Buying Fragrances

Buy  a fragrance, the way you would buy your clothes, says Gwendolyn Kou, our Beauty & Style editor.

Don’t limit your style to clothes alone. Explore the world of fragrance. Am absolutely certain that at some point, you may have been subjected to an annoying scent. Some of us don’t know where to draw the line on perfumes. Or which one is best for you. Fragrances are like clothes. And, you follow the simple philosophy of wearing what enhances your personality. Your scent should NEVER enter the room before you do. 

Let me walk you through some basic rules of fragrance buying. Fragrances are grouped under different family groups that are based on key ingredient combinations in the middle and base notes. Here’s a list of basic fragrance family groups. I’ll skip telling you about the different forms of fragrances; you already know those.

Fragrance Categories

Single Floral: As the name suggests, this fragrance is a composition based on the scent of a single flower. Examples are, Jasmine, Rose, Tuberose, Lilly of the Valley, or Ylang.

Floral Bouquet: Based on a composition of different floral notes such as Jasmine, Gardenia, Lilac and other popular flowers. Combines with any other family. Flowery perfumes are universally commercial. 

Modern Blend or Flowery Aldehydic: Aldehydes add sparkle to flowery notes. It is noted for a brilliant sparkle that intensifies as it warms on the skin. Characterized by an extremely individualistic personality, Aldehydic creations radiate elegance and originality.

Spicy: Fragrances in this family are created from spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and cardamom as well as flowers that possess traces of spicy notes such as carnation and lavender. 

Oriental Blend: Sophisticated, Mysterious, Erotic are words that describe this family group. Its fragrance is achieved through blending of exotic flowers, herbs and fixatives. This group also has an extended family called Semi-Orientals. Semi-Orientals combine oriental notes with various florals. Top notes are often fresh. 

Green: Green notes are natural in character; often married with fruity and floral notes, they are modern and fashionable. This fragrance denotes the zest and energy of freshly cut grass and dewy-green leaves. Heed this family to create a young and vigorous mood. 

Fruity: This family leaves the impression of full, ripe, edible, fruit scents. 

Citrus: The light, fresh character of citrus notes (bergamot, orange, lemon, petitgrain, mandarin, etc.) is often combined with more feminine scents (flowers, fruits and chypre) to create that refreshingly clean and tangy scent. 

Woodsy Mossy or Chypre: An essence reminiscent of the aroma of freshly-cut wood and roots dried under the sun. This family combines Sandalwood, Rosewood, Cedar and other aromatic woods with earthly oak moss and fern to create a foresty, crisp scent. Chypre perfumes are rich and tenacious.