How To Pick The Right Perfume
Fragrances are no good at keeping secrets. When you wear them, their scents tell others about your personality. So, it’s wise to put on perfumes that reflect how you wish to be perceived. More importantly, however, is that you spritz on scents that work well with your body chemistry and that make you feel confident and fabulous. Not sure how to select and wear the perfect ones for you? Read on for step-by-step guidance from global fragrance expert Marian Bendeth, owner of Sixth Scents in Toronto.
Match your perfume to your personality
Since scents can reveal aspects of who you are, it’s important to spritz on types that complement your mood and character. Consult the following list for an idea of what category of fragrances will blend well with your traits.
Citrus: Crisp perfumes with notes of grapefruit, lemon or lime, wear wonderfully on people who are highly organized and energetic. “These women don’t like ornate-they like the simple life and routine,” says Bendeth.
Try Boss Orange by Hugo Boss
Oriental: With notes of vanilla or spices, heavy Oriental scents are best suited for those who have a flair for the dramatic and expression. “They are the types who love sweeping gestures, mood and are very tuned into the arts,” says Bendeth.
Try Vanilla Fields by Coty
Fruity: Scrumptious and sweet, perfumes that smell of fruits, such as peaches, strawberries, blackcurrent buds, apricots or melons, work well on ladies who love to laugh, like to be part of a team and are kind and generous, Bendeth explains.
Try Fruity Rhythm by Adidas or Nina L’Elixir by Nina Ricci
Woody: Sandalwoods, white woods and blond woods are terrific on professionals.
“The woody family attracts women who are sophisticated, polished, seek traditional values and have traditional tastes in things like clothes and décor,” says Bendeth.
Try Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
Floral: There are a couple of different primary types-white florals, with notes of freesia, jasmine and gardenia, and Oriental florals, which have heavier notes of rose, jasmine and iris. White florals are lovely on very feminine, sweet-natured women who are crafty, whereas Oriental florals complement women who love to beautify and entertain, Bendeth explains.
Try Daisy by Marc Jacobs or Pure Orchid by Halle Barry
Aquatic: Scents reminiscent of water, such as the sea, lakes or rain, are sensational on women who love the simple things in life and feel rejuvenated when they’re near water. “These women are also very in tune with people and read them pretty quickly because they’re very confident in themselves.”
Try Cool Water Woman by Davidoff
Sniff them out
Once you know what family of fragrances complement and attract you, it’s time to shop for the right ones at your local Rexall family of pharmacies. Before you buy a perfume, try it on. It will smell differently on you than it does on another person or the blotter because the ingredients in perfume react with your unique body chemistry, explains Bendeth. Spritz a fragrance onto your clean, scent-free wrists, then take a walk or sit down for a while. Sniff your wrists every 10 minutes to get an idea of how the perfume unfolds (you initially smell the top notes but the base notes-the ones that linger on your skin-take time to come through). “The key to smelling perfume is to not directly inhale it, but to take little sniffs and then let your mind go wherever it takes you,” says Bendeth. “Basing your judgment strictly on that it smells nice or pretty is not good enough-you have to love it.” Not only should you adore it, the one you take home should also have staying power-meaning it delivers scent for at least two hours- and it must be one that you know you’ll put on regularly.
Build a scent wardrobe
Just as listening to one song repetitively gets boring, so too does wearing the same scent every day. So, if your budget allows, build a collection with at least a few fragrances. It’s ideal to have a couple selections for daytime wear and another two or three for evenings out.
If you work in an office or retail environment, make sure your perfume stash includes discreet perfumes, so you don’t offend your colleagues. “If you wear one that’s loud or too sweet or spicy, it may be inappropriate,” Bendeth says. “You may want to hold back on anything that’s too strong because people are sensitive to smell.” If, for example, you only love powerful Oriental fragrances, then use your perfume’s companion body lotion or cream during the day, as they’re lighter than the perfume.
For nighttime functions, there are basically no rules, so put on whatever fragrance makes you feel great. (The exception: Don’t spritz on intense scents if you’re going to the opera or theatre where you sit very closely to a lot of people, some of whom may be scent-sensitive.) You may want to have a parfum, which is heavier and richer than an eau de toilette, in your collection to wear in the evenings, as it makes a bolder scent statement.
TIP: To keep your fragrances healthy and smelling great, store bottles in their original packaging where they’ll last for up to two years.
Spritz on smartly
Spraying on too much perfume is overpowering-you don’t want people to taste your fragrance when you walk by-and putting on too little is pointless, as no one will smell it. So how much is enough? Two spritzes. Spray onto a pulse point-either your neck or wrists-after showering and before getting dressed. It’s important that the fragrance dries before slipping into your clothes, as the alcohol and oil in it can stain garments, says Bendeth.
TIP: Avoid rubbing perfume between your wrists, as the friction can bruise its notes and alter its true scent.
