How to choose a fragrance?

Jump to Last Post 1-15 of 15 discussions (24 posts)
  1. kallini2010 profile image80
    kallini2010posted 13 years ago

    I really want to buy a fragrance for me.  But every time I try to make a choice I am either unhappy or just delay the decision.

    How do you make a decision?  I would appreciate any advice, the strategy "how to" or your personal favourites.  Men or women.  I do love men's fragrances for their clearer and fresher bouquet.

    Thank you all,

    1. emmapad12 profile image60
      emmapad12posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      check my hub out...

    2. tdebrick profile image59
      tdebrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi kallini2010,

      Best thing to do is go into a perfume store and smell things on paper first. I work in the perfume business and I let people smell a little of every category. Once they have narrowed down a category then we work on picking two fragrances they love and trying it on each of their arm to see how well it goes with their BC (Body Chemistry).

      When getting a fragrance for the first time it is best to try to layering your perfume (body wash, lotion, and perfume) and please please DO NOT RUB YOUR PERFUME! When you rub it messes up the layers of the perfume.

    3. marpauling profile image60
      marpaulingposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Its new to my knowledge that there 3 notes in every fragrance. Thanks for sharing.

    4. funkyfan profile image59
      funkyfanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Sometimes, I will get some advices from my fris. Because, I have so many fris use fragrance. Maybe you can ask your fris to give you some suggestion. On the other hand, you also can go to the fragrance counter to try with fris. I think you will find the best smell for yourself.

      1. kallini2010 profile image80
        kallini2010posted 13 years agoin reply to this

        At the risk of seeming obtuse, what is "fris"?  Friends?

    5. TheBlondie profile image61
      TheBlondieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If you are unsure about what scent or brand to get, try wearing fragrance sprays first. They tend to be less expensive and lighter than most fragrances, so you can layer them to make them more noticeable or just put on a quick spritz to refresh. I like the ones from Bath and Body Works- they are pretty cheap and smell amazing- plus, not tested on animals! Dancing waters is great for spring, and Moonlight Path is a good evening scent. If you fall in love with one of them, Bath and Body Works also has every fragrance in perfume and lotion.

    6. Kevin Peter profile image61
      Kevin Peterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Choosing a fragrance is a true emotional purchase which makes it a great thing. A fragrance reflects a person’s lifestyle and a new fragrance will be representative of new experiences and feelings. Your life evolves and changes constantly and the new fragrance you buy should express that change.

  2. Gimmibobsav profile image60
    Gimmibobsavposted 13 years ago

    Know your preferred scents. If you cannot stand the smell of floral fragrances, you probably will not want to wear a gardenia perfume. Make a list of all the scents you love. Since there are even niche perfumes, you can add unusual smells like old books or tobacco.


    See what categories your preferred scents fall in. There are about 4 general categories of perfume scents. These include FRESH (citrus, marine, green grass/leaves), WOODY (woods and moss), FLORAL (rose, gardenia, jasmine), and ORIENTAL (spices, vanilla, patchouli).


    Start sniffing. Get yourself to a perfume counter or cosmetics store such as Sephora. Don't be afraid to tell a sales associate what scents you prefer. When you find scents you like, ask for a sample vial.


    Write down the perfumes that you like. Once you are home, you'll be able to research what accords (scents) are in them and you may discover that you like more scents than you previously thought. Also, hunt around for the best price. You'll probably find that department stores have the highest prices.


    Test drive the perfumes you enjoy. This is an absolute must. A fragrance may smell great in the bottle or spritzed in the air. Once it is on your skin, it could smell terrible. This is due to body chemistry. If you are having a hard time finding a sample vial of a particular fragrance, check on ebay.


    Wear your fragrance around friends. Ask for opinions. A signature fragrance is no good if it clears the room due to your body chemistry. Some fragrances may smell different on you depending on the weather and humidity, so keep that in mind.


    If you think you'd like a fragrance that is out of the ordinary, consider joining a forum for perfume lovers. You will be able to get recommendations for scents from other countries or indie perfumers. You may like the fragrance message board at

    Wear your fragrance with pride! Finding a signature scent may take awhile but eventually you will find your own awesome scent.

    1. kallini2010 profile image80
      kallini2010posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much, your advice was most helpful.  I have started doing "my homework".  I did talk to the sales people and I was able to have some vials even though, she only gave me Guerlain for some reason but for different categories (fresh, floral & woody).

      So it is a beginning of a long process.

      And I started reading upon the subject.

      Thank you so much for your help,

  3. ReadMyLipsFASHION profile image56
    ReadMyLipsFASHIONposted 13 years ago

    First you need to think about places or objects that you love the smell of, Lilies for example. Then you need to do some research into your favourite scents to short-list some potential perfumes or fragrances for yourself. Order a few samples of some possibilities that you short-list and try them out, that way you're not wasting too much money, and by the end of the process you'll know which fragrances are for you, and which aren't.
    Hope this helped x

  4. Kathy1945 profile image59
    Kathy1945posted 13 years ago

    Keep in mind that Perfume is like music it sets moods.  Thats why you need to have a variety of fragrances that are pleasing to yourself so that you can set a mood. 

    You have to make selections on which fragrance to use for various situations. For example you may like to fragrance that sets a mood for romance, or laid back, slow moving relaxed.  If you were going to atend a meeting where you have opportunity to give imput, and you want to command somewhat of an authoratitave position you would not want to choose the romantic fragrance but rather you would want a bold strong fresh fragrance.  You can't pick fragrances with just your nose you have to use your head also.
    Remember Perfume is like music.

