On the Sephora website alone, there are roughly 438 perfumes available to purchase. With four very different “families” and five different “impressions,” choosing a perfume can be a little overwhelming.
Most people probably don’t pay too much attention to the vast array of perfumes out there. We might have one perfume that we have been using for years, and have stuck to it ever since. But, why not give more thought to your perfume? It is your signature scent and you should want it to truly reflect your personality, because science shows it may leaves a lasting impression.
This weekend I was miles away in the Smoky Mountains when this lady passed me at the visitor center. I got a big whiff of what I recognized immediately as a Victoria Secret perfume. I knew the scent well because it was my inseparable best friend of eight years’ signature aroma that she used religiously throughout high school and college. It did not just remind me of her, it started a movie reel playing in my head, highlighting all the happy, sad, fun and serious times we had together; All of this from a perfume.
Does the smell of coconut oil or cocoa butter remind you of the beach? Or, I bet you can remember how your mother smelled as you were growing up. This is because the olfactory center interacts directly with the part of the brain that forms memories. Smells also impact the brain by influencing our mood. Peppermint can stimulate us, while jasmine reduces feelings of depression.
Now we know that buying a new perfume is not just an act of self-care that makes us feel confident and smell nice, it is science. Here are 4 basic tips to finding and wearing your own signature perfume:
- Which “Family” Do You Enjoy The Most? The perfume family is separated into floral, fresh, woody, and oriental. Floral is the most popular blend and often contain jasmine, rose, gardenia and peony. They may contain some hints of warm spice or fruit. Fresh scents include the zesty, clean fragrances with fresh citrus, greens or water. Woody perfumes are spicy and sensual with amber, sandalwood and cedarwood, with hints of cinnamon. The fourth group, oriental, contains vanilla, clove, cinnamon, roses and orchids, and is warm and spicy.
- Don’t Over Shop. Trying on too many perfumes during the same shopping trip can ruin your ability to fully smell the different scents. Use the test strips before spraying on your skin, and utilize those coffee beans stores have lying around to reset your nose.
- Don’t Clash Toiletries. You don’t want to use a strong woody body wash and lotion when your signature perfume is floral or fresh. Try to keep your scents in the same family so they do not interfere with one another.
- Fragrances smell differently on everyone. I once bought a perfume a friend of mine had that I loved on her. After I purchased the full bottle I went home and realized I hated it on me. I was deeply disappointed. Thanks to our body’s natural chemistry, not every fragrance smells the same on every person. If you want to be positive you really like a perfume before you buy it, spray it on your wrist in the store and smell it again in about an hour to make sure you still like it.
