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How to Shop for a Fragrance

Choosing a new scent for you or for someone else is almost like science. There is a lot of experimenting and trial and error. Luckily, you know what you like and dislike. That’s the easy part. The hard part is wading through the fragrance counter in a department store with all of your olfactory senses intact.

The key to testing various perfumes and fragrances is to actually apply a scent onto your skin. Choose a pulse point and apply the fragrance. Your next step is to leave the area immediately or walk the mall for about twenty minutes. You want the fragrance to have enough time to react with your body chemistry as well as mellow out, especially if you like the scent from the start. Sometimes, the top note of a fragrance is appealing, but as the scent starts to react with your body chemistry, the middle and base notes of the fragrance could change dramatically. If after that length of time you still like the smell, then you have a potential new fragrance.

It is important to note that you should never try more than two or three fragrances at a time. Make sure and apply the test scents on different pulse points that are not close to each other. You do not want the scents to co-mingle because then you could not make a sound decision on which one you like.

So how do you choose a fragrance for another person? How do you know what they are going to like? This is really a tough call, especially if that person doesn’t really wear a lot of fragrances anyway. One choice you have is to play detective. Ask their significant other or figure a way to find out what scent they are currently wearing. Once you have that answer, you have two options.

The first option is to just buy some complimentary products in the same fragrance or buy a gift set. These sets usually come with cologne, lotion and sometimes, body powder or shower gel. Your second option is to tell the salesperson at the fragrance counter what your friend wears and ask for recommendations that are within the same scent family. By knowing what the person uses already, you have gained valuable insight into what fragrance family they like whether it be floral, spicy, woodsy, oriental or more.

Ok, so what do you do when the person offers no clues to their fragrance preferences? This is where their personality traits come into play. Who they are can help define their signature scent. There are so many scents and fragrance families, this insight into their personality can be the deal breaker in finding a fragrance just for them.

Is your friend a girly girl who embraces her femininity? If so, scents from the fruit or floral families just might make sense. What if she is one hot mama? Sexiness and confidence need a bold scent that plays up those traits. Spicy or oriental fragrances that contain musk or cinnamon are good bets. The peace and love “earthy” type of person is down home and no nonsense. She probably loves the great outdoors and wears earth tones or the color green. For this type of personality, the earthiness could be played up with a woody or mossy scent. Variations of musk and sandalwood are possibilities too. And how about the person who believes in true love and happy endings? She has a presence in a crowd and is confident in love. She’s giddy and optimistic. This romantic gal needs a dynamic, flirty scent laced with various floral notes along with a fresh citrus or light oriental finish.

Of course, you might make a minor miscalculation when choosing a new fragrance for you or someone else. Before you buy, ask about any return policies. Many places do not accept returned merchandise unless the product has been unopened. Do not rely on those little pieces of paper that salespeople spray perfumes on. This does not give a true representation of what the scent will be like. When in doubt, ask for perfume or scent samples. These are just the right size for one or two applications and can give you great insight into the right choice of fragrances for you or a friend.

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