purchase a perfume you should wait awhile to test the real fragrance. This is because most perfumes have different notes that dissipate in the air till you reach the final basic note that is the actual scent. An olfactive harmony is reached when the “accord” or composition of the perfume comes through the notes.
2. Women can select from a range of floral, fresh, sweet, spice or wood fragrances. Women also opt for oriental or fruity flavors Men prefer masculine fragrances such as musk, leather, moss and tobacco.
3. It is advisable to select two or three different types of perfumes that are from different fragrance families. During the day you can use a light perfume that may be sweet or floral while you can go in for a musky or ambery perfume for nights.
4. Use lighter scents in warm weather and stronger ones in cool weather.
5. Some women prefer fruity or citrus fragrances that are clean and invigorating. You can opt for a lime or orange flavor or select something that reminds you of apricots or peaches.
6. If you prefer mossy or woody flavors you can select from bergamot, labdanum, patchouli or oakmoss.
7. Take your skin type into account when selecting a perfume. If you have a dry or oily skin you may have to select a perfume that has a higher concentrate of perfume oil.
8. The ideal time to shop for a perfume is towards the latter part of the day as our sense of smell is generally keener at that time.
9. Each one of us has a particular body chemistry that reacts to some perfumes or compliments them. It is therefore necessary to try out a perfume before using it. When planning to select a perfume spray some on a card and sniff it. Wait for about ten minutes before smelling it again. If you like the perfume then you can spray some on your skin. Wait for the fragrance to dissipate and then sniff again.
10. Take your time to smell perfumes or you will get confused when smelling too many of them. If you look around, you will notice tiny jars that are filled with coffee beans. These generally work to cleanse your olfactory senses in between sniffing various scents. Sniff the beans before you try on the next perfume.
11. Make sure that your perfume does not interfere with the smell from your toiletries such as powders or lotions as this can clash and loose the purpose of wearing a perfume. Try to use matching lotions and colognes.
12. Try not to spray perfumes all over your body or clothing. Restrict it to dabbing a little on your pulse points, behind the ear, center of the neck, behind the knee or inner wrists. If you prefer to use just a wee bit of perfume, you can spray some perfume in the air and walk through the mist.