How to choose the right perfume

Psychologists say that fragrance is chosen not by man, but by his mood. Surely you have a few bottles of perfume on your dresser, and you use them one by one according to the principle “I want it today”. And that, in essence, is true. However, there are rules that should be followed, because the smell coming from you is an integral part of the image and complements your image. So that others do not have a “pattern gap” between what they see and what their sense of smell tells them, it is worthwhile to sort out some of the nuances of perfume selection for each occasion.

The best perfume manufacturers - which company to choose

In the perfumery stores the shelves are filled with fancy-shaped bottles with a wide variety of aroma compositions. Many people pay attention to the elite spirits of popular brands worth several tens of thousands of rubles, but you can find a good smell from a little-known company for little money.

However, the real legends of the perfume Olympus were and remain:

• Dior;
• Chanel;
• Nina Ricci;
• Lancome;
• Hugo Boss.

Their spirits are considered the best in the world and are in demand not only among “mere mortals”, but also among world-class stars. In the lines of these trademarks you can find many interesting and unusual flavors, and the hits of past years often reappear in windows in an updated form.

See also:

• Best women's perfume
• Best men's perfume

The composition and concentration of perfume

The composition of any perfumery includes two or three main components: the actual aromatic composition and the solvent in the form of a neutral oil base or ethyl alcohol - pure or diluted with water. In the first case, get a natural and delicate smell, in the second perfume becomes more vivid, but at the same time, unpredictable.

Oil perfume is only coming into vogue and is produced by only a few firms (mainly in the Middle East). For several decades Europeans have become more accustomed to alcohol perfumes, and it is precisely such compositions that prevail on the market.

Perfume composition with perfume makes a certain concentration of aromatic substances (essential oils, concrete, absolutes, etc.) - their percentage in the solution of the purest alcohol can reach up to 30% or more.

1. If the composition includes only 10-20% of flavored ingredients, mixed in 90% alcohol, then this is eau de parfum,

2. If the composition includes only 4-10% of flavored ingredients, mixed in 90% alcohol, then this is toilet water.

The aroma concentrate itself may contain several dozens of fragrant substances, which are combined with each other creating a certain aroma.

They differ from each other in their evaporation rate and form an olfactory pyramid of three main groups (notes):

1. Top or top notes - this is the smell that “meets” you, you just have to open a bottle of perfume. It consists of the lightest and most volatile aromas - they will melt in the air within 5-10 minutes.

2. The middle notes of the heart are already the true “face” of the chosen aroma. This smell will accompany you for the next 2-3 hours.

3. Base or loop notes are a fixative scent consisting of aromatic substances with the lowest volatility. It begins to unfold in two hours, but it sounds very long (about 6-8 hours), shading and complementing the composition. But his initial task is to ensure maximum perfume resistance.

When applying perfume on the skin, these notes unfold gradually, replacing each other, so do not be in a hurry to make a purchase decision, without smearing the smell on yourself at least a couple of hours.Only in this way can you know the nature of the spirits and understand whether you like them or not.

Types of perfume

Floral

This family is considered exclusively feminine, although floral notes are often used in men's perfumes, but they are present there only in second, and even third roles. Such perfumes combine gentle notes of various colors, which makes them particularly relevant in the spring and summer season.

Most often in the composition of floral compositions include rose, jasmine, peony, tulip, gardenia, hibiscus, lily, freesia, lily of the valley, magnolia and tuberose.

Pros:

• Gentle and feminine, not annoying;
• A huge variety of flavors;
• You can wear in the summer heat, if it is not something sugary-suffocating;
• Suitable for any time of day.

Minuses:

• Due to the abundance of flower arrangements, it is difficult to find your own scent;
• Not all perfumers manage to achieve similarities with the smells of real flowers;
• Aromas poorly revealed in the cool, so not particularly suitable for autumn and winter.

It is believed that floral aromas are more suitable for young girls, but on solid ladies they sound charmingly, especially if the composition includes spicy smells or weeping notes of amber, tobacco, musk.

Citrus

Citrus refreshing smells are energized and optimistic, so these fragrances are preferred by active and cheerful people. Spirits, which include citrus notes, always sound lush and summer-like. In addition, they are versatile and perfectly suited to both girls and boys.

Citrus perfumes usually contain notes of lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, lime or bergamot.

Pros:

• Juicy, very bright and refreshing aroma - ideal for hot summer and late spring;
• Universality;
• The low cost of citrus essential oils - fakes almost never occurs.

Minuses:

• Unstable;
• Relevant only in the morning and afternoon;
• More suitable for young people.