    1. kallini2010 profile image80
      kallini2010posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Kathy.

      It might be like music, even though I don't feel it.  Or correction, I know how my moods can change, but I would rather make a decision to wear or not to wear "my" perfume today.  The fragrance doesn't disappear, it lingers on clothes, so I would not want to mix different ones just to avoid dissonance.

      I know that some people have multiple fragrances, which is perfectly fine, different people, different tastes,  but I am searching for "mine", the one that will come across as a signature.  At least for some time until I decide to change.  Our sense of smell is very acute, it makes us remember things that are long gone, it is amazing.

      Thank you for advice, your comparing fragrances to music is very poetic.

  5. RDSPhD profile image60
    RDSPhDposted 13 years ago

    Go into a mall and start trying fragrances, I tried dozens of them until I just found the right fragrance and now I will never switch again wink
    But it's also important to know that there are always several editions of good perfumes, some of them are more light and others have a  "heavier" scent. There might also be some special seasonal or sport editions. So just try them and you will instantly know when you've found the right perfume for you. You just "feel"/"smell" it wink

  6. camlo profile image82
    camloposted 13 years ago

    There are many Hubs that tell you how to go about choosing a perfume, and even some that show you how to make your own according to your preferences.

  7. profile image0
    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    That's why they have test bottles in big stores, try it, wear it, feel how you like it or not.

  8. Flightkeeper profile image67
    Flightkeeperposted 13 years ago

    If you don't like any of the women's fragrances then don't get one.  Smell is a personal thing.  Most of the perfumes I have I got because I liked it right away.  If you like men's fragrances, I say go for it.  The only way that you're gonna like a perfume is if you smell it, and if it doesn't grab you at first sniff, chances are you're better off not buying it.

  9. Ellarose92 profile image61
    Ellarose92posted 13 years ago

    when i go to a store i ask for as many samples as i get and the ones you dont like you can always do giveaways to a friend or a hubber!

    Also another thing you can do is go to a shop wear you can make your own scent which can be really fun!!

  10. MarciaBuie profile image58
    MarciaBuieposted 13 years ago

    I used to work in fragrances, I learned that fragrances have 3 notes: top, heart, base...the Base is what you need to be compatible with. It usually takes about 30 min for your fragrance to get to this base (last) level of the fragrance. I advise trying on 1 fragrance that you think you like and going home with it on, see how your senses react (if you get nauseous, headache ectera) and do this until you find the one you like *note you can also ask for samples* I know it sounds time consuming..but it beats being stuck with a $50-$80 fragrance that you hate..hope this helps!!!

  11. chrissie123 profile image59
    chrissie123posted 13 years ago

    I always test it on myself because all perfumes truly do smell different on different people. I also know my favorite scent types,I love fruity smells over floral. I am also fond of coconut scent in a perfume.

  12. mysisters profile image58
    mysistersposted 13 years ago

    Perfume is a tough decision. There are so many to choose from and each have such different scents. What I would recommend doing is going to the department store and getting a bunch of sample scents, take them home and try and get used to each smell and see which one you really like.

  13. Bellamie profile image59
    Bellamieposted 13 years ago

    When sampling fragrances you want to be sure you aren't already wearing something.  Place fragrance on "hot spots", which would be wrist, neck, inside elbow, forearm, behind ear,etc.  Try not to let fragrances mingle.  Your own body chemistry makes or breaks a fragrance, so each fragrance will smell slightly different on everyone that wears it.

  14. fragranceetc profile image60
    fragranceetcposted 12 years ago

    Masculine Scents

    Spicy
    Spicy notes in a fragrance, such as cinnamon, ginger, frankincense, and myrrh, can warm up even the coldest of nights. The scents evoke memories of baking – especially holiday baking – and warm memories for many women, which can be a powerful turn on. In fact, cinnamon, has long been thought to generate sexual arousal in both men and women.

    Citrus
    Clean and invigorating, the tangy scent of citrus, such as lemon, lime, orange, lemongrass, and red grapefruit gives men that fresh-out-of-the-shower scent, a smell that many women find appealing. Just don’t overdo it, or you might smell like the produce department!

    Clean
    The clean smell of fresh laundry, soap, or shampoo can have a powerful impact on women who enjoy the fresh smell. Clean scents can be energizing and uplifting, giving women a sense of calm, which can then lead to an increase in sexual desire and attraction.

    Musk
    A staple for most men’s colognes, musk is a rich, sexy, and sensual scent that drives many women wild. The scent is masculine in every sense, and is one that many women choose for their men to wear, as well as a popular choice for men themselves. When musk oil was first discovered, it was said to have unusual powers of sexual attraction. Today’s musk colognes are based on this oil, which was originally derived from musk deer.

    Earthy
    Earthy scents like sandalwood, patchouli, and rosewood are strong scents commonly associated with masculinity. The earthy aroma can warm the body and increase feelings of well-being, thereby increasing a woman’s desire for a sexual encounter. Sandalwood, in fact, resembles andosterone, which is a chemical that is secreted from the underarms of human males. Scientific studies have concluded that women subconsciously link the scent of sandalwood with andosterone, thus elevating attraction and sexual desire to men wearing that scent.

  15. hubsy profile image69
    hubsyposted 12 years ago

    You've gotten some pretty good advice so far. I just wanted to say that you should remember that different perfumes smell different on different people. Depending on your skin and your pores, a perfume can smell better on some than others. Make sure you give the perfume a chance to set into your skin and then smell it and see if you like it.

 
working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)