Every perfume interacts with the natural scent of your body to emanate a fragrance that’s unique to you. That’s the reason why the same perfume smells different on two individuals and why you shouldn’t buy a perfume based on how it smells on another. Here’s some help with choosing a perfume that’s right for you.
Think about what you want your perfume to do for you—just make you smell good or create an impression. If it’s the latter, select one based on your personality. When you select a fragrance think of what you feel about yourself and how you want to be perceived. Remember, men and women have different physical odours so a fragrance made for one gender may not suit the other.
Scent of a woman
Women who think of themselves as feminine should go for floral fragrances, which have a flowery scent at their foundation. These fragrances can have aquatic, green, fruity or aldehydic tones while also being floral. Women who don’t want an overpowering floral scent, can also try citrus blends.
To convey sensuality, try oriental perfumes that are a blend of amber, balsams, resins and spices. They are musky and rich.
To communicate boldness, dense, spicy and balsamic perfumes work best.
The outdoorsy should go for green, brisk and sporty scents, whereas for the adventurous, chypre [pronounced ship-ruh] fragrances work well, especially when worn during the day as they have fresh mossy and woody undertones with an earthy and sweet aroma.
Scent of a man
For men who like being metrosexual, the Fougere [pronounced foo-Jhair] fragrance with a lavender and mossy accord work best.
The outdoorsy, sporty man should always go with a refreshing chypre fragrance, which has a fresh, clean and energising effect. Whether it‘s an adrenaline pumping game of tennis or your weekend game of golf, chypre is the fragrance that will leave your senses feeling fresh and awakened.
Men with a strong and flamboyant personality can wear oriental fragrances. These fragrances compliment bold and powerful personalities such as celebrities.
Finally, what perfume you wear also depends on the time of the day and the occasion. Consider perfumes as an investment—an investment in your personality. Invest well.
Difference between Cologne and perfume
A cologne is much milder than a perfume and hence does not have a long-lasting effect. It is primarily designed for men and is used in larger quantities than perfume and can be applied to larger areas of the skin.
Perfumes, being stronger and longer lasting, should be used in lesser quantity. Just a few drops of the perfume applied on the right areas of the skin suffice.
This was first published in the November 2011 issue of Complete Wellbeing.