How to Choose a Perfume: A Shoppable Guide to the Most Popular Fragrances

Scents can be pretty unpredictable. Due to the uniqueness of our body chemistry, perfumes are not a "one size fits all." This explains why a fragrance you love on a friend just doesn't smell the same on you. As a result, there are hundreds of options available, and every bottle has its distinct characteristics. We'll break down the specifications, types, and general knowledge on how to choose a perfume that's right for you.

Perfume Notes

A complete fragrance is made up of individual scent notes. Like a symphony, the final product is not merely the sum of its notes, but the way those notes interact with each other. Scent notes fall into one of three categories:

• Top notes: what you smell immediately. Top notes are often sharp and distinct, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to an hour after application.

• Heart notes: the lingering, most noticeable, and most characteristic notes. Hearts are often smoother and mellower than the top, and generally last four to six hours.

• Base notes: often warm and slightly sensual (think woods, amber, vanilla, and musk), base notes come to the fore slowly, possibly many hours after the fragrance is applied.

Types of Fragrances

The intensity and longevity of a fragrance is determined by how it is formulated. Different concentrations yield different results. Here are the different types of perfumes and what their categorization means:

• • Perfume (or Parfum): The most intense fragrance, perfumes are 20–30% essential oils and can last up to 8 hours.

  • Eau de Parfum: Slightly less concentrated than perfume, eaux de parfum are 15–20% aromatic compounds and might be a good choice for a casual perfume.

  • Eau de Toilette: Often used in fragrances for men, these are composed of about 5–15% fragrant oils and aren't as intense as eau de parfum.

  • Eau de Cologne: Cologne is the mildest of the most common fragrances, made up of only about 2–4% oil.

Fragrance Family

Now to the most important part: types of scents. Since there are so many different categories, that's when the fragrance wheel comes in handy. This relatively new classification represents all of the different types of aromas and how they're related. Here's what it looks like:

The chart may seem overwhelming, but the truth is that the most common scents fall into six categories: floral, fruity, fresh, warm, oriental, and woody.

Floral, Fancy, and Elegant

Flowers are more than just beautiful, some smell wonderful too! (Not all of them, though. We're looking at you, corpse flower.). Floral is one of the most popular notes for women's fragrances. Some of the most common blooms used in perfumes are: roses, peonies, jasmine, and lilies. Floral scents give off a sophisticated and elegant impression. These fragrances are also considered classic just like their flower parts. Here are some amazing brands of floral-scented perfumes to choose from:

Brand	Key Notes	Type
Chloe	Rose and jasmine	Eau de Parfum
Amazing Grace by Philosophy	Lily of the valley and freesia	Eau de Toilette Spray
Bvlgari Rose Essentielle	Violet and jasmine	Eau de Parfum

Fruity, Fun, and Flirty

Let's face it: People like things that smell sweet. That's why fruity-scented fragrances are such a hit. They're familiar but with a twist. As a result, most scents that are classified as "fruity" are much more complex. Here are some delicious fruity scents.

Brand	Key Notes	Type
DKNY Be Delicious	Apple and grapefruit	Eau de Parfum
Marc Jacobs Dot	Red Berries, dragonfruit, and honeysuckle	Eau de Parfum
Happy by Clinique	Ruby red grapefruit and boysenberry	Eau de Parfum

Fresh, Light, and Breezy

So you like perfumes but nothing too overpowering? Opt for a light scent. These are aromas that will smell natural and bright, like freshly washed laundry still warm from the dryer. Here are some fresh scents to choose from:

Brand	Key Notes	Type
Light Blue Dolce & Gabbana	Sicilian lemon and bellflower	Eau de Toilette
See by Chloe	Apple blossom and vanilla	Eau de Parfum
Acqua di Gioi by Giorgio Armani	Cool mint and warm brown sugar	Eau de Parfum

Warm, Spicy, and Cozy

Softness doesn't have a scent, but the best way to embody it is to have a warm-based scent. These aromas give off a laid-back and light vibe that is noticeable, but not too noticeable—ideal in an everyday fragrance. Here are some cozy scents to choose from:

Brand	Key Notes	Type
Hypnotic Poison by Dior	Almond, vanilla, and musk	Eau de Toilette
Calvin Klein Euphoria	Black orchid and amber	Eau de Parfum
Alien Thierry Mugler	Cashmere and jasmine	Eau de Parfum

 

Oriental, Exotic, and Inviting

If you're looking for something bold and exciting, the oriental fragrance family is one you want to be a part of. These perfumes are considered sensual and noticeable, which makes them ideal if you want to stand out—whether you're on a date or at the office. Here are some oriental perfumes that could be a good fit for you:

Woody, Natural, Earthy

Earthy-smelling perfumes have a certain complexity to them that is both nostalgic and unfamiliar. Perhaps that's why they've been on the rise for women's fragrances. They're long lasting, sensual, and mysterious. Less wild, more wildlife, but in a good way. Here are some of the best perfumes with earthy notes: