Lovely Fragrances

A few days ago I received my fragrance training so my head is currently full of notes, accords and varying ingredients, all swirling around with information over load. 

Not only that, but as if I needed another obsession, working with perfume everyday has now made me quite obsessed with  a million different varieties and definitely helped me figure out what makes a good perfume (even if it's not to my taste) and what makes a bad one (there are many). Through working really hard, myself and the other girls I work with got perfume for free and obviously we get a discount on others too. Above and below I've pictured the Dior perfume I received, Miss Dior Cherie (Eau de Parfum) as well as getting a free Diorshow mascara and a Marc Jacobs Lola fragrance . I've also got Armani Code for men for my boyfriend (so nice!) and Valentina by Valentino.  Here are a few of what I consider to be the best fragrances for women out right now, with some tips on how to test which fragrance is best for you.

One. Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf. Two. Rose by Paul Smith. Three. Valentina by Valentino. Four. Angel by Thierry Mugler. Five. Chance by Chanel. Six. Daisy by Marc Jacobs. Seven. Amor Amor by Cacharel. Eight. Miss Dior Cherie by Dior

Tips

1. Once you've sprayed a tester on your skin, or on a tester strip, always wait around 20 seconds before you smell it. Each perfume is made up of head, heart and body notes and if you smell the perfume straight away, you'll more than likely get only the head notes, which will primarily be the alcohol inside the fragrance. By waiting the 10-20 seconds, you'll start to smell the heart notes which is the 'true' fragrance and the one that determines the family it belongs to.

2. If you're looking for a new fragrance because you're fed up with the one you always wear or you've decided to start wearing perfume, don't come in and try every single tester all at once. Come in store on different days and try around three at one time. Trying too many will only confuse you, and as each fragrance informs the other, you'll quickly loose sight of the true fragrance you like.

3. If you can afford it, try to get an Eau de Parfum rather than an Eau de Toilette. The parfum should be more intense and generally lasts around 5-6 hours on the skin, unlike an Eau de Toilette which only lasts 2-4 hours. Obviously, if you're very liberal with your perfume spraying and maybe spray all over yourself/clothes then an Eau de Toilette will be cheaper for the amount you use it.

4. Don't come in and straight away ask the advisor what's the newest or most in fashion. Fragrances follow fashion and trends just like anything else so you may find yourself with a gourmand influenced fragrance (full of caramel, cream and chocolatey notes) or a chypre fragrance (full of Mediterranean and citrus notes) when really you like floral or oriental fragrances. Chances are, you won't end up with a perfume that best suits you and your personality.

5. Gift sets, especially at Christmas,usually cost the same amount as the 50ml bottles of perfume so if you can, buy a gift set instead. They usually have a body lotion or shower gel inside which means you can layer your fragrances from the moment you get up if you use the shower gel, then moisturiser, then perfume, which ultimately means your fragrance will last longer.

6. And finally, if you can, test the perfume on your skin. So many things influence the fragrance and the perfume won't smell the same on the tester strip as it will on yourself. Also! Silly as it sounds, try sniffing ground coffee or coffee beans between trying fragrances. It clears everything away so one fragrance won't inform another so much!