How to Choose a Fragrance

[michelle_kitten]

I've learned a bit about choosing a fragrance.  The process is very similar in guys and girls.  I'd like to share a few things I know, and hopefully others can build on the subject.  I am no expert, but I know the basics.

 

Fragrances are generally mixtures of essential oils (the stuff that smells pretty), and alcohol (the stuff that gets it to your skin).  The more oils, the more expensive and long lasting the fragrance will be.  So, an eau de cologne, which has the highest alcohol content, will only last about four hours on average.  An eau de Parfume, which has the highest ratio of essential oils to alcohol will last 12 or more hours on average.  An eau de toilet is somewhere between the two others.  As a general rule, you get what you pay for.  Inexpensive body sprays and mists, and knock off fragrances, often don't last long.  Your mileage may vary depending on your individuality.

 

Fragrances change over the course of wearing them.  At first, you smell the citrus and light florals much stronger than the other scents.  These lighter notes tend to last the shortest amount of time before they evaporate.  This is why it is important when testing fragrances to sample them and walk away for at least a half hour before deciding to buy one.  The way it smells when you first apply it is not how it will smell for most of the time you are wearing it.

 

Next comes the deeper florals, berries, non-citrus fruits, and spices.  This is what your fragrance is going to smell like for most of its time on your skin.  This is what you should consider most when selecting a fragrance.  For musky fragrances this is where the musk scent is most apparent (mostly in guy's fragrances).

 

Lastly, most fragrances end in a balsam or even a woody scent.  This is what the fragrance is like before it fades away completely.  This doesn't mean you're going to smell like a lumber yard.  These are sweet scents, but not floral or spice scents, and often deeper than the spices and deep florals.

 

Each fragrance is going to interact uniquely with your body chemistry.  No two people will get the same results with the same fragrance.  Take your time to sample a number of fragrances and figure out what works best with your pheromones.  Don't try more than one or two fragrances at time.

 

Silage is something to consider.  Silage is how far away your fragrance carries from your body.  If someone can smell you before you arrive, your fragrance probably has too much silage, or you've used way  too much.  For guys, fragrance should be discovered and not announced.  For girls a bit more silage is acceptable, and maybe even desirable.  Still your fragrance should be only apparent in close situations.  I think comfortable conversation distance with a close friend is about how far you want your fragrance to carry, so like about 3 feet or so (totally my opinion).

 

Less is often more when applying a fragrance.  The oils in fragrances are activated by body heat.  The undersides of the wrists, the base of the neck, and under the back of the jaw line are key places to apply fragrances.  You don't need to apply the fragrance to each hot spot either.  One or two places is usually enough.  The fact that body heat is a bit warmer in those areas makes the most of your fragrance without using a lot.  Conserving your fragrance is important if you have purchased a more expensive fragrance, and in most situations you don't want to smell like a brothel.

 

I prefer a liquid fragrance to a spray fragrance.  When you spray, fragrance is lost in the air, and it can be hard to aim at a body part you can't see.  I like to use a finger or an applicator to just dot the places I want the fragrance on.  I waste the least that way.

 

When choosing a fragrance, shop around and choose what you like.  Don't choose what someone else likes on you.  You are the one who is going to wear it.  It is you the fragrance is going to make a statement about.  Choose what you like.

 

There is a whole science to fragrance, and there are some great articles on the internet which explain this in much deeper detail than I have gone.  There are standards on what can be called for example an eau de toilet, based on the alcohol content.

 

Finally, don't underestimate the value of a good fragrance.  Whether you want to get noticed by guys for your femininity, or interacting with cis girls, smelling good is a huge advantage in social situations.  Even if you already have that special someone, or are single and not looking, fragrance can add something to your interactions.  You want people to say to themselves, when you get close, "Wow! She smells great!"  It doesn't hurt if they compliment you either.   What girl doesn't like to hear a good compliment?

 

Your comments are welcome.  If you disagree, I'd like to hear what you have to say.  If you have something to add to help others choose a fragrance, please comment.

[tracy_j]

It is not something I use. In fact the first thing that really attracted me to female cosmetics was the lack of frangrance. Many male products seem really powerful, probably to mask strong male odour. Your post provides interesting reading though. Thank you for posting. I am sure everyone will find it interesting.

 

Tracy

[Charlize]

  if i use a fragrance i do my best to only use a little bit.  It is so easy to use too much.  As an old hippie chick i usually use patchouli.  It has a strong "silage".  Sorry but as a farmer that description has strong connotations.  

  Like so many things moderation is important.   Too much scent quickly becomes obvious and annoying to others.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize