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Buying a new fragrance — or finding your signature scent— can be daunting.
It’s likely to be one of the greater investments in your beauty kit, and is the one that most closely crosses paths with your personal identity.
To your friends and family, a signature scent might even become an innate (and nostalgic) piece of who you are.
A ‘good’ fragrance can’t always be determined by price or brand name alone, and isn’t dependant on a certain set of notes.
Here’s how to identify a great one for you.
Depth and complexity
Traditionally, more complex, layered fragrances are of a higher quality than those of a single note (although there are exceptions).
On an initial spritz, a single note fragrance might smell similar to the top notes of a more complex fragrance, however once those top notes dry, you’ll likely find the richness and ‘body’ of the scent (created by those middle and base notes) to be absent.
Think of it like this: top notes are like looks, or your first impression.
They are the very first thing people notice, but the heart (the middle notes)—is what makes you who you are.
Base notes are then your lasting impression—the way you make someone else feel.
These notes are often softer, warmer, or woodier and the final note you smell.
This is the true olfactory experience.
The right balance
While the perfect balance of notes and strengths is crucial in creating a popular or well-loved scent—one that’s not flat nor overpowering, and perfect for all day wear—it’s the oft unmentioned balance of ingredients, natural and synthetic, that play a large part in producing a great fragrance.
On average, a fragrance has between 40 and 60 ingredients, and in most cases, there is a ratio of around 70 percent synthetic to 30 percent natural ingredients.
We’ve long formed a negative connotation to the term ‘synthetic’, but it’s not one to snuff in the fragrance world.
In actuality, synthetic (or rather, lab-born) ingredients are likely the reason you’re so drawn to your favourite fragrance.
Simplified molecules — derived and synthesised from naturals—are the literal essence of synthetic ingredients, which can be used to heighten the impact or experience of some naturals.
In some cases, it can even make them smell more natural.
Purification of these ingredients also means that a non-allergenic, skin-friendly molecule can be produced—a synthetic ingredient might have five potential allergy-causing elements, but a natural may have a thousand.
Longevity in wear time
Just as no one wants an overbearing fragrance, no one wants one that disappears within the first hour of wear.
More often than not, superior, well-crafted scents will go the distance (premium ingredients will, by default, last longer on your skin), which is something to consider if you’re tempted to look for a mass-produced ‘dupe’.
Your body’s own chemistry and natural oils also play a crucial part in the wear of a fragrance, so one that might last all day on a friend might not serve you to the same extent.
Testing a new fragrance before committing is crucial, and a far better guide than any online review.
As oils linger longer than water or alcohol, an oil-based eau de parfum is your first port of call if you feel a current eau de toilette is disappearing on your skin. – www.mecca.com.
Online Reporter