One of the most neglected aspects of style is scent; quite unfortunate, considering the sense of smell is most substantially associated with memory. The purpose of a fragrance isn’t to hide the hideous body odor that emits from your pores, but rather to complete the overall package you are presenting as an individual.
You can change someone’s perception of you just by the way you smell.
Whether you are wearing a refined LANVIN suit or a pair of Kris Van Assche’s in a Rick Owens get-up, the perfume you are wearing should match accordingly. This is a brief introduction into the world of fragrances and why you should look into purchasing a bottle.
When you smell a perfume for the first time, you are most often reminded of an emotion tied to a memory. Often times the feeling brought on by a perfume can be quite nostalgic, other times it can be seductive, and sometimes even repulsive.
You can change someone’s perception of you just by the way you smell. This is why perfume enthusiasts have several fragrances to suit each occasion. They’ve armed themselves with these scents to persuade the result of a scenario in their favor. They will have one for work, one for dates or nights out, one for special occasions such as meetings, interviews or weddings and one that captures their personality; an individual smell known as a signature scent.
Can a fragrance really change an outcome?
Absolutely. Wearing a fragrance will not only make those around you more receptive to your actions, but will additionally give the wearer self-assurance; it will give the wearer confidence and a boost in ego. Wearing a perfume can give you a much needed kick-start, and it can even make you feel euphoric.
Receiving a compliment on a fragrance will give anyone a boost in confidence that they will remembered forever.
A little goes a long way
When putting on a fragrance, remember not to over apply. How much should you apply and where? This is a very subjective question but a good rule of thumb is to start off with 1 – 2 sprays on the neck.
When testing a fragrance, it’s always useful to apply one spray onto the wrist. Smell it throughout the day. If it’s faint, you will know how to apply it when wearing it fully. If it becomes too cloying you can wash it off. Make sure to apply the scent on the main pulse points – wrists, neck, back of the elbows and even back of the knees – this will ensure the greatest longevity and sillage. If you like the scent but are afraid it might be overpowering, one spray to the back of the neck should be fine.
Longevity & Sillage
Everyone’s skin is different and most of the time a fragrance will not smell identical on two different people.
The longevity is how long you can smell the scent upon application. Some scents will have a beautiful smell but after about 3 hours they become non-existent. The sillage is the projection and the scent trail. If you are choosing a fragrance for work, the last thing you want is a fragrance with a monster sillage. They can become cloying and you will bother your co-workers.
But just because a particular fragrance has a reputation for having surreal longevity and sillage doesn’t mean you will get the same results from it. Everyone’s skin is different and most of the time a fragrance will not smell identical on two different people. This is why you should always spray the fragrance on your skin when testing it out, rather on the scent strip they give you at the store.
Categorizing & pricing
If a cheap $15 designer fragrance mixes well with your skin, it can give the impression of a very expensive one.
Fragrances fall under two categories: Niche & Designer. Niche fragrances are exclusive, limited in numbers and quite often harder to find. They also cost 3 times the price of designer ones. Designer fragrances are widely available, they can even be purchased at drug stores and they are much cheaper.
Does this make Niche fragrances better than Designer ones? Absolutely not. If a cheap $15 designer fragrance mixes well with your skin, it can give the impression of a very expensive one. That’s the beauty of perfume; you never know where you’ll find your Holy Grail.
Popular Niche perfume brands:
CREED – up to $340 for 118ml
Kilian – up to $395 for 50ml (mostly due to expensive packaging)
Amouage – up to $300 for 100ml
Parfums MDCI – up to $375 for 60ml
Clive Christian – up to $850 for 50ml
Popular Designer perfume brands:
Paco Rabanne – up to $90
Giorgio Armani – up to $100
Loris Azzaro – up to $75
Burberry – up to $75
Calvin Klein – up to $70
Before you get discouraged by some of the outrageous prices, here’s something to consider: most of the designer fragrances (and some niche) can be purchased online for a fraction of the cost. Websites such as FragranceX and FragranceNet offer up to 60% discounts on these products. FragranceNet also offers coupon-codes with additional 15% off. This can make a $340 bottle of CREED cost you $120 – roughly the price of a designer fragrance if you were to purchase it in a store. The designer ones become dirt cheap, some as low as $20.
If you’re nervous about purchasing a big bottle of a Niche fragrance before testing it, LuckyScent offers samples on most of their merchandise. And remember, when determining the bang-for-your-buck factor of a fragrance:
If you’re paying $150 for a great smell that will disappear within 3 hours, or a great smell that only you can detect…you may want to rethink your purchase.
Good luck!
