Eau de YOU: Here’s how to choose your perfect perfume

Choosing a fragrance can be more challenging than you think. With a new perfume launch almost every day, it is hard to keep up with what is hot and what is not. Before choosing a fragrance, you have to decide what kind of scent you like - fruity, woody, floral, sweet or oriental. Your mood can have a big impact on your choice

EDP and EDT

EDP stands for “eau de parfum.” It is more concentrated, intense, and usually a bit more expensive than other fragrances. The higher the concentration, the higher the price. If you want your fragrance to last all day, go for an EDP.

EDT stands for “eau de toilette.” This is more a diluted version of a fragrance, and smells very light. EDTs are usually very affordable, and can easily be found in retail stores. An EDT is perfect if you are not into strong fragrances, and it usually lasts up to three or four hours.

Different notes

Each perfume consists of different “notes” that determine the overall scent. Base, top and middle notes work in synergy to create a specific smell. Some perfumes are considered floral and contain different notes such as rose, gardenia or geranium. Others may be fruitier, with undertones of citrus or apple. Exotic perfumes contain spicy notes such as star anise or cinnamon.

Men’s scents also have notes. Musk scents have a heavier, more masculine tone, while others may have smells such as pine or even leather-based notes. It is always a good idea to determine which types of scents you prefer, then see which base notes they contain, before making a purchasing decision.

With a new perfume launch almost every day, it is hard to keep up with what is hot and what is not.

Mix and match

You can mix and match fragrances to compliment each other and customize your own perfume. If you are wearing one of your favorite fresh perfumes but think it could use a bit of sweetness, spritz a bit of your favorite sweet scent.

Packaging

It can be tempting to go for a fragrance that comes in a fancy bottle because it would look good in your bathroom. Try to look through the pretty bottle and focus on the actual scent, which matters the most. If the bottle looks irresistible but you are not a big fan of the scent, do not go for it. You will end up not using the fragrance at all.

Testers

There is no time limit when looking for the perfect fragrance, but continuously sniffing different scents can cause olfactory fatigue, where you can temporary not distinguish between fragrances. If you cannot make up your mind at the store, ask the sales person for a few testers you can take home.

Our skin has a unique code of hormones that alters the way a fragrance smells. Try the fragrance on your skin and see how the scent develops after a few hours. Test out each fragrance on a different day, then decide which perfume you like the most.

Tip

Apply your perfume to the warm spots of your body: wrists, neck, décolleté, ankles and behind your knees. The perfume blends with your own natural oils faster, resulting in a long-lasting, more intense scent.