tips for fragrance beginners

[pocketvenus]

I thought I might write some tips for those interested in learning more about fragrance, especially those searching for a signature scent. This isn’t the only way to go about it, just a list of things I found helped me learn how to evaluate perfumes.

• Memorize the classics. Giants like Mitsuko (chypre), Angel (gourmand/fruitchouli), Chanel no. 5 (aldehydic) are helpful to know because they can serve as benchmarks to compare other fragrances with. This will also introduce you to the main perfume genres so that you can learn to understand and describe your own tastes better.
• Familiarize yourself with individual perfume notes, even ones you know well. Essential oils can be great for this because they’re natural and you can smell the full breadth and complexity of a note. For example, I never knew that jasmine can have a custardy banana richness until I bought the EO. Try the same oils from different regions and see how different they can be. This way, you can also learn the difference between natural versus synthetic scents that are more enduring but also can be more thin, harsh and “scratchy.” It’s not that synthetics are bad but it's like learning the difference between natural and synthetic textiles. Sometimes a spandex blend is just what you need to create stretch in a garment – but nothing beats silk when it comes to its gorgeous drape and luxurious feel.
• If EOs are not accessible to you, soliflore perfumes work too. For example, try comparing different rose perfumes to see how different fragrances bring out and emphasize different facets of the note.
• Try to identify individual notes in perfumes. Check the note pyramids after to see how right you were! And don’t worry if you can’t get them all at once or if you get some wrong!!! In fact, if you can only pick out one note correctly, that’s still a fantastic beginning. You will get better with practice.
• The two books I'd recommend for beginners is Roja Dove's The Essence of Perfume and Luca Turin/Tania Sanchez's Perfume: The AZ Guide.
• Have fun! ❤️

Anyways, I’m not a fragrance expert but this is how I’ve approached the fascinating world of perfumes which has helped me enjoy them more 🙂 Would love to hear other tips too!

[makeitup305]

@pocketvenus this is so helpful, thank you! I have some perfumes that I really love but I've had trouble identifying what it is about them that attracts me to them. I hate 90% of the perfumes that I smell. I'd love to know what the overlap is between the ones I have so I can find a different scent that I might like without smelling the whole store. There's some perfumes that I love on others but the moment they touch my skin they turn a little sour or they smell like I bought the cheap drugstore version.

[pocketvenus]

You're most welcome and good luck on your journey 🙂 There are definitely some aromachemicals that irritate some or don't work with skin chemistry and identifying them makes a huge/positive difference!

@makeitup305

[Haleyhale]

@pocketvenus Love this post!! I’m definitely going to check out the books! I love learning about scent and formulations, top middle and base notes, and layering. Reading Frangrantica reviews has helped me a lot too, some of the reviews are so picturesque and some are truly funny 😁 you can definitely get lost reading reviews for hours

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Haleyhale I love fragrantica!

[Haleyhale]

@greeneyedgirl107 I always read their reviews before a purchase, and after to see if others feel the way I do or the exact opposite. It’s interesting how individual body chemistry can completely change how a fragrance goes. 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Haleyhale I should really delve more deeply into the site!

[Haleyhale]

@greeneyedgirl107 there’s so much information on there it’s crazy! 

[pocketvenus]

Glad you found it helpful 🙂 Yes, that website is a fabulous resource!! 

@Haleyhale

[Haleyhale]

@pocketvenus I ordered the books yesterday, they should be here tomorrow thanks to amazon!!!

[pocketvenus]

I hope you enjoy them!! ❤️ They gave me a good background to start with, especially the Roja Dove, which has a ton of perfume history

@Haleyhale

[Haleyhale]

@pocketvenus I love history, that’s how I got into Wine, I didnt love wine before my job required it, then while taking the classes I realized how rich in history it was and there’s just always so much to learn! That was basically my gateway to scents as well, when I got to nosing individual aromas from wine I got so nerd-excited! I want to get to that level with perfumes. 

[pocketvenus]

There's sooooo much history ❤️ People have been using perfumes since antiquity 🙂 I love that we still use some of the same materials that were so popular in the past

@Haleyhale

[greeneyedgirl107]

@pocketvenus What a great post!  SO informative!  I must check out those books.  I wish I had a more sophisticated nose.  Still, I'm sure I can improve a little - you give me hope!

[pocketvenus]

Thanks!!! I believe all of our senses can be trained with practice 🙂

@greeneyedgirl107

[greeneyedgirl107]

@pocketvenus That's encouraging!  Maybe I should start getting some fragrance samples more often when I go to Sephora.  I have a ton of the fragrances that are complimentary with purchases, but I always save them for my sister so I rarely use them.

[pocketvenus]

Sephora definitely helped me train my nose 🙂 @greeneyedgirl107

[alexasteph]

@pocketvenus This is great! I remember when I first started to explore fragrances I felt totally lost and overwhelmed. A guide like this would have been extremely helpful. 

[pocketvenus]

@alexasteph 

Thanks! I felt the same way too at first. The Turin/Sanchez and Dove books really helped me.

[Samtian]

These are great and helpful tips! I dunno about the not being an expert you say, I think you are definitely one of our resident BIC perfume experts!

[pocketvenus]

@Samtian  Aw, that is so sweet of you to say ❤️ ❤️