In an ideal world, a signature scent acts as a unique scent memory for beloved friends and family members, it is one scent by which other people recognize you. Not only this, but also a scent that works best with you and your body chemistry. This perfume boost your mood, makes your day better, and occasionally garners you a compliment or two. Furthermore, it can also help define who you are as an individual, project your personality, and reflect your perfume taste.
Everyone knows the second thing that makes an impression after the way you are dressed is how you smell and choosing the right signature scent to invest in, from the millions of perfumes available today in stores is usually a tough challenge. Signature scents are more than pretty; they’re your calling card to everyone you meet and comfort for everyone you love. Finding yours is our goal today and below is an easy guide.
Know the Fragrance Families - One of the best ways to understand what you are smelling is to familiarise yourself with the fragrance wheel.
Fragrance Wheel Categories
The fragrance wheel splits each type of scent into one of four categories:
● Floral notes - They are primarily derived from flower. They make for bright, sweet, feminine scents. Their sub-categories are Floral, Fruity and Soft Floral.
Notable scents: Fruits, berries, jasmine, roses, lilies and other freshly cut flowers.
● Oriental notes - They are characterized by deep, rich herbs and spices like anise or myrrh.
The Oriental scent sub-categories are Soft Oriental, Floral Oriental and Soft Oriental.
Notable scents: Amber, incense, sweet spices, orange blossom, vanilla, and oriental resins and oils.
● Fresh notes - They are typically found in more male fragrances, with clean, bright scents like herbs, citrus and the sea.
Their categories are Citrus, Fruity, Green and Water.
Notable scents: Lime, bergamot, lemon, galbanum, aquatic and marine
● Woody notes - Woody fragrances are very warm and deep, like the smell of incense.
The Woody sub-categories are Woods, Mossy Woods, Dry Woods and Aromatic.
Notable scents: Lavender, aromatic herbs, amber, vetiver, patchouli, oakmoss, dry woods, leather and sandalwood
Try as Many Different Scents as Possible - When you begin your journey of scent discovery, you might not be sure of what you are looking for. So cast a wide net. But remember, because this can be overwhelming for your nose, if you take a trip to a perfumer or a department store, limit yourself to trying at most three to four fragrances at a time.
For a Start, Thread Lightly - As you try out various perfumes and fragrances, you should begin with lighter scents first. Start with fragrances with fresh marine or musk notes.Additionally, take advantage of samples if possible.
Find the Smells That Keep You Coming Back For More - If you have a few samples, but you keep returning to one of them, this is a good sign. Request a fragrance sample and spray it on your skin. Your body chemistry can alter the smell of a fragrance, so try it on and check back on it every 20mins to 1hr. If you still like it, put it on your list.
Your Signature Scent Is About You - Don't lose sight of the fact that your scent is about finding your fragrance. If everyone is raving about some new super-sophisticated scent that you don't like, don't sweat it. You're just getting started on your journey; there's plenty of time to get into that stuff later.