Citrus fruits are often combined with floral, fruit or woody flavors to create a sparkling and invigorating cocktail. No less interesting, they sound with green notes, literally illuminating them with sunlight.

Fruit

Sweet fruits are also often combined with flowers, getting feminine compositions, or greens and woody notes, creating unisex fragrances. Such perfumes are made on the basis of extracts from pineapples, apples, currants, strawberries and wild berries, some components have to be extracted artificially - in the laboratory.

Pros:

• "Tasty" smell that easily finds its admirers;
• Cheer up and charge with energy;
• It goes well with other flavors;
• Suitable for people of all ages and both sexes;
• Can be used every day;
• Relatively inexpensive.

Minuses:

• Excessively sweet aromas are sometimes annoying.

Oriental (Oriental)

Spicy and languid flavors of the East will suit not everyone. Such smells are chosen by sensual and passionate women, although lately oriental perfumes for men have increasingly begun to appear. But their specific aroma is better to leave for a romantic evening - in the light of day they sound too pompous and even “stuffy”.

The composition of the Eastern spirits includes not only spices, but also viscous resinous odors, as well as aphrodisiacs - amber or musk.

Pros:

• A strong, unforgettable scent that always attracts attention;
• Very resistant due to the abundance of low volatile components;
• Perfectly combined with evening dresses;
• They create a feeling of warmth, so they are well suited for winter and autumn;
• In women, they emphasize passion, in men, their strength;
• Sound crazy sexy.

Minuses:

• Not for frequent use;
• Not suitable for young girls and boys;
• Dense, sometimes suffocating aroma requires careful application.

Aquatic (water)

Cool and refreshing scents of the ocean, sea breeze, rain, dew or ozone are considered universal: they can be worn at any time of the day and year, at any age.

To get the "smell of water" perfumers have to use synthetic substances, coloring the composition with notes of flowers, citrus and fruit, green foliage or algae.

Pros:

• Absolutely universal and suitable for everyone without exception;
• Well refreshed;
• Very light and transparent, no one cause rejection;

Minuses:

• Not too persistent.

Woody

These wet and cozy aromas are pleasant to wear in rainy autumn: warming on the body, they literally wrap the warm sun-drenched forest. Such spirits have a lot in common with chypre compositions, but they are much more restrained and aristocratic, although not as multifaceted.

Moss, bark, cedar, sandalwood, myrtle, oud, pine, patchouli, cistus, etc. are often used to create woody fragrances.

Pros:

• Woody notes are equally good in both women's and men's perfumes;
• Unobtrusive and noble smell;
• Suitable for use in the fall and winter.

Minuses:

• Rarely odors that would suit young people.

Woody notes are beautiful both by themselves and in combination with floral, fruity, green and spicy fragrances. True, in their presence they become only a background, giving the perfume notes of noble luxury.

Champagne

This name was given to fern aromas, which for a long time were considered masculine, but eventually conquered women's hearts. They stupefy and fascinate with the smell of damp foliage and fog, but remain impeccably elegant and noble.

Of course, the real fern (with the exception of a few rare species) does not smell. Coumarin-based woody smells mixed with the aromas of lavender, moss and geranium or bergamot belong to this family.

Pros:

• They sound beautiful on men and women;
• Classic fragrance that can be worn every day or reserved for a special occasion;
• Emphasize the good taste of the owner (or owners);
• Warm on a cool day, but generally suitable for any time of day.

Minuses:

• There are very few purely female fragrances - mostly men's or unisex perfumes.

The aromas of the glass are well combined with spices, citrus and sweet notes of vanilla or caramel (if they are in moderation).

Chypre

Another "men's classic", but this time migrated from the women's dressing tables. Here, the green floral aroma is especially complex: you can hear bright citrus notes, herbal spirit, and the scent of moist earth. Often there are woody chords in the chypre.

The most popular components of such perfumes are lemon or bergamot, rose, jasmine, as well as sandalwood, moss, resinous and animalistic aromas. Beautifully set off the vegetable odors of leather and smoky notes.

Pros:

• Very resistant - especially well kept on clothes from natural fabrics;
• Exceptionally natural, natural scent;
• The smell is beautifully revealed from the light upper notes to the dark and stingy base;
• Such perfumes sound strictly and at the same time sexy.

Minuses:

• It is very difficult to choose "your" chypre - it is a fragrance with character;
• Not everyone likes the traditional bitterness that is present in any composition;
• More suited to mature people.

Chirp aromas are quite diverse: not only green classics are found among them, but also fruit, as well as floral arrangements.

