How to choose the right perfume

In the most general terms, perfumes can be divided into “lighter” and “heavier” fragrances. The light ones are generally fresh, fruity or floral, while the heavier scents have noticeable notes of musk, spices, leather, wood, etc. However, the intensity of a perfume’s scent is also influenced by the percentage of scent essences it contains.

The composition of perfume

Every perfume or fragrance is made up of three basic components – these are the composition of the perfume. The most noticeable scents that we perceive initially are known as the “top notes”. It’s an incredibly intense fragrance ingredient, by which we further categorise this scent. We can easily determine whether it is floral, fruity, woody, etc. This next differentiation is simpler and we can all do it with our sense of smell.

After that main component has faded, the next part of the composition, the “middle notes” of the perfume, comes to the fore. This component develops fully after a few minutes, once we have sprayed the perfume onto clothing or our skin. The middle notes of the perfume have an intense scent, which can last for hours.

The last part of the composition is made up of the “base notes”. These are the scent essences that are noticeable the longest. For fragrances labelled “perfume’, the base notes of the perfume can even be noticeable for many days. Interestingly, the base notes of the perfume smell slightly different for each person, when it connects with the person’s own scent, or musk.

Floral fragrances

Another sought-after floral perfume is the Novellista Rose Chant. By the way, this one is actually a unisex fragrance, so it is perfect for both women and men. The base and middle notes of this perfume consist of floral notes – of iris, rose and jasmine. Cinnamon is also unique in this fragrance, giving it a spicy touch.

The Armani My Way is another incredibly popular floral fragrance. The base notes of this fragrance are made up of cedarwood and white musk, which develops sweetly into intoxicating flowers, sweet jasmine and tuberose.

Fruit fragrances

Fruity fragrances often contain intense citrus notes, such as orange, mandarin and lemon. It is the citrus-scented components that give these fragrances their typical tart character. Perfumes with apple, pear or peach fragrances are also popular.

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the wonderful fragrance Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. The main ingredient is cedar, whilst the start of the fragrance has noticeable notes of apple and lemon wood. This is an exceptional perfume that has gained extraordinary popularity.

Another great unisex fragrance is the Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine. As the name suggests, it is a citrus perfume with the dominant notes of orange. By the way, it’s a great summer scent.

Woody fragrances 

In woody fragrances we often encounter notes of sandalwood, cedar and resin. Purely woody fragrances give a warmer, heavier impression than fruity and floral ones. Of course, woody notes can often be found in fruity and floral fragrances too.

One of the bestsellers is the Chloé Nomade Absolu de Parfum. The base notes of the perfume consist of the rich aroma of oakmoss, which develops into notes of mirabelle plum and a rare plant called davana.

A divine woody perfume for men is the Versace Eros Flame, a distinctive fragrance for confident men. The perfume contains a number of unique fragrance ingredients – pepper wood, geranium and black pepper, plus Italian fruit, mandarin, lemon and orange.

Spicy fragrances

Oriental, spicy fragrances tend to be heavy, luxurious and exotic. These are the types of fragrances that are ideal for special occasions, balls and parties. Oriental and spicy fragrances contain notes of sandalwood and cedarwood, as well as spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and vanilla.

If you’re looking for oriental fragrances, I’d definitely recommend the Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Ambrée. It’s an exotic perfume that is unique because of the notes of cedarwood, musk and ylang-ylang flowers.

For men, the spicy Giorgio Armani Code Profumo is excellent – an incredibly sensual, sexy perfume. The base notes of the perfume consist of distinctive cardamom, mandarin and apple, whilst the base notes deliver scents of nutmeg and lavender. This fragrance is sure to be loved not only by men, but by ladies too.

Find a perfume that you’ll love from the first sniff, one that captures the uniqueness of your own style. I hope my article makes your choice easier.