How to Buy Perfume
Perfumes have been in use since the ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian period. Over the years, its method of preparation has undergone a sea-change, from the hand-made perfume distilleries to the modern perfume houses of Europe. What has not changed is its essence, and way of application.
Things to Consider When Buying Perfume
Before buying perfume, it is important to understand what a perfume can do for you. It can either attract, or acts as an irritant to others. Select a fragrance that will complement your natural aroma. Perfumes should be subtle enough to envelop you in the fragrance, yet not intimidate by being loud.
Before heading for the perfume store, decide on a budget. The simple fact here is, better the quality, more expensive it is. Avoid wearing perfume or deodorant on the day you plan to pick a new fragrance. Most perfumers advise against eating and drinking anything that has strong a flavor and taste, as it would interfere with the fragrance of the perfume. The best way to cleanse your smell senses is to sniff strong coffee beans half an hour prior to your purchase.
One needs to decide the occasion for wearing the perfume. Whether one wants to wear it in the day or night, or for any specific celebration. Following are a few tips one can keep in mind before choosing the right perfume.
- As a rule, always try the perfume before you buy it.
- If you are planning to select a new fragrance, limit to trying three perfumes, because after a while our smell sensory gets confused and can't differentiate between them.
- Never try out on someone else, as the same perfume will smell different on different people.
- Dab, never spray the perfume, on the inner side of the wrist or below the ear lobes.
- Some people prefer dabbing a couple of fragrances on skin areas located far apart from one another.
- Wait for ten minutes, as the fragrance needs time to emit after reacting with your skin.
- It is advisable to leave the fragrance section for a while.
- When a perfumed is dabbed, the first whiff is known as beginning notes, and is the first smell to evaporate. The middle notes will last a couple of hours, and finally the base notes will emerge in a few hours. They are the perfume undertones, that keep changing and blending with the environment around us.
- After a ten minute wait, hold your wrist close to nose, the first fragrant whiff you catch, is how the perfume would smell on you, after reacting with the skin.
- Once you have narrowed down, it is also important to check for allergy causing components. Any rash, mild irritation or sneezes are indicators of the perfume's unsuitability.
- Perfumes need to be applied at least twice in a day, if you intend to wear it for the full day.
- Wear different fragrances to suit your mood.
- Never expose the perfume to extreme temperatures and sunlight, as they disturb the delicate chemical balance of the perfume.
- One must store it in a cool dark place to keep the fragrance intact.
- Perfumes bottles should not be kept opened for a long period, as they will react with the outside air, leading to an alteration in its smell balance.