Aldehyde

Given the long history of perfumery art, these spirits can be called a relatively recent invention. We owe their appearance to the great Koko, who created the world's first aldehyde composition - Channel No. 5.

In fact, this is not about any particular fragrance, but about synthetic components, which can give any smell and reduce the cost of production of perfumes. But it was thanks to aldehydes that it became possible to create incredibly complex perfumes with a clearly “predictable” sound.

Pros:

• Multi-complex, capable of including about 20 different notes;
• Always very bright sound on the skin;
• Insanely resistant;
• Smells do not clog, but complement each other.

Minuses:

• Contain a small amount of natural ingredients;
• Mostly used in women's fragrances.

Of course, this is not a complete list of types of spirits - we touched only popular classics. But with the development of "high chemistry" and its introduction into the perfume production of the family of fragrances began to grow at an incredible rate.

There were green and animal compositions, leather and amber, powdery and gourmet - and this is not counting the hybrids that combine 2-3 families at once.

Perfume selection options

Class

It takes into account the quality of the aromatic substances used:

1. Luxe - the highest category is assigned to spirits, which are entirely composed of natural ingredients. They cost fabulously expensive and are made in limited quantities, and often - in a single copy and under the order.

2. A - in order for perfumes to fall into this group, at least 90% of natural ingredients must be present in them. Synthetic substances, as a rule, go here exclusively to increase the persistence of the aroma.

3. B - almost completely consist of synthesized components, with the exception of some extracts that are easier and cheaper to extract from plants than to recreate in the laboratory. Usually, these are clone perfumes of famous compositions, alas, it is impossible to achieve the same rich bouquet here.

Persistence

Perfume is the most concentrated product of perfumery, and their durability lasts from 6-12 hours or more.

Much here depends on the components of the base of the olfactory pyramid and the type of smell:

1. The weakest are aquatic and citrus compositions - their limit of durability is 4-6 hours;

2. A little longer on the body hold flowers and fruits - up to 8 hours;

3. Chirping and woody perfumes, aldehydes, and amber compositions can be attributed to long-lasting fragrances.

Stubby

This word means the distance at which the fragrance of perfume is heard coming from you.

It is quite difficult to determine the sillage of the selected perfume on your own, but others will do it for you:

1. If the smell is felt only by you - these perfumes do not have a plume;

2. Medium seiyazh allows you to feel the aroma of perfume at arm's length;

3. A good train has a “length” of about 2 m;

4. They say about a pronounced message when you can tell by the smell of perfume whether you are in a room or have already left.

Loop aromas should be chosen if you spend a lot of time on the street, in a spacious room or go to a social event. In all other cases, it is better to use perfumes that are felt only close to the body.

What perfume to choose

1. Romantic young girls in the summer should wear floral, light citrus aromas and aquatic perfumes with a transparent middle train. They will sound good in the morning and afternoon, and in the evening and in the cold season it is better to replace them with a perfume with fruit or gourmet notes (you can add some green, spicy or woody chords). Here the train is allowed more genuine.

2. Women aged for every day fit aldehyde, tree perfume or something from a unisex series - chypre or wine glass.

3. In the evening, going on a date, you should put on yourself a seductive oriental scent with languorous notes or even an animalic scent, where amber and musk are present. Especially exciting, it will sound in an intimate setting, if you choose a perfume without a plume that a man can hear only by approaching you.

4. Young guys should focus on men's or unisex perfumes with a water or citrus composition. You can also search for a playful chypre with a bright fruity aftertaste - it is perfect for autumn and winter.

5. Energetic and active men should “sniff” citrus and citrus-woody aromas, as well as new oriental series for Men, which are in fashion. They are well charged with energy and at the same time unobtrusively demonstrate inner strength - an excellent choice for every day.

6. If you are going to meet with business partners or in a solid men's club, you should not deviate from the classic wine and chypre aromas, complemented by the noble smell of leather or tobacco. They will give you due weight in the eyes of society. The same perfumes are required to be present on the dressing table of an adult male.

How much do perfumes

1. Alcoholic perfume for women starts from 200 rubles per bottle and reaches 25-32 thousand - regardless of the selected group of fragrances. Only sweet compositions are a bit cheaper - their ceiling is 14 thousand rubles.

2. Oil perfume can be purchased at prices ranging from 200 rubles to 26 thousand per bottle, but it will be exclusively oriental fragrance.

3. Unisex perfumes cost from 300 to 12-14 thousand rubles, although there are some instances that will cost you 20-23 thousand.

4. These men's perfumes go from 1 to 18-22 thousand rubles. per bottle.