Whether it’s an everyday scent or something reserved for special occasions, perfume is one of the most personal cosmetic choices you can make. It’s a way to express yourself, and it can have powerful psychological effects—not to mention the fact that people can be influenced by a scent’s composition in ways that aren’t immediately apparent (think: associative memory).
The right perfume will make you feel confident and comfortable, but what you choose can depend on your individual preferences and body chemistry, plus the specific occasion or environment. Luckily, there are many scents that are widely recognized for garnering compliments—but how do you know if the perfume you’re wearing is going to be just right for you?
It all starts with natural ingredients. Perfume contains the oils extracted from flowers, herbs, spices, fruits, woods, resins, roots, leaves, and other botanicals, as well as animal secretions (like ambergris from sperm whales) and synthetic chemical ingredients. Because some plants, like lily-of-the-valley, don’t produce oil naturally, perfumers use other ingredients to approximate the fragrance, including alcohol, petrochemicals, coal tars, and synthetic chemicals.
Once upon a time, perfume was regarded as an unisex accessory, with both men and women adorning themselves with the sweet floral blends of ylang-ylang, rose, jasmine, and tuberose. However, the rise of germ theory led to a decline in public interest and a conservative outlook on fragrance, and by the mid-nineteenth century, perfume became associated with dirty people, and wearing it was seen as unsanitary. As the stigma against perfume diminished, it was adopted by the elite classes as a symbol of wealth and status.
There’s no doubt that perfume is a highly personal choice, so finding your perfect scent will take some experimentation. Ideally, you should have an idea of what kind of scent profiles you enjoy, and how often you’ll wear the perfume in question (do you want it to last all day? Do you prefer a light, evanescent scent or something more potent?). It’s also helpful to consider the occasion you’ll be wearing the fragrance for, and its projection (how much the scent spreads around you).
In addition to these factors, it’s also important to note that some people have allergies to certain ingredients. If you’re concerned about what might be causing a reaction, try swapping it out for another option to see if the same reaction occurs. The good news is that, over time, you’ll likely find the notes and combinations of ingredients that speak to you and perfectly align with your style. With that in mind, here are the best perfumes that are sure to turn heads.