Finding Your Perfect Fragrance

Perfume is one of the most important accessories a woman can wear. Some women like to change up their perfume with the seasons, but I much prefer to pick a fragrance that I will wear forever, one that embodies who I am as a woman and that will make others think of me when they smell it. But in sticking to just one fragrance it is important to find the right one. Today, I’ve put together some tips for finding your perfect fragrance.

1. Start by looking online.

Rather than just heading into a department store and smelling every bottle you see (which is bound to give you a headache!), start looking at different fragrances online. Read the notes, product descriptions, fragrance style, and look at the bottle features. All of these characteristics will give you insight into what type of perfume it is and what style the perfume best represents. Sephora and Nordstrom are both excellent resources for this information and both stores carry most major fragrances. I love the “style” section of Sephora’s website as it will give 3 words to perfectly describe the fragrance. Think whether you relate to those 3 words. Do they describe you and your style? I wear Miss Dior eau de toilette and Sephora describes the fragrance as elegant, exuberant, and romantic. I feel this perfectly describes my style.

Both websites allow you to search by fragrance family as well, which can help you narrow it down even more. Are you looking for a feminine and romantic floral scent? Or a warm and sensual woody scent? Again, think of your style. Which of these describes you best? P.S. Does this take anyone back to the days of flipping through your pre-teen magazines and taking the quizzes on what perfume you should wear? 😂 I use to love those!

Also, be wary of anything limited edition because it’s bound to not be around forever and then you’ll have to find a new fragrance all over again. This happened to me in college with Vera Wang Flower Princess and I was heartbroken when they discontinued it.

2. Visit a store to smell the fragrances in person.

Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few perfumes you want to try out, it’s time to visit a store to smell them in person. Like I mentioned before, Sephora and Nordstrom are great resources. Macy’s and Ulta are also great stores to go check out perfumes. Be sure not to spray any perfume on yourself before you go so it doesn’t interfere with any of the other scents you’ll be encountering or using. Begin by smelling the perfumes one by one and try spraying it on a tester strip. Make sure to smell the coffee beans in between perfumes so that you can distinguish one fragrance from another. (Fun Fact: For the longest time I had no idea this is what the coffee beans were for. I used to think they were just there to hold the test strips in place. Lol!) Utilize the sales reps at the beauty counter too! That’s what they’re there for. They can help you narrow down which scent is best for you and can also help you find similar fragrances to your taste that you may not have known about previously.

Many fragrances come in an eau de parfum and an eau de toilette (and some in even more). An eau de parfum is a stronger, more concentrated fragrance that will last longer. An eau de toilette is a lighter, less concentrated fragrance that does not last as long and may require you to reapply the fragrance throughout the day. I’ve also noticed that they can smell differently too. Just because it is a different version of the same name perfume does not mean it is the same smell so be aware of this. With Miss Dior, I wear the eau de toilette, but I find that I do not quite like the eau de parfum version.

3. Test the Fragrance Out on Your Own Skin.

Be warned, it is likely the fragrance will smell very different on your skin than it does on the tester strip. Fragrances smell different on each person’s skin. So also keep in mind that what may smell good on your friend may not smell as good on you. Because of this you will want to test out the fragrance on your own skin before purchasing it. In the store narrow it down to a top fragrance or the one you are most curious to try. Spray yourself with the fragrance and see how it wears throughout the day and how it makes you feel when you wear it. Does it make you feel confident and more empowered in your own personal style? Notice how the top, middle and base notes all react with your skin. The top notes are what you smell when you first spray the fragrance, typically a fruity or citrus scent. The middle note is considered the body of the fragrance, typically a floral scent. Last is the base note, the lingering warm, rich scent which finishes the fragrance and lasts the longest on your skin. Miss Dior eau de toilette begins with the scent of blood orange, which is refreshing when I first put it on in the morning. It then blossoms into the scent of orange blossom and damascena rose, a nice floral scent throughout the day, and finishes with Indonesian patchouli, a warm and woody, but sweet, scent. This is my favorite part of the fragrance and I love to catch traces of it at the end of the day. Return to the store and test out as many perfumes as needed until you have found the perfect one that embodies you and your style. Since the fragrance changes throughout the day, it is best to wear each contender for a full day to really get an idea of what the fragrance smells like.

I have always had such a love for fragrance. I find it enchanting how perfume can say so much about a person and how its scent alone is powerful enough to leave a lasting impression. To me, perfume is the most important accessory a woman can ever wear, which is why it is so important to find the perfect one.