|
The olfactory sense in human beings is tremendously powerful. While you can't hunt down friends by scent alone, certain smells can trigger memories of people and places from the past. Why not utilise that for your own ends, attracting a date
,
 |
First and foremost you must consider the strength of the fragrance. This is less about specific scents than it is about the concentration of perfume oil versus water or high grade alcohol. The higher the perfume oil concentration, the longer the scent will last.
These concentrations will not only impact how long a scent will last before needing reapplication, but how expensive a scent is, with higher concentrations costing the most. |
Nearly every fragrance is a complex set of different scents,
This is why it is important to test fragrances out extensively before buying. Wearing the scent on your wrist throughout the day is one way to test; the scent will be close to your nose without overwhelming you, allowing you to detect the different notes as they develop. Wrist testing won't stain your clothes and is easy to wash off
Applying a scent isn't rocket science, though it may still require some care. Generally, it is best to apply fragrance
 |
|
 |
|
Families describe a fragrance's overall scent and the effects all the notes have together (also called an accord). This classification can be quite complex: for instance, a perfume with woody ingredients isn't necessarily part of the Wood family--the concentration and combination of other ingredients may create a Chypre scent. Also, the specifics of these breakdowns varies from perfume designer to designer, with some descriptions being multi-tiered, like Floral Green.
 |
 |
 |
A flowery, sometimes powdery scent found in more feminine perfumes. Sometimes described as aldehydes as typified by Chanel No. 5 |
Also called Oriental |
Your basic woody scents, like camphor wood, cedarwood |
 |
 |
 |
Most of the leather family are actually imitation scents, good news for the vegans who appreciate this musky fragrance. Notes of wood tar, tobacco, and honey are also often detected in leather-based scents. |
From the French word for Cyprus, this family of scents originally described perfumes with mossy scents and a patchouli undernote.They are named for specific perfume, Chypre by François Coty, which is imitated by most traditional |
Another scent family named by a French designer, this time for ferns. An herbaceous fragrance family, sometimes found with wood or spice scents mixed in. Lavender and sage are popular ingredients. Sometimes referred to as Aromatic |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Chypre's lighter, less mossy cousin. Think summery |
This family of scents tends to be either masculine or androgynous; they are made from the synthetic calone. They have a refreshing sea air or post-thunder mineral smell. |
Lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruit scents make up this family, which has enjoyed recent popularity with the help of modern perfume compounds. Women's citrus scents |
The basis of a number of modern scents for young women. Strawberry |
Decadent scents that vary between savory and sweet |
We have many guides designed to provide you with indepth information and the latest news on fragrances.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Everything you wanted to know about women's fragrances. Check out the latest and the classics. |
Men, you may not want to look "pretty," but you can at least smell good! |
The latest scents are here! Find all the new releases here. |
Check out the best scents of the year. |
Fragrances make a great gift for just about anyone. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Find out more about classic perfumes like the infamous Chanel No.5. |
Get all your Old Spice and other classics here. |
Kids can wear fragrances too! Check out our guide on the best picks for children. |
Everything you ever wanted to know about fragrance families. |
For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Parfum Shopgids
