A Fragrance Guide for Buying Perfumes and Finding Signature Scents
Our sense of smell is so closely linked to our memories. A certain scent can trigger a specific memory from our travels, from childhood or a particular era in our lives. In this Travelista beauty guide to fragrance buying, we’ll help you to narrow down your search to find the perfect signature scent.
If you need a little help to find a new fragrance for yourself, or a gift for a loved one, this guide is a great place to start. We’ll cover the 6 core scent categories and help you to understand fragrance notes and perfume strengths. It’s time to find out which scents match your personality best.
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Understanding Fragrance Notes in Perfume
Understanding Perfume Strengths and Concentration
Introduction
Choosing a scent is all about finding something that matches your mood or your personality so you can truly feel like the best version of yourself. But with so many scent options – from sweet floral to botanical, earthy, woody and spicy – it’s hard to know where to begin.
When picking a fragrance, think about the natural scents you are often drawn to.
Do you love the citrus smell of a peeled orange?
Do you love the fragrance of a bouquet of flowers?
Or do you go crazy at the scent of a fresh pine Christmas free?
It’s also important to decide whether you are shopping for a perfume to wear consistently as an every-day fragrance, or if you are looking for something bold and unique for special events.
It’s time to guide you through the main scent categories.
6 Core Scent Categories
When shopping for a new fragrance, the first step is to work out your preferred scent category. Some people like to have all their perfumes in one scent category, and others like to have one of many categories so they have different fragrances to suit their mood or occasion. Narrowing down to a preferred scent category will help you to streamline your perfume shopping experience. If you’re shopping in person, you can ask the shop assistant to suggest perfumes within your scent category. If you’re shopping online, you can use search filters on perfume retail sites. On some sites, you can even search by a specific scent, such as Amber.
Amber fragrances often have sweet notes like – vanilla and honey, along with earthy and musky scents from – vetiver, patchouli, and sandalwood. Some amber perfumes also include sticky resins like labdanum and the nutty smell of tonka beans. Sites like Parfum Dreams have developed an advanced search filter, allowing you to really drill down your search by specific scents. See more details here.
Floral Scents
Floral perfumes are great for anyone who loves romance because they smell like blooming flowers. These scents are usually feminine and softly seductive! This makes them perfect for date nights, special events and parties. They can vary in strength – from strong and lively to soft and subtle. You can even find floral scents made with fruit blossoms, giving a fresh twist to a classic fragrance. Floral perfumes often include the delicate and rich smells of
- jasmine
- lilies
- peonies
- roses
Citrus Scents
Citrus scents are perfect if you want to feel light and energised. They’re great for everyday wear and especially for those who enjoy being outdoors in the sun and surf. Citrus perfumes often include hints of -garden herbs, freshly cut grass, and even the smell of the ocean. They are often bright, clean and fresh, featuring notes such as;
- grapefruit
- lemon
- orange blossom
Fruity Scents
Fruit fragrances let you enjoy the sweetness of summer all year long. Scents like – citrus and berries can remind you of sipping a refreshing cocktail, while coconut and mango – can transport you to a tropical beach.
These fragrances are great for daytime activities and outdoor events. They can lift your mood and are perfect for anyone wanting to feel youthful. You can mix fruity scents with woody or floral notes to make your fragrance more sophisticated.
Woody Scents
Woody fragrances are often unisex and can have earthy and sweet notes that trigger memories of mossy forests and tropical rainforests. On the other hand, some wood scents have drier notes of leather, smoke, and aged oak. These fragrances are warm and welcoming, making them suitable for many different occasions Woody scents are often mature, intriguing and mysterious. They are made from earthy scents like
- amber
- cedar
- sandalwood
Fresh Scents
Fresh scents are very versatile and perfect for everyday wear or when you want to make a bright impression. They have a crisp and refreshing quality, often mixing citrus notes with
- cucumber
- fresh herbs
- sea salt
- the smell of clean laundry.
A fresh-floral perfume might also have hints of lilies and irises, along with a sweet touch of watermelon.
Spicy Scents
Spicy fragrances carry a sense of old-world charm from the spice trade. They have a rich, warm, and tempting scent. What makes these perfumes special is their balance; they blend sweet notes such as Men’s colognes often include spicy notes, giving them a welcoming and mysterious scent.
- ginger
- cinnamon
- vanilla
- cardamom
- clove
- pepper
Fragrance Notes in Perfume
Perfume notes are the different layers of scents that create a fragrance. They are usually divided into three types:
1. Top notes
2. Heart notes (or middle notes)
3. Base notes
These notes work together to give perfumes their unique complexity. This is also why a fragrance can smell different as the day goes on.
Top Notes
Top notes are the first scents you notice when you put on perfume. They are light and fresh, giving the initial impression. These scents usually last on your skin for about 10-15 minutes before they start to fade.
Heart Notes
After the top notes fade away, the heart notes will start to come through. Also called middle notes, these make up the main part of the perfume and give it its main personality. Heart notes usually account for 40%-80% of the fragrance and last longer than the top notes.
Base Notes
Base notes are the foundation of the perfume, adding depth and lasting power. They are smooth and deep and are the last scents to appear after the top and heart notes fade. While the top and heart notes create the initial attraction, the base notes often bring up strong emotions and memories.
Perfume Concentration and Strengths
All perfumes are made from concentrated oils. The most concentrated type is Pure Parfum, which has the highest amount of essential oils. This means you only need a small amount for a strong scent.
Eau de Parfum has a bit less concentration of oils but still lasts a long time, making it a good choice for staying power. If you prefer something lighter, Eau de Toilette has an even lower concentration. Eau de Cologne is a great option for a very light scent, with only 2-4% concentration.
Pure Parfum
Pure Parfum has the strongest scent concentration, with about 30-40% undiluted perfume oil. As it’s very concentrated, it can last up to 8 hours, and you only need a small amount for a strong fragrance. It has less alcohol and water, making it rich and luxurious – a perfect gift for someone special.
Eau de Parfum
Eau de Parfum contains around 15-20% fragrance oil and lasts about 4-5 hours. The name means – “water of perfume” in French – indicating it’s not as strong as Pure Parfum. Thus, making it a good choice for a subtler scent. It usually has more alcohol or water, which can be better for people with sensitive skin.
Eau de Toilette
Eau de Toilette has 5-15% fragrance oil and lasts for about 2-3 hours – making it great for everyday use. The name comes from the French phrase – faire sa toilette, which means – “to wash up” or “get ready.” EDT is a popular fragrance, perfect for daily wear. Because of its lower concentration of perfume, it’s also cheaper than Eau de Parfum.
Eau de Cologne
Eau de Cologne gets its name from the city of Cologne, Germany. The term means – water from Cologne. This fragrance type has about 2-4% pure fragrance and lasts for about 1-2 hours. While it’s often associated with male grooming – anyone can wear cologne.
Eau Fraiche
Eau Fraiche is one of the lightest fragrance options. It contains about 1-3% fragrance oil. It lasts for about 1-2 hours and is perfect for those who want a subtle and classy scent. The name translates to – fresh water in English. This fragrance has more water and less alcohol. Thus, making it a great choice for people with sensitive skin.
We hope this Fragrance guide has helped you to narrow down your search and left you with some new perfume buying tips and scent ideas.
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