How to choose a perfume? Follow the guide!

Fragrance is an invisible yet very present signature, stimulating enthusiasm, creating mystery and underlining, even sublimating, a character trait.

Choosing a perfume requires us to pause, to focus on ourselves or on the loved one for whom it is intended. Whether you're giving a gift to someone else or to yourself, there's something intimidating about choosing a perfume, so wide is the range of possibilities.

Perfume tastes

First, let's consider the notes you (or he/she) would prefer. Are you naturally drawn to the invigorating facets of citrus zest, the sweetness of a floral bouquet or, on the contrary, the opulence of white flower essences? Or do you like to wrap yourself in a warm, woody, suave or spicy trail?

Knowing which olfactory family you feel most at home with, will help you find your ideal fragrance.

There are seven major olfactory families in selective perfumery: hesperides, florals (predominant in the women's world), orientals, chypre, woody, as well as aromatics and ferns, which are predominant in the men's range.

Each of these fragrance families is then nuanced with facets, or sub-families, that will determine the composition's own personality. "New freshness", marine, aldehydic, fruity, gourmand, amber, spicy, leathery, musky, powdery and green are the most common olfactory facets.

These facets are orchestrated with raw materials that, depending on their volatility within the olfactory pyramid (flight, heart or imprint), will reveal themselves from the very first moments, warm over time, or leave their mark on the skin.

Your favorite fragrance notes

Rose: the star of perfumery

In the top 10 best-selling women's fragrances of recent years, 7 feature a rose heart. The queen of flowers, rose is constantly reinventing itself, revealing a light, romantic spirit. As delicate as it is, it can be incisive or, on the contrary, strikingly voluptuous.

Vanilla, the false ingenue

Vanilla, as everyone describes it, is "suave and enveloping". But did you know that vanilla beans contain over a hundred fragrant molecules? With its infinite palette, "vanilla" lends itself to the game ofinnocence in a sweet gourmet version, as well as multiplying the carnal, bewitching dimension of an oriental fragrance.

Woody fragrances and their contradictory characters

Woody notes are required in the perfume base to ensure a certain tenacity. But when woods are used as major components, they give structure to the creation. Thus, the trail will take on a virile, dry and elegant coloring if tinted with one of the 6 varieties of cedar, or will soften extraordinarily with a breath of sandalwood.

This is why woody scents are so highly esteemed in men's perfumery, but can also be the source of some of the most sensual and feminine fragrances there is.

Consider concentrations to find the perfect fragrance!

Fragrance desires change with the seasons.

In summer, we're more tempted by a light eau de toilette, while in autumn and winter, the weather is more conducive to the warm scents of eaux de parfum.

In fact, the different concentrations of "fragrance" correspond to different ways of perfuming ourselves. Eaux fraîches and eaux de Cologne, with their clean, often citrus-colored scents, are our summer favorites.

Toilet waters are more discreet than eaux de parfum and extracts, whose scents evolve into accords that become rounder and warmer with each passing hour. These more enveloping scents are perfectly suited to the winter season.

In addition, discerning perfume lovers prefer a few sprays of eau de toilette in the morning, and reserve the matching eau de parfum, or even extract, for the evening.

Finally, other unconditional fans choose their favourite fragrance according to the richness of the complementary range associated with it. Experts in the art of perfuming know that a few drops of perfume applied to moisturized skin bring a whole new dimension to fragrance, in terms of both tenacity and intensity.

A perfume as a gift, for Him or Her

Choosing a perfumeas a gift can be a little more complex... or not!

Whether it's for a woman or a a manWhether it's for a man or a woman, taking into account the season and the intensity of the current fragrance is a must.

If you know the person well, you'll be sure not to go wrong by opting for the fragrance he or she already wears, or by orienting yourself towards a similar olfactory family. Adding a product from the scented range will show how much you care about his or her well-being.

Beyond these aspects, perfumers are well aware that several factors come into play when choosing a composition. For example, the auditory senses will be sensitive to the name of the perfume and the message it echoes, whilea well-designed bottle is likely to arouse a desire for a collection in the visual senses.

Finally, if you don't know the tastes of the person for whom the gift is intended, discovering what's new could give you some lifesaving ideas!

The perfumes of youth

More younger the easier the task.

For toddlers, it's enough to distinguish eaux de senteurs, specially developed for babies' skin, from children's eaux de toilettes. With the exception of unisex eaux de senteur, the dominant colors of the bottlewill often be pink for girls and blue for boys, as tradition dictates. When neither of these colors predominates, the fragrance is simply mixed.

While group-conscious teenagers and pre-teens, both boys and girls, are extremely sensitive to the way others look at them. To be sure you're choosing a trendy fragrance, watch the commercials! The image conveyed by fragrance is what looks are to fashion.

Finally, young and old alike can be curious about the fragrance fragrance of our favorite with the unavowed aim of appropriating a part of their aura.

Whatever the case, beyond the olfactory dimension, we are naturally attracted by the aesthetics of perfume bottles in our favorite olfactory family.

A desire for freshness won't lead you to inhale an amber-tinted elixir preserved in a sophisticated container. On the other hand, a crystalline juice presented in a romantic bottle won't arouse your curiosity if you're looking for a bewitching trail.

Open your eyes and follow your instincts!

In the same spirit, discover a multitude of beauty secrets by following our guides dedicated to make-up and care.