To keep it simple, perfumes come in four general categories: Fresh Floral Oriental Woody These four are further divided up into subcategories such as floral oriental, soft floral and dry woods. For more on these four types of scents, keep reading – I’ll show you some fragrances that fit in each of the four categories below! If you have no idea which categories you prefer (and there isn’t really a way to determine this other than to smell perfumes from different families yourself), you may want to take a fragrance finder quiz, such as Marie Claire’s Fragrance Finder. Obviously this isn’t an exact science, but if you’re totally lost it can be a good place to begin! Sephora also offers a fragrance finder, which allows you to browse some of the different fragrance families or find perfumes similar to a scent that you already know you enjoy. If you live close to a retail store such as Saks or Nordstrom, it’s a good idea to visit their perfume counters and get recommendations from the sales associates. Types of Perfume Notes Perfumes traditionally have three types of notes: top, middle, and base notes (and if they don’t, they’re known as “linear fragrances.”) This is why you shouldn’t judge a perfume immediately after you apply it. Top notes are what you smell when you initially spray the fragrance; they won’t last very long (how long depends on the strength of the perfume). Middle notes come next and also have a relatively short lifespan. Base notes linger the longest, but won’t become evident on your skin until later. Therefore, be sure you like the base notes of the perfume before you purchase anything, or else you’ll be stuck with something that you won’t like after an hour or so! Wait for the perfume to fully settle before you make a final decision – in fact, it’s probably a good idea to just apply one perfume you’re thinking about purchasing; by the end of the day, you should be able to tell whether or not it’s the one for you! Types of Perfume Concentrations Two of the most common concentrations of perfume are Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette. An Eau de Parfum has more extract than an Eau de Toilette, so an EDP is stronger and will need fewer sprays than an EDT. Eau de Parfums are generally more expensive than Eau de Toilettes (and parfum is even more expensive), since they have higher concentrations of perfume and will last longer as they need reapplied less frequently. Also, perfume naturally lasts longer on people with oily skin, so if your skin is very dry, you may want to look into an Eau de Parfum, or think about purchasing a matching lotion or body wash if your scent also comes in these mediums. The Four Perfume Categories – Example Fragrances Now that you know all about the different types of perfume categories, here are a few recommendations for fragrances that fit into each of the four main perfume categories: Fresh Scents, Floral Scents, Oriental Scents, and Woody Scents. Fresh Scents DKNY Be Delicious, Acqua Di Parma Colonia Assoluta, Diptyque Oyédo, Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey, and Issey Miyake L’Eau d’Issey. Fresh scents are light and energizing, commonly include citrus notes, and are well suited for someone who doesn’t want a strong “perfume-y” smell. According to Sephora, “Fresh fans are vivacious, energetic, fun loving, playful, and live each day to the fullest.” Floral Scents Prada Infusion d’Iris, Creed Love in Black, Frederic Malle Iris Poudre, Philosophy Pure Grace, Annick Goutal Grand Amour, and Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne Sephora says those who typically enjoy floral scents are “elegant, feminine, and passionate romantics.” Common floral notes are jasmine, rose, gardenia, and iris. Depending on the notes used, floral scents can smell either very youthful and girly, or can be better suited to a more mature woman. Oriental Scents Bond No. 9 Chinatown, Thierry Mugler Angel, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, and Yves Saint Laurent Opium Those who favor oriental scents, according to Sephora
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:42:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015