Perfume is one of the simplest (and often most satisfying) pleasures in life. A few squirts of the right fragrance can change the way people perceive you and make for great conversation pieces, but choosing just the right perfume can be tricky: it’s important to consider your mood (do you prefer light and fresh scents like a ripe lemon or a valley full of wildflowers, or do you favor the exotic and rich smells of oud, vetiver, and wood?), the time of day and occasion that you want to wear it, how it lingers on your skin (your body’s natural oils amplify certain notes over others), and how it will evolve throughout the course of the day.
Fragrance manufacturers use different methods to create their scents, but the resulting compounds are typically a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients. The natural components are derived from the essential oil, extract, or essence of a plant or animal that has been refined to contain a desirable concentration of molecules. Synthetics are then added to modify the smell and create a more stable formula.
There are three structural components to every perfume: top, heart, and base. The top notes are the quickest to evaporate, while the heart and base are the longest-lasting. The base is the foundation of the scent and is typically comprised of a base material such as musk, amber, or wood. The scents that are created from these ingredients are then mixed and combined together to form a final fragrance.
The earliest known perfumes can be traced back over 2500 years to the Egyptians, who used herbs and scented oils for both beauty and ritual purposes. The Romans and Arabs refined the art of perfume making and wearing over the centuries, with the latter using perfumed oils as a part of their elaborate feasts, and as an embalming fluid for corpses.
Today’s perfumes are available in a multitude of forms, from eau de parfum to eau de cologne and everything in between. You can choose between perfumes designed specifically for males or females, ‘pouple’ scents, and even unisex scents like Byredo’s Gypsy Water. It’s also worth noting that the scents will vary from person to person, based on their body chemistry: dry skin will retain a fragrance better than oily skin, hormones can play a role, and certain scents will last longer on some than others.
Generally, it’s best to apply perfume just after your shower before getting dressed and to spray five times across the chest area, shoulders, and wrist. Then, as the day unfolds, you can adjust your scent by reapplying it as needed. But before you rush to purchase your next bottle of perfume, it’s a good idea to read up on common ingredients that are known to cause allergic reactions in some, including alcohol, phthalates, and synthetics. Then, be sure to consult r/fragrance for some suggestions — and always test it on your skin before you buy.