The best-selling perfume in the USA is Coco Mademoiselle, by Chanel. Women seem to love the abundance of citrus and oriental notes in this popular fragrance.
But the best fragrance for one person may not work for you. If you want to find your signature scent, you first need to understand the different scent profiles so you can discover the right note from there.
Not sure what a scent profile even is or how to go about finding your signature profile? This easy guide will tell you everything you need to know.
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What Is a Scent Profile?
Scent profiles are olfactive families of scents that share similarities. For example, orange blossom and lemon are both in the “citrus” scent profile family.
There are eight different scent profiles, which fall under the categories of ‘warm’ or ‘fresh’. They are:
- Warm = Fougere, oriental, and leather
- Fresh = Citrus, floral, and aromatic
- Blend of both warm and fresh = Woody and chypre
It can get confusing as some perfumers have different names for the categories. Some use “spices” or “amber” instead of “oriental”, for example. And some say there are only seven scent profiles, leaving out aromatic.
Whatever their profile name, all scents in existence fall into a scent profile family. When several scents mix, they are fragrances.
Building Fragrances From Scent Profiles
A scent profile could also describe the top, middle, and base notes of a fragrance profile.
Top notes are the first scents you smell when applying perfume. Middle scents are often known as heart notes as these are the main foundation of the fragrance. Base notes add depth and a lasting impression.
Some scents make better top, middle, or base notes than others. For example, top notes are often lighter scents like lemon. Lavender and black pepper work as middle notes, and calming scents like sandalwood work as base notes.
How To Choose a Fragrance for You
Now you know what a scent profile is, here is how to choose a scent or a fragrance that works for you.
When testing perfumes bought in-store or online here, spray the scent onto a blotter. The first scents you will smell are the top notes. There could be one or several top notes.
If you like the top notes, spray the perfume on your wrist and wait for at least 30 minutes. After this time, you should be able to smell the middle and base notes. And you might be able to tell if this scent profile works with your body chemistry or not.
Always make a mental note of the scent profiles in the fragrances you test. If you try a perfume and you don’t like base notes but love the top note, you can test other perfumes with the same top note but different base notes.
Through trial and error, you will find the right fragrance for you.
Come Out Smelling of Roses
Your signature scent says a lot about you and can help you feel more confident and attractive. And once you get the hang of what a scent profile is, you will be able to figure out how to choose a fragrance that works for you and even build your own.
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