Many people find a perfume they love and use it for years. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this approach, one can run the risk of becoming so accustomed to the perfume that it is easy to become immune to the scent and over use it. All of us know the woman who practically knocks you over with her perfume and none of us want to be that woman! To create a unique touch acquiring a fragrance wardrobe is highly recommended. Just as jewelry or shoes can add a distinctive touch to your outfits, perfume has the power to do the same. You wouldn't wear the same thing to a formal dinner as you would to a sporting event so it certainly makes sense that the perfume you choose should vary according to place and time.
To understand how to choose the perfect perfume for the right occasion you need to understand the perfume categories. Perfume categories are growing by the day and they can and do sometimes overlap. Due to the rapidly growing popularity of niche perfumes and the advances in scientific research new and unique scent categories are created every day.
The Fragrance Foundation is the authority on all things perfume and their fragrance categories are as follows: (from the Fragrance Foundation website www.fragrance.org). These descriptions are listed on the first page of their excellent site filled with fantastic fragrance information.
Citrus
The light, fresh character of citrus notes (bergamot, orange, lemon, petitgrain, mandarin, etc.) is often combined with more feminine scents (flowers, fruits and chypre).
Green
Green notes are natural in character; often married with fruity and floral notes, they are modern and fashionable.
Flowery
An accord of different floral notes. Combines with any other family, flowery perfumes are universally commercial.
Flowery Aldehydic
Aldehydes add sparkle to flowery notes. Aldehydic creations radiate elegance and originality.
Single Floral
A composition based on the scent of one particular flower; the main examples are rose, jasmine, tuberose, lily of the valley or ylang.
Oriental
A blend of warmth and mystery. Musks and precious woods are complemented by exotic essences.
Semi-Oriental
Semi-orientals combine oriental notes with various florals. Top notes are often fresh.
Chypre
Based on a woody, mossy and flowery complex, sometimes with aspects of leather or fruits, chypre perfumes are rich and tenacious.
(From www.fragrance.org)
There are other categories, however, understanding these will help you to determine how to match your perfume to the occasion. Perfume websites also frequently describe scents by categories. The Luckyscent and Sephora websites both feature very helpful sections that will help you to choose a perfume by its fragrance family.
There are perfume classics and disasters in each of the categories. The informative book Perfume The Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez is a wonderful resource that rates perfumes and can be an invaluable resource to help you avoid the disasters and discover the greats in each category.
Citrus and green scents are often good choices for the work place. Citrus fragrances are fresh and light and green fragrances can be warm and natural and convey sophistication.
Flowery, single note florals and flowery aldehydics are good choices for that all important first date or elegant sophisticated gatherings. Consider a perfume from this category if you want to stay within a more conventional fragrance family.
Chypre scents, popular in the thirties, are making a comeback in a big way. These fragrances are statement making and generally you will either love them or absolutely hate them. They convey an evocative and rich presence and the best are well balanced and beautiful. This category is a great choice when you want to distinguish yourself with a unique perfume.
Orientals. These are excellent choices for that special evening or when you want to add mystery and sex appeal to that little black dress. They are generally heavy and have a very strong presence so wearing them in the office may not be the best idea.
There are thousands of perfumes available and just a spray will help to create a mood make a memory or mark a special occasion. Don't limit yourself to just one...enjoy the possibilities!
Comments (31)
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I LOVE Chanel No. 5. I have a small bottle, and because it’s so expensive I don’t wear it everyday, only special occasions.
I don’t find it to have a chemical smell, it smells powdery to me.
posted by Amy D on
5-5-2010 at 6:23 pm
It smells like old ladies.
And, how do you have no sense of smell?
Are you smell-blind like Dewey Cox?
posted by Kristyn on
5-5-2010 at 6:28 pm
I cannot specifically remember what I disliked about No.5 but I do know I disliked it. Maybe it was an old lady smell. I love Chanel Chance and Chanel Chance Fraiche (I think) they smell delicious. I’m more of a Burberry Girl when it comes to fragrances (that might have something to do with the fact that half of their perfume line has the word “Brit” in it and also that I’m a serious Anglophile).
