With the thousands of fragrances on the market, it can sometimes be tricky to choose the one that is perfect for your taste, personality, the occasion, and other factors.
4 Tips on Choosing the Right Spring Perfume for You – by Designer Maxwell Alexander, Editor-in-Chief, Hudson Valley Style Magazine – Kelly + Jones Perfumes for Ladies and Gents – Vineyards and Beyond – Product Photography by Maxwell Alexander – Duncan Avenue Studios – New York
Spring is here, so check out the following basic tips that you may find useful when choosing and even wearing the perfect perfume for you.
1. Determine your budget.
Perfumes are priced in a very big range, from very inexpensive colognes to luxurious designer brands. Determining your budget or the money you are prepared to spend beforehand will help narrow down the choices and will save you a lot of time. Remember that expensive doesn’t automatically means the best, so don’t feel pressured to cut down on necessities in order to purchase a luxury fragrance. After all, your end goal here is to feel good and not stressed out.
2. Know what particular smell you want and go for it.
Decide on what type of fragrance you want based on what use the perfume would be to you. For instance, is it for special occasions? Is it to please or seduce a lover? Is it for everyday wash and wear? If you plan to please someone, make sure to research on the particular fragrances he or she likes. If you want it to be an everyday whiff you can wear to work or school, you may want to buy a lighter and fresher scent. If it’s for big parties (up to 25 people due to COVID-19 regulations in NY) and formal events, choose a perfume that makes a stronger impact by blending well with your body chemistry.
Other factors like the weather or season are also important to consider (unlike Miranda Priestly, I think there is still a way for florals to be groundbreaking for Spring :). For instance, if you live in a very humid setting, floral fragrances with a woody or musky base often complement the sultry weather. If you’re often surrounded by a lot of people in near proximity, don’t choose a very strong perfume because not everyone likes perfume. Citrus, sea breeze and other herb and floral fragrances are often fresh and rejuvenating, perfect for someone always on the go. If you will be out on a date and want to heighten the romance, choose a scent that is a bit stronger but not overpowering. Usually oriental spices project confidence and sophistication. Meanwhile, aromatic blends are perfect for men who like to smell like a true man exuding with machismo and security.
3. Examine carefully before buying.
When you’ve finally narrowed down your choices and you’re ready to go to a perfume shop, don’t forget to carefully examine each perfume you fancy before getting ahead of yourself and purchasing. Take note that your nose can only handle so much and testing 20 perfumes consecutively will prove to be futile. Before you start spraying a perfume on your wrist, spray it first on a card or paper and decide if you like it. If not, move on to the next. Once you find a scent you think is perfect, start testing it on your body. Apply a small amount on your wrist or at the back of your arm. Sometimes the salesperson will offer to apply some in her own skin and have you smell it. This is a no-no because each of us reacts to perfumes in different ways. Make sure the perfume is perfect for you by putting it on your own skin. Wait for a few minutes because fragrances start to grow on you and smell different after a while. If shopping for perfumes online, consider ordering a few perfume samples before purchasing a costly full bottle of a perfume.
4. Do your research on the brand and manufacturing.
It doesn’t matter how good it smells, but if you are buying a perfume from a brand with questionable reputation, you might not enjoy the experience as much. Things to consider here are overall brand values and story behind it. Sustainability and social responsibility are important to the new generation of consumers. For millennials not knowing if there is an actual person behind the brand could be a dealbreaker, so do try to shop local, read reviews or even ask your friends for a good referral.
I personally shop for my perfumes at kellyandjones.com. I was fortunate to meet Kelly back in 2017 during one of the Self-Made Makers event in Beacon, NY and fell in love with her amazing selection of wine/vineyards-inspired perfumes and perfume oils. And while her Wine Notes Collection has become an instant classic, the new Mezcal Collection just literally blows me away with the whole new level of sophistication and authenticity.
Use Promo code HVSTYLE for 15% off site wide at kellyandjones.com (Expires 7/1/21) – Kelly + Jones creates olfactory experiences inspired by the vineyard and beyond. Be a Scent Sommelier.
