For thousands of years, people have used perfumes to make their personal mark and express themselves. A good perfume can make the wearer feel confident and beautiful without saying a word. It can also evoke beautiful (and not-so-beautiful) memories, which is why it’s important to choose the right fragrance for your personality and lifestyle.
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents in liquid form that is applied to the skin, clothing and other objects to create a lasting, pleasant odor.
Modern perfumes contain from ten to hundreds of ingredients and are comprised of natural aromatic plant extracts or synthetic aromatic chemicals; oils extracted from plants by steam distillation, expression, enfleurage (a process that squeezes out the oils), and maceration (when the dried and ground parts of plants are placed in a solvent like ethyl alcohol). In addition, they can also include fixatives (natural or chemical substances that help slow the evaporation rate, increase perceived olfactory strength and stability) and a variety of different solvents (like ethanol).
When selecting perfume, it’s important to consider the vibe you want. Do you prefer a light and airy scent that resembles a freshly cut bouquet of flowers or a sultry and deep blend of exotic woods? Or do you want to channel the feeling of sun-drenched beaches or a cool rainstorm? Fragrances can conjure these and many other feelings, which is why they are so powerful.
The best colognes and perfumes vary across budget, preferences and occasion, but they all operate in service of one fundamental goal: to smartly punctuate your personal style—and enhance everyone else’s experience with you along the way. The top-rated men’s fragrances do just that—from the rich, musky notes of Alberto Morillas’ Tres Chere to the feminine aroma of Guerlain’s Roses De Chloé, each scent embodies its own unique spirit.
Like a pair of quality jeans or a designer sneaker, the right perfume is an investment in your self-image and a long-lasting, everyday pleasure. And it doesn’t hurt to be a little extra when gifting the special ladies in your life. Just be sure to choose something that lasts a little longer than flowers or chocolate.