Secrets to choosing the perfect perfume

EVERY woman loves a good perfume; whether it’s the perfume she wears herself or the cologne on her man, she can appreciate a good fragrance when she smells it.

Mar Ortega of Maison Chic, located in Tropical Plaza, said when selecting a perfume, you should take into consideration your own preferences.

“After all, fragrances are a very personal item,” she said.

She advises that you bear in the mind at all times the effect that you wish to achieve when other people interact with you — whether you want to exude confidence, sex appeal or elegance.

Given that the scent of a perfume when coupled with the personality of an individual can create a particular mood, Ortega advises you to bear this in mind when choosing a fragrance:

“Your taste is important, whether it is powdery, sweet, floral, fruity, citrus, vanilla… your taste is your taste.”

Also:

Brand

With regards to brand, variety is the spice of life. “My advice is to go with what works for you. I mean you can go for a consultation at a perfume store where well-trained personnel can assist you in finding a fragrance which works for you.” She cautions, however, that well-known brands as one would expect, are more costly, but quality is quality.

“Most people would go for internationally acclaimed brands, but out of curiosity, try them, spray them on your skin, walk the store, let it settle, and then choose your fragrance.”

Cost

Your perfume is an investment, never forget that. Budgeting is important, especially in today’s economy. A fragrance will not last forever, and so spraying it on everywhere you go is not practical. “Spray a little on you when you go to work or for that special occasion,” Ortega suggested.

She said what makes a perfume more expensive is its staying power, which essentially translates to how concentrated the scent is, and how many hours throughout the day you are able to enjoy the scent.

“Good fragrances could start from $2500 and last from four to six hours, and in most cases these are eau de toilette.”

She said eau de parfum fragrances tend to last longer, between six to nine hours. Eau de parfum fragrances, importantly, tend to require less application but are more expensive.

Fragrance

Ortega said the fragrance of a perfume is strictly linked to personal preference — essentially how the perfume makes you feel. Most fragrances have aromatic ingredients: —vanilla, musk, sandalwood, citrus, lemon, apples, cinnamon are some of the most common tones in fragrances.

“However, for the most exclusive taste, there could be leather, jasmine, juniper, chocolate, exotic fruits,” Ortega explained.

Colour

Most perfume houses try to incorporate the colour of the fragrance as part of the overall design of the perfume, so usually the bottle containing the perfume complements the fragrance itself.

“Remember, the design of the bottle is part of the appeal of the fragrance,” Ortega said.

One common misconception is that fragrances stain if they have an intense colour.

“Fragrances should not be sprayed onto clothes but on the skin so they can react with your own pH and essentially the fragrance can be made into your own,” Ortega said.

Here are some fragrances to try based on your personality

Sexy:

Jimmy Choo, Versace, Bvlgari line

Regal/elegant:

Carolina Herrera, Van Cleef and Arpels, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino line

Fresh/sexy:

Nina Ricci, Perry Ellis line

Youthful/playful:

Shakira, Antonio Banderas, Custo; Mandarina Duck, Benetton line

Succesful/achiever:

Burberry, Armand Basi, Paco Rabanne, Oscar De la Renta

Sporty:

Armand Basi, Angel Schlesser

Mysterious/fresh

Jesus del Pozo line