Chosing your Signature Perfume
Toilet water, cologne, or layering scented bubble bath, body cream,
Aug 13, 2006
Finding a perfume you love and wearing it regularly can play a big part in creating your signature style. To the people who get near, that scent says "you".
A little whiff throughout the day of a perfume you love can really lift your spirits. Choosing the scent you like enough to be your signature fragrance can be difficult because there are so many available to choose from.
The best way to find the right fragrance is actually by accident. I've found a favorite new scent in a magazine sample and by an impulsive whiff while shopping. You can wait years before the right scent falls in your lap. But if you go out in search of perfume, be prepared to put some effort into your search.
The first sniff may be wonderful, then change completely after you've worn it for a while. Spray the card provided by the store (or if none are, then try spraying into the bottle's lid), take a whiff and move on if you don't like it.
When you find one you do, spray it on your pulse point or inside your elbow then check it again in an hour or so to see if you still like it. If it passes that test, buy the smallest size available until you're sure it's a scent you want to wear long term.
Don't test too many fragrances in one day or you'll be overwhelmed. A whiff of coffee beans between testings will clear your nose so you don't confuse scents.
Some fragrances come in perfume form, which is the strongest scent; toilet water, which is lighter; and cologne spray, the lightest of all. Go lighter in the day than at night, and be courteous to people around you.
Don't spray perfume in public, and use a light hand (or none at all) if you're going to be locked up in a meeting or working closely with someone.
Layering a fragrance is a good way to ensure lasting scent without overpowering. You layer by using the same scent through your bathing process: scented bubble bath, body cream, powder, deodorant and finally a very light spray of cologne. When you're layering, you don't want to finish with a heavy perfume.
If you find a scent you love, share it here. Recommendations are a good way to find a new favorite. For more on understanding perfumes and choosing your signature scent, try this informative article by Dulcinea Norton-Smith. Happy shopping.
