Locky's Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Perfume
-- "sounding-like-an-expert" version
After learning about the classification of perfumes, it is about time for me to do some recommendation.
Choosing perfume is like choosing red wine, only you will know which kind of tastes you like. As long as you like it, it is a good perfume!
In my super self-centred opinions, it doesn't matter what your boyfriend or husband like or think, it is what you want that matters most. You can get opinions from them, but never put them above your own.
Not so long ago, I was looking for Eau de Parfum for my girlfriend and so I took her to the department store to try out the fragrance. Since all perfumes have 3 notes, you can only be completely sure if you like the perfume if you have experienced all 3 of them.
My suggestion is:
- go to the store in the morning, spray a few on separate test papers,
- select ONLY the ones with the best top notes and chuck the rest,
- then go window-shopping,
- smell the test papers again for the middle notes every hour after that and keep repeating 2 ( and 3 maybe, I can hear the girls cheering already),
- after 5 to 6 hours, check to see if you like the base notes,
- allow yourself at least 24 hours to ponder things over,
- if you have already narrowed it down to one or two choices, then go to the store again. This time, apply the perfume on your body* as you should see if your body scent (or body odour) matches with the perfume.
- if you have singled out one, you shouldn't wait any more!
* Lower arm is preferred because you might be tempted to check the smell often; applying it on the hand and you will wash it away easily; applying it on the neck and the sales lady will give you a bad look.
If everything goes well, you should be able to find your perfect perfume. Nonetheless, even if you do often apply the perfume, I suggest that you still go for 50 ml. No matter how tempting it is for the more economical 100 ml or 150 ml, it is likely that a new version will come out in less than 3 months, which you might find it even better, so keep your options open.
One of the perfumes I eventually bought is the DKNY Be Delicious series, Fresh Blossom. From the official website, the descriptions are as follows:
Inspired by the beauty of the Apple Blossom, this new fragrance is lighthearted, intensely feminine, and radiant. A blend of sparkling grapefruit, cassis and sun-kissed apricot, blended with sheer muguet, petally rose and jasmine.
List of notes from StrawberryNET:
Top notes:
Middle notes/heart notes:
Base notes:
apple blossom, blonde wood = wood of golden colour, smooth skin accord
Valentine's Day is next month guys!!!! You know what to look for!
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Vocabulary
chuck -- [T often + adverb or preposition] informal to throw something carelessly
ponder -- to think carefully about something, especially for a noticeable length of time
body scent -- a smell produced by an animal which acts as a signal to other animals
body odour -- an unpleasant smell on a person's body that is caused by sweat
lighthearted -- happy and not serious
intensely -- very strongly
feminine -- having qualities which are traditionally considered to be suitable for a woman
radiant -- obviously very happy, or very beautiful
sparkling -- shining brightly
sheer -- describes clothing or material which is so thin, light and delicate that you can see through it
petally -- of any of the usually brightly coloured parts that together form most of a flower
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Picture resources:
Resources:
http://www.dknyfragrances.com/templates/products/sp_nonshaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY21488&PRODUCT_ID=PROD14584