How to choose the right perfume?
Each perfume or cologne consists of different "notes."
These notes determine the overall scent. These notes consist of three different layers called base, top or head, and middle or heart notes, and they all work in synergy to create a specific smell. Some perfumes, for example would be considered floral and contain different scent notes like rose, gardenia, or geranium.
Others may be a bit fruitier, with undertones of citrus or apple. Exotic perfumes contain spicy notes like star anise or even cinnamon. Men's scents have various notes as well. Musk scents have a heavier, more masculine tone, while others may have smells like pine or even leather-based notes.
It is always a good idea to determine which types of cologne or perfume you prefer and then see which base notes they contain before making a purchase decision. You can learn more about the different notes used to make cologne and perfume in order to get a better idea of which ones you think will suit your tastes.
Choose a Concentration
Fragrances come in four different levels of concentration. As the concentration gets higher, the price usually gets higher as well. Typically, colognes or perfumes with high concentration have a more powerful scent and last longer. They can be a bit pricey, but some people feel the higher price is absolutely worth it.
Test the Fragrance
Before you decide to purchase any fragrance, you should definitely do a few simple tests to make sure that it is something you will want to wear and that you will enjoy. The key, however, is to try a bit of the fragrance on your skin. Our skin has its own unique code of hormones and pheromones that can slightly or even extremely alter the way a fragrance smells. It is a good idea to spray a small amount on your wrists, wait a few moments, and then smell the scent on your skin. Sometimes, depending on your own chemical makeup, it can enhance or diminish the smell. It can also be altered if you have a certain chemistry that does not match the scent's mixture.