Just as everyone has a unique taste in music or has a favorite dish, they also have a particular fragrance they usually like that defines their personality. From aquatics to citrus to floral scents, there are different scents to choose from, but how can one select the fragrance that speaks volumes about themselves? Choosing a fragrance isn’t all just about heading to the store and testing out every bottle only to later end up with a massive headache.

In this fragrance finder guide, you’ll learn about how to identify scents and proudly wear them.

Identify your Favorite Food/Season

If you have a favorite dish that you love, there’s an 80% chance that you also like the food’s smell. The flavors that make up a dish can help you in deciding your scent preferences. Moreover, the fragrance you want may remind you of your favorite memories/moments. For instance, if you prefer summers, it may evoke memories of hanging at the beach under the sun and drinking your favorite cocktail. This is a great way to find fragrances you like .

Know The Different Fragrance Concentrations

Before you get started, you need to have some knowledge regarding the different concentrations of fragrances that are available. You may come across terms like Eau De Parfum, Eau De Toilette, Eau De Cologne, and Parfum.

• Parfum consists of 15%-40% of fragrance concentration, which means it has less alcohol, and its scent can easily last for 8 hours. People who have sensitive skin can use Parfums as it contains little alcohol, therefore it doesn’t make your skin dry.
  
  
• Eau De Parfum has the highest concentration after Parfum. It has a 15%-20% fragrance concentration, which can easily last for around 4-5 hours. It’s perfect for everyday wear.
  
  
• Eau De Toilette has a relatively higher fragrance concentration of 5%-15% and can last for 2-3 hours. It’s suitable for use during the day or evening.
  
  
• Eau De Cologne has the lowest concentration of fragrance. It normally has 2%-4% concentration and a higher amount of alcohol. Such fragrances have less staying power than the other types and only lasts for a couple hours.
  

Try Three Scents At First

If you’re new to the world of fragrance and don’t know what smell you like the most, it’s best to try out three fragrances to get a better sense of what you might like. Trying out too many scents at first can give you a headache and make it more difficult to decide what you like. Spraying on one scent over another also isn’t a wise option. If you go into a department store, wear or take a cotton scarf along with you to test the perfumes.

Fragrance Family

Fragrances can be broken down into fragrance families, most fragrances fall into one or two of these families.

1. Floral: Floral fragrances are composed of flowery scents that are sweet and feminine. The smell would remind you of roses, lavender, daisies, jasmine, etc.

2. Woody: Patchouli and sandalwood are commonly used as woody scents that may remind you of outdoor activities.
   
   
3. Citrus: It gives off a refreshing and sweet smell like oranges, while lemons have a bitter and sharp smell.
   
   
4. Musk: Musk smell is rich and long-lasting, which is why musk fragrances are popular. It has a masculine scent having a high concentration. There are different musk scents such as black musk, and cashmere musk that has an exotic smell.
   
   
5. Aquatic: To best describe aquatic scents, think of a beach and the smell of the atmosphere. It’s fresh, sweet and reminds you of nature. Aquatic fragrances include salt, mint, sea wood, and other marine notes.
   
   
6. Spice: As the name suggests, the spice notes add warmth to the smell and combines well with floral scents. The use of pepper, and cardamom in spice fragrances are common.

Try Switching Up Your Fragrances

It isn’t necessary to stick to one fragrance throughout the year. You can change your fragrance according to the season or time of day. It’s advised to wear fresher and lighter scented perfumes in summers since strong fragrances releases from the skin quickly in hot temperatures. In winters, you may go for stronger fragrances.

Store Your Fragrances

It’s essential to store your fragrances in a drawer at room temperature; otherwise, the warm weather can degrade the scent completely.

Choose Carefully

If your friend has given you some recommendations regarding perfume selection, remember that everyone’s bodies are different. A perfume used by your friend or family may smell absolutely unique on you. Moreover, don’t be fooled by the smell of the scent on the card used for testers as it will have a different smell when the scent is applied on the skin.

These tips greatly help you find your signature fragrance without having to spend too much at first. If you love perfumes, why not go for a ScentBox Subscription that is not only pocket-book friendly, but also offers top designer fragrances found in department stores.