Finding the right perfume for yourself can be challenging, but also very rewarding, as it will help you convey your essence into a sense that relates directly to memory. Check these tips to discover the perfect scent that others will remember you for.
Wearing a perfume is not the same as owning a scent. When shopping for a woman’s perfume, we usually go for the one that most appeals to us at first glance, but we may not take the time to look for the one that actually defines us and our essence. Is that even possible?
We are here to show you it is. With the right information and some helpful tips, you can discover the best women's perfume for you, and own the fragrance that best suits you. Let’s dive deeper into the world of scent.
The scent spectrum
A good start to finding out the right perfume for you is to understand the different types of fragrances, their characteristics and derivatives. You don’t need to master this knowledge - just having an overall idea of which scent families there are, and which perceptions relate to each of them, will be of great help for you to be able to “read” a perfume.
There are four main types of fragrances, with each effect brought on by a combination of different scents:
Fresh fragrances usually involve citrus, water and green notes. Their smell tends to be refreshing and energizing, soft to the nose and uplifting. Lemon, grapefruit or bergamot offer different intensities of citrusy, whereas spearmint or eucalyptus can be identified as green notes, and water notes will convey sea and aquatic feelings.
Floral scents are very popular in women’s perfumes, as they evoque the fresh yet sweet smell of flowers, and sometimes of fruits. The floral family is the broadest of them, with notes ranging from soft to intense, and a wide range of flower scents such as lavender, rose, jasmine, lilies or tea tree, to name a few.
Oriental fragrances are warm and spicy. They come across as sweet, heady perfumes that remind of the opulence and luxury of ancient times. Oriental scents can be perceived as vanilla, cardamom or cinnamon, although floral-oriental scents such as orchids or orange blossoms, or woody-oriental scents such as myrrh or sandalwood can also be found within this family.
Woody scents are versatile and long lasting, offering depth with wood-based smells that can be dry and smoky like cedarwood or frankincense, mossy and earthy like amber or patchouli, or even complex like vetiver, so rich in taste it can be hard to describe. Woody perfumes are often associated with mystery and captivation.
A fragrance’s trip
A good women’s perfume will typically unfold the character of its scent in three stages, with a top, a medium and a base note. The top or opening note is what you smell immediately after spraying the perfume. That scent goes away quickly but serves as a transition for the heart of the fragrance to come through.
The dominant ingredient determines the scent’s category, making it easily recognizable within the spectrum, and it should be present throughout all the stages at different levels. For example, if you feel a strong presence of vanilla in the perfume, that is probably its dominant ingredient.
The accord is the backbone of the fragrance, the note that lies beneath and will remain as the coda of your perfume. It is important that this final note is also appealing to your own senses, since it will linger on after you first wear the perfume. So, when you are looking for your signature scent, take a moment to let the base note flourish after trying out the perfume.
Scents combination
Perfumes for women will most likely be composed by a combination of fragrance families that may be identifiable through the scent trip described above. Softer scents are usually placed as top notes in a fragrance blend, whereas heavier scents will be perceived at the base.
Citric scents are a great combination to fruit or floral fragrances to add lightness or cut the sweetness; floral scents can leverage the heaviness of medium or base tones, and woody or oriental scents are usually placed as base notes for their deepness that enhances the essence of the blend.
A few more tips
The scent world is complex to say the least, so we recommend you to follow your senses when interpreting a perfume. Identifying the notes and fragrance families will guide you, but experiencing how a perfume makes you feel and visualizing what it reminds you of at a personal level is just as important.
When trying out a perfume, try to think of words that draw you closer to its general vibe. Does the fragrance feel delicate, exotic, sour, smooth, powerful, rare? Is it suggestive, penetrating, lingering? Does it catch your attention, confuse you, bring you joy or make you thoughtful?
Owning a perfume that identifies you is a great way to portray your character and leave a lasting impression. Finding your signature scent can give you a sense of empowerment and uniqueness that will boost your confidence and will definitely be noticed by others.
Now that you know the basics of perfume, start the journey to find yours with Yodeyma.
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