perfume cologne samples

What causes perfume selection confusion?

Designers continually create new perfume formulas daily and add them to a roster that's already replete with hundreds of other designer fragrances
The difference in types of smells
Personal preferences in fragrance
Differences in price

Perfume knowledge is perfume power!

Learning about perfume and colognes makes perfume selection much easier. With just a basic knowledge of fragrance categories, perfume and cologne notes (the fragrance evaporation rate), fragrance oils, and perfume price points, you'll be able to choose the best scent either for yourself or for gift giving.

Perfume Categories

A first step in cutting through perfume selection confusion is to learn about the basic categories of perfume:

Knowing the difference between these categories helps you to choose fragrances that fit and put the cork on perfume selection confusion!

Seven basic types of fragrances are as follows:

Floral: These are flower based notes. They are associated with naturalness and smoothness. This is the largest and most popular category which is created mainly from flower based notes, such as jasmine, rose, gardenia, orange blossom and carnation. They are often blended together in order to create a distinctive floral bouquet.

Fougere: Fougere is French word for “Fern”. Fougere fragrances use the fern or forest-like note of oakmoss which is combined with other herbal notes like lavender, and coumarin. Fougere is very popular structure for men’s fragrances.

Chypre: Chypre represents a perfume structure where fresh notes, (mainly Citrus) are combined with the rich woody-animalic characters of Patchouli and Labdanum and Oakmoss. The fresh notes of modern Chypres may be modified or even completely replaced with green or fruity combinations. Many men’s colognes are usually based on the basic Chypre structure. Chypres frequently display a leather character.

Leather: Pungent animal smokiness characteristic of the ingredients used in the tanning process of leathers. Achieved in perfumery with castoreum, labdanum, phenols, and quinolenes.

Woody: An odour which is linked to the aroma of freshly cut dry wood such as Cedarwood Oil, Virginian, Sandalwood or displaying these notes such as of vetiver or Patchouli.

Oriental: Fragrance family or style based on balsamic notes with vanilla, oakmoss and animal notes. Examples are Shalimar, Obsession, Opium, Samsara. Now frequently also applied more generally to perfumes that are heavy, full bodied and tenacious.

Citrus: They are derived from citrus fruits such as Pomello, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Orange, Lemon. This fragrance type projects a sharp, tangy aura. They are naturally refreshing and uplifting. Citrus blends are among the oldest known scents, first worn by men and now popular with women as well.

for more: perfume-select.com