Maybe you have a go-to, or maybe you go to Sephora and spray a bunch of different scents on yourself and find a blend that works best for you. With spring here, maybe you just want to change it up! Whatever your situation, this National Fragrance Day, we have a few tips to help you find the one that’s right for you!

Selecting a Note

This is the first step in choosing a fragrance. A fresh scent is pretty synonymous with “clean.” Think fresh laundry, the ocean breeze. If you can’t wait to get a bouquet in your home, then you might be inclined to choose a floral note like rose, gardenia or jasmine. For bold, earthy smells, maybe something woodsy is more your speed. And if you’re a sassy thing, perhaps a spicy scent with notes of cinnamon and pepper do the trick.

Selecting a Type

Once you figure out the above, it’s pretty much all downhill from there. Did you know there are different types of scents? This will help you find the right one for your lifestyle and budget.

Parfum: This is the highest concentration of fragrance and also the most expensive. It can have up to 30% of perfume oil dissolved in alcohol. You would apply it directly to your pulse points and the top heart and base notes will release throughout the day. It will last the longest and will require the least amount of product. Hence the tiny bottles! 🙂

Any mixture with a lower proportion of oil to alcohol is an eau (water).

Eau de Parfum: After the top notes have died away, the middle notes or heart notes of a perfume become noticeable in an eau de parfum. With this, you can feel confident in spraying on your pulse points, but also all over including your hair. It’s less intense, with up to 15% of perfume oil but does last a long period of time.

Eau de Toilette: These are very common. You probably own one right now. The top notes of Eau de Toilette’s are the most dominant, so you get the greatest effect when you first apply it. It’s an ideal way to wear your favorite fragrances in summer and allows for quick change-ups. Eau de toilettes have about 4-10% of perfume oil.

Now, you’re all set to head into your local department store and get to testing!

Tips for Shopping

• To reset your nose in between fragrances, smell those coffee beans on the counter, or even your skin on the other side of your body!
• Tap, don’t rub wrists together.
• Know that some of the scents you are trying on will evolve during the day. Make a plan to return the next day for the purchase.
• Ask the salesperson helping you for samples of ones you tried, and ones that you didn’t that may include some of your favorite notes! Trust me, they have plenty behind that counter.

 

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