Also– Thanks for letting the kid lit thing rest for a while.
posted by Brit on
5-5-2010 at 6:50 pm
I haven’t worn perfume for years because they aggravated my late husband’s allergies. My dad gave me a small bottle of Chanel No 5 for a high school graduation present. It was such a high-end item for me that I never wore, didn’t want to use it up, and kept it in the box in my bathroom vanity for years.
I don’t know what has become of it… maybe in storage in a keepsake box because it was pretty important to me at the time.
posted by Sarah in CA on
5-5-2010 at 6:50 pm
My Daddy bought me my first bottle of Chanel No 5 as a special treat when I was 15. Now 59, it is the only scent i have ever worn. My husband took it on as his responsibility to keep me liberally supplied with all things Chanel and did so till the day he died. Now i must buy it for myself, so use it a bit more sparingly! :)
posted by Dustoffmom on
5-5-2010 at 7:01 pm
Always reminds me of getting old. I think you have to get used to the stuff. Much like your first taste of beer.
posted by lisa on
5-5-2010 at 7:14 pm
I wore Coco by Chanel during college — and I still love it. I wanted to like No. 5 because the story (as you so aptly wrote) is very cool, but it was just not for me. In general, Chanel makes fantastic fragrances.
I am tempted to wear some No. 5 if it will help me locate Mr. Right!
posted by Amy on
5-5-2010 at 8:10 pm
I’ve never been a fan of liquid perfumes. They all smell like the generic ‘perfume’ scent to me. The one I use is a beeswax-based balm I bought from Lush. Chanel no. 5 was always equated with old bygone glamor to me, not really sexy.
posted by heather on
5-5-2010 at 8:16 pm
I agree with Heather, it represents bygone glamour.
I don’t like it at all and I love scents. Have full unopened bottle courtesy of SAnta Claus if any1 wants it!
posted by Vee on
5-5-2010 at 8:23 pm
I’ve never actually smelled Chanel No.5. O_o I’m also a bit weak in the olfactory department, so it might not matter…
posted by Ashley on
5-5-2010 at 8:42 pm
I agree with Chanel no. 5 being for old ladies. I want to like it because it is so classic, but really cannot stand the smell. I stick with Burberry Brit.
posted by Chloe on
5-5-2010 at 11:21 pm
I don’t have a sense of smell either! I get really excited when I find someone else who can’t smell, because people never believe me when I tell them about it.
posted by Vera on
5-6-2010 at 12:37 am
I have to agree with Chloe on this one: I feel like I should like it, but I just don’t. It *is* too chemical-y for me. I prefer perfumes that DO smell like other things, like flowers or citrus. I want to smell like something natural, not a composition of chemicals.
posted by Amber on
5-6-2010 at 1:13 am
I love it, but coz it’s for older ladies I’ve tried to find something else that I like as much. Any suggestions? Recently I ‘ve tried clinique sunshine(?) and Beckham, I really like Beckham but it doesn’t last long at all.
posted by codsWallop on
5-6-2010 at 1:17 am
My mom wears N5, because it’s the only perfume she isn’t allergic to (and likes). once my dad gave her the WRONG PERFUME so I have a bottle of N19, which is more citrus-y. Dad only made that mistake once :o)
posted by bet on
5-6-2010 at 7:44 am
I like chanel no. 5 -I’ll take your bottle, Vee – if you don’t want it ;)
posted by jen on
5-6-2010 at 9:02 am
I remember being awe-struck when the Ridley Scott commercial came out, at the time it was the height chicness. I also couldn’t believe that he used Vangelis’s music, not many had heard of him then; this led to the two collaborating on Bladerunner.
posted by Will on
5-6-2010 at 10:07 am
It reminds me of my great-grandmother, since she wore it so often. A sweet memory (she’s still alive though @ 93!!)
