Be selective
For starters, don’t walk through the door of a department store or perfume shop and start squirting every tester on the shelf. Scents have three layers or notes: the top note, which is the rough-and-ready instant-impact smell that hits you first; a middle note, which develops over the next few minutes as the topnote mellows, and the basenote, which might not reveal itself until hours later. If you’re serious about finding the perfect scent, and especially if you’re willing to spend a good chunk of cash on the right one, then you should try no more than two at a time, then walk away and see how they develop over the course of the day.
The short-cut to perfume wisdom
If talk of ‘topnotes’ and ‘basenotes’ all sounds a bit complicated, just think in more simple terms.
Most fragrances fall into one of five categories: floral (youthful and feminine), fruity (spicy and warm), woody (sophisticated and earthy), green (neutral and contemporary) and oriental (strong and sensual). If you’re buying perfume for a seductive night in, your best bet might be a musky, oriental scent; if you want something clean and pleasant for work, try a green perfume. If you think about it as you ‘sniff’ you’ll soon get a feel for what the difference is between a ‘green’ scent and an ‘oriental’ one.
You don’t have to be married to your scent!
Don’t feel you have to stick to one perfume at all times – you can develop a wardrobe of different options, just like you do with your clothes. And bear in mind that you might need a more intense fragrance for winter, when the cold will inhibit the scent, or at times when your skin is dry.
Think about the mix
Finally, don’t forget that your perfume will also be swapping notes with your deodorant, handcream, shampoo and even your fabric softener. If a perfume you love suddenly starts smelling different, it could be fighting with another product you’re using, so check what you’ve changed recently.
Give me Clinque Natural Essence every day- light, seductive, transmits a feeling
happiness and within by budget.
I have spent lot’s of money on Giorgio Beverly Hills as my husband loves the fragrance but everytime I wear my Red Door I get beautiful comments from work colleagues and complete strangers. Many strangers have commented on how lovely I smell and asked what I am wearing, often when I tell them they say “I wish it would smell like that on me.” Just goes to show how different fragrances can be on different people.
I’ve just found a new fragrance, to take its place alongside my Guerlain favourites and my Miss Dior .. try Lancome’s Magie Noire!! Sensational, and every time I wear it someone asks for the name of my perfume.
I have worn Estee Lauder “Beautiful” for years. It is my signature scent! Your scent will linger longer if you “layer” - body lotion with the same scent, talcum powder with the same scent. I am always complimented on my scent.
I have used Byzanc for years and unfortunately have not been able to get it in the stores anymore. I might try one of the suggestions above. Thank you.
I love SJP’s Lovely. It makes me feel just that…..Lovely. It reminds me of when I used to sneak into my great grandmother’s bedroom and take the lid off her perfume bottle. Timeless and classic….and sexy.
Kere Zahn, you can still get Byzanc from MyChemist i think, I bought it not that long ago for my mum, or get it off the net!
My recent love is Estee Lauder Sensuous, the only one i can still smell on me during the day :)
Dior Addict is divine, I have smelt it on a few people and always think it smells fantastic. It also lasts a long time, the only downfall is that it is quite expensive, but I think if used on special occasions it more than makes up for it.
I love coco Madomselle I had smelt it on other people and thought what a lovely perfume so I tried it and have a lot of complements while wearing it.
Have used Estee Lauder Knowing for years now Lancome Tresor has becme a firm favourite - although i change my perfume in Summer for more floral notes
voluote is my summer fragrance and marrousia is my winter favourite but its when I wear a chaepy that I get the most comments??
I used red door when i was younger and I brought lovely by sarah jessica parker and sunflowers and i love the sunflowers better than the sjp one…
I use Calvin Klein Euphoria its beautiful and night time I use Prada everyone always asks what perfume I wear as it smells lovely….
I love most of Ralph Lauren’s perfumes but especially Ralph Lauren Blue (The dark blue bottle) Ralph Lauren Glamorous (which was a limited edition & I can’t find it anywhere) and Provocative Woman for winter.
I love “SAMARA” by Guerlain. Its absolutely gorgeous, sensual & timeless. Every time I wear it someone asks for the name of my perfume…......Its beautiful.
I love Guerlain’s Mitsouko. I get comments whenever I wear it. The EDP is better than the EDT (but harder to come by).