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10 Things to Look for When Buying Perfume

Updated: Mar 20, 2022

10 Things to Look for when Buying Perfume: A blog with tips and tricks on how to pick out the right perfume.


When you are buying perfume, there are certain things that you should definitely look for. If you know what these factors are when shopping, it can make all the difference in your shopping experience.


"Perfume is a story in odour, sometimes poetry in memory."

– Jean-Claude Ellena


Keep your body chemistry in mind.


The first thing you should always start with is your body chemistry. It is the most important element in deciding a perfume that will suit you. Using the wrong perfume can lead to accidents as well as skin irritation, which can be quite uncomfortable!


However, there are a few things that you can keep in mind when shopping for perfumes online.


Always check which fragrance family your perfume belongs to. These families are oriental, floral, fresh, woody, and many more. Each one has its own distinct characteristics. A fresh fragrance will have notes of citrus and aquatic scents such as lime or pineapple. Floral fragrances usually contain a blend of jasmine, sandalwood and rose notes, while woody fragrances have cedar wood, musk and oak moss in them.


When buying online, always look at the product description for the fragrance notes of the perfume you are considering purchasing. If you like these notes, then chances are high that this particular scent may suit you.


Know the difference between cologne and perfume.


You will often come across the word perfume and cologne when you are looking to buy a scent. Many people do not know the difference between the two. They are often used interchangeably which can lead to confusion or even making the wrong purchase.


The main difference is in the concentration of the fragrance oils in each product. Perfume has a higher concentration while cologne has a lighter concentration of oils. This means that perfume will last longer than cologne but also that it will be more expensive.


Cologne, which is also known as Eau De toilette, will typically contain around 2 to 4 percent of fragrance oils while perfume contains about 15 to 20 percent. Cologne is generally advertised for men but there are many women's fragrances that are referred to as cologne.


Because perfume contains a higher concentration of fragrance oils it will usually be more expensive than cologne. However, this does not mean that their scents are stronger or weaker than one another. It simply means that they last for different amounts of time.


Consider whether you want a daily fragrance or a special-occasion fragrance.


You should always consider the season when purchasing a perfume. In the case of summer, you should avoid floral or musky scents and instead go for refreshing fragrances that are citrusy, light and fruity.


When you're at the perfume counter, look for something fresh and easy to wear if you want a fragrance that you can use daily. But if it's a special-occasion scent that you're after, try looking for something more sophisticated. These perfumes usually have a stronger scent and last longer on your skin.


Choose a warm or cool fragrance, depending on what time of year it is.


In this instance, "warm" and "cool" are terms used to describe a fragrance's dominant characteristics. A warm fragrance smells like things you would find in the tropics, such as vanilla, sandalwood and musk. A cool fragrance smells of things that grow in northern regions, such as pine trees.


If you want to know whether a perfume is warm or cool, ask yourself what it reminds you of. For example, if it makes you think of baked goods or cream soda, then it is probably a warm fragrance. If it reminds you of flowers or grasses, then it will probably be a cool fragrance. You could also look at the ingredients list on the bottle to determine whether it contains warmer or cooler scents.


Buy a roll-on instead of a full-size bottle for your first purchase.


If you're unsure about if you'll like it, then buy a roll-on instead of a full size bottle. For your first purchase, buy a roll-on and, if you like it, you can invest in the full size once you know for sure.


Roll-ons are ideal because they're easy to travel with and cost less than their full size counterparts.


Go with citrus when buying an everyday perfume.


Here’s why citrus is a good starting point: it’s fresh, it’s clean and it works well on most people. If you have oily skin or body odour problems, like bad BO or sweat patches that are visible on your shirt, then citrus scents will help mask those problems better than most other fragrances. You can even layer them with your body lotion so the scent lasts longer on your skin.


Buy heavy, floral fragrances for special occasions.


A friend recently shared a story about a perfume I made for her called "Dawn". She wore it to a wedding, and it was during that wedding that she met the man who would become her husband. Whenever she smells the fragrance now, the memory of meeting her future husband comes flooding back. It's this powerful connection that makes a person reminisce the impression they left on someone.


Be on the lookout for sales.


I find shopping online is a better way to buy perfume. The key is to wait for a sale.


Perfume is one of the most popular gifts for young ladies and men, particularly at this time of year.


Not every scent is right for every occasion. And not every fragrance will be right for every person, either.


A sweetly scented perfume is ideal for a day at the office or a night on the town with friends. A spicy perfume might be perfect for those special evenings out with someone you love. And an unusual scent may be just what the doctor ordered when you want people to notice you in a crowd.


For all these reasons and more, it's important to think about what kind of fragrance you're looking for before you hit the stores or log on to your favorite retailer's website.


Be on the lookout for sales when buying a perfume online. You can save a lot of money that way, especially if you're buying more than one bottle at a time.


Because there are such great values available online, I've taken to buying my perfumes over the Internet rather than in stores. I've even started giving gift cards as presents so I don't have to worry about choosing the wrong scent — everyone likes having an opportunity


Don't be afraid to mix fragrances.


When buying a perfume online, don’t be afraid to mix fragrances. You may find that some smells you thought were too strong or too weak on their own make the perfect blend when combined with other scents.


If you have a favorite perfume, but it is too expensive to wear every day, consider mixing it with another scent. Mixing two scents together changes how they smell on your skin and can create something entirely new.


You should also consider your mood. If you are having a bad day, then choose a sweet fragrance for an instant pick-me-up. Floral scents are great for spring and summer, whereas spicy notes are better for autumn and winter.


Lastly, Know your budget!


When you are buying a perfume, it is important that you know your budget. This is because perfumes come in many different variants and the price may vary dramatically depending on the variant.


To save yourself the frustration of going over budget and having to return it, it is always a good idea to decide on your budget before buying a perfume.


Takeaway: There are all sorts of different perfumes out there so take some time to find the right one.


In this article, we addressed common concerns that most people have when it comes to buying perfume. We also provided you with the right questions to ask and what to look for when you are at the store. It is an ever increasing trend to not only buy a perfume but also to purchase it online as well. If you are new to this field or just want to learn more about the world of perfume, then we highly recommend that you spend some time lurking around our website; we cover all aspects of perfumes and there is definitely something for everyone here.


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