My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I'm a little obsessed with my sense of smell (and taste). I smell everything! Whenever I read a book, I spend half the time sniffing the pages as I turn them.
I used to joke and tell people that I must have been a nose in a past life.
To me, using a fragrance is like music that you wear because it invokes a feeling. I also see fragrance as part of my wardrobe.
And it doesn't have to be a special occasion for me to wear a fragrance because I see every day as a special occasion. Whether I work or have the day off, I don't walk out of my apartment without giving myself a spritz or dab.
Personally, I'm attracted to fragrances that are composed of earthy, warm, and woody notes. They seem to work best on my skin. And they also seem to ground me. Believe it or not, any scent with too much citrus goes sour on my skin. I enjoy my fragrances very much like my wine - dark, warm, and full-bodied.
Unlike many people, I don't have a signature scent. I rather enjoy switching my fragrances seasonally. Not only does it keep things fresh, but after wearing a fragrance for so long, you can no longer smell it, so you just keep spraying on more and more.
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Today I would like to share what I've learned over the past 37 years about selecting and wearing a fragrance. I spent 10 of those years specifically in the fragrance industry, learning how they are created.
Selecting A New Fragrance -
Always test a fragrance on your skin before purchasing it. What smells great on a paper blotter or someone else might not work the same way for you. And that's because everyone's skin chemistry reacts differently.
Never try any more than three fragrances when testing on your skin. The more you try, the more confused your olfactory receptors become.
Never try a new fragrance when you have a cold or not feeling well because you will always associate it with that cold and those feelings.
Never rub a fragrance after spraying it because it changes the way it smells. A fragrance should dry down naturally; allowing the top notes, middle notes, and base notes to unfold slowly. Also, rubbing a fragrance causes it to dissipate faster.
Where To Apply Fragrance -
Start with one spray. Less is more.
Focus on your pulse points. These are areas where your veins sit closest to your skin, so you can (literally) feel your pulse. Areas like the inside of your wrists, chest, neck, inner elbows, behind your ear lobes, and the back of your knees.
Another great area to apply your fragrance is to your hair because it absorbs liquid and retains it longer. Also, applying fragrance to your hair will keep it smelling fresh, especially if you're out somewhere and people are smoking cigarettes.
Now let's talk about the different scent families...
Scent Families -
Floral
The floral scent family is one of the most common families and is used in many well-known perfumes. Floral scents are most often used in women’s fragrances, although they are occasionally used in men’s as well.
Oriental
The oriental fragrance family consists of rich exotic scents. When you think of oriental scents, think herbs and spices or dry, powdery, resin notes.
Woods
Woody perfumes are usually warm and opulent, mixing incense-like fragrances like sandalwood and patchouli with drier notes like cedar.
Fresh
The fresh scent family encompasses clean bright scents. Herby, citrusy, and oceanic scents all fall into this category.
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Different Strengths -
Parfum - Eau de Parfum (EDP) - Eau de Toilette (EDT)
-Parfum, also known as “essence” or “extract” is the most concentrated preparation, with a percentage between 15 and 40% of raw materials diluted in alcohol. This preparation does not contain water. Lasts the longest and has the strongest projection.
-Eau de Parfum has a percentage of essences between 10 and 20%. Second highest, and typically performs very well in the longevity and projection category.
-Eau de Toilette remains the least concentrated solution, with a percentage between 4 and 15%. It can perform quite well for most people, especially those with moisturized skin.
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Male/Female Fragrances -
Even though fragrances are often categorized as "Male and Female," don't allow that to stop you from wearing them. My collection is a combination of both male and female fragrances. If I like a fragrance, I like it. It doesn't matter to me what gender it's labeled.
Taking A Scent Family Quiz -
I took this perfume quiz and found it to be spot on when selecting my scent family -
Woody:
Woody fragrances usually include bark, patchouli, amber, oakmoss, cedarwood, and vetiver. Scents that evoke thoughts of nature. Unique and confidence-inspiring.
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Hope you found this post interesting and informative.
Wish you a fragrant week, everyone!
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*Please feel free to share your scent family, your likes and dislikes when it comes to wearing a fragrance, and whether or not you wear a fragrance. Thank you!
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