posted by Elle Sees on
5-6-2010 at 10:40 am
was not a fan of the smell, as with most people here it was too old smelling to me….i prefere VS, in particular the black nior and cashmier(sp)…..
posted by Jennifer on
5-6-2010 at 10:58 am
I love how it smells, to me it’s more powdery than anything chemical. The whole glamour from another era is part of the reason I wear it. Even if I’m wearing jeans and a tshirt it makes me feel just a little bit more pretty.
posted by Lili on
5-6-2010 at 11:38 am
My husband hates all artificial scents – he vastly prefers that women smell like women. He refers to perfume/scented lotions as “husband repellent.”
That works for me, since I was never all that into smelling like flowers, fruit or chemicals.
posted by Kristin on
5-6-2010 at 11:38 am
I lost my sense of smell when I was 10 years old due to an apple thrown to my forehead. That means that I can’t do anything about that. The last perfume I smelled, and liked, was Lauren of Ralph Lauren.
posted by Yessika on
5-6-2010 at 12:32 pm
#5 is my second favorite scent. I like YSL Opium best,but it’s more for evening. Chanel #5 is okay for both day and evening wear. It’s a classic, timeless, scent. It makes me feel like I smell classy and sophisticated.
posted by Melissa on
5-6-2010 at 12:43 pm
I don’t care for No. 5 b/c I think it smells like old ladies. I do however love Coco Mademoiselle.
posted by sjms on
5-6-2010 at 1:15 pm
My mom loves No 5! When I was a little kid, she kept a bottle of it on the spice shelf over our stove. Probably to keep it out of my reach is my guess.
Anyway, one morning when I was a kid I decided to get up and cook scrambled eggs for Mommy. I knew that she seasoned her eggs with stuff on on the spice shelf, and the liquid in the square bottle smelled good, so it must taste good too, right? So I added it… the entire bottle. And some ketchup.
Needless to say, Mommy didn’t eat the breakfast I made her. :o)
posted by Tara on
5-6-2010 at 1:23 pm
OMG @ Tara… Did YOU eat breakfast that morning? Much less sit down for a month?!
I have not had a whiff of No.5, but then, I’m not a big perfume wearer. The one time I was let loose in a perfume store, my absolute fave was Dior’s j’Adore… I absolutely love it. I received a sampler box of select Dior perfumes as a gift recently, and I’ve come to realise that I do like the line.
Most are light enough not to affect my sinuses, and they do smell appealing.
posted by Dionne on
5-6-2010 at 1:56 pm
Ive never cared for floral scents. I like fruit scents. One of Harajuku girl perfumes smells like pineapple. Thats my new favorite.
posted by lewen on
5-6-2010 at 2:57 pm
I cannot do alcohol-based perfume, much like Heather. I have a mild obsession with oil-based perfumes, particularly natural ones–black phoenix alchemy lab, to be precide–and always thought No. 5 stunk to high heaven. I understand that it’s intentionally artificial, but that artificial scent isn’t for me.
My current perfume is a mostly-natural oil based scent with carnation and plum in it. Vastly preferable to No. 5.
I can forgive Miss Coco anything though. Even making No. 5.
posted by Nicole on
5-6-2010 at 4:15 pm
I’m with you sjms, i love Coco Mademoiselle too! Been in love with it since it first came out while I was in high school. Dolce & Gabbana red is a great winter scent!!
posted by izzi on
5-6-2010 at 5:51 pm
Chanel No5 always make me think of my mother (not a bad thing at all!) but I’ve never worn the stuff myself. I prefer YSL Paris. I got a gift set for my 18th birthday and use it sparingly, so I still have some now at age 32!
posted by RoseyPosey on
5-6-2010 at 6:28 pm
I love perfumes but rarely wear them. When I do, my husband only asks me “what is that?” when I wear Chanel No. 5. So anymore, it’s the only one I wear (and I do love it).
posted by Stephanie on
5-7-2010 at 12:46 pm