Continuing with part 1 of this article, where we explain the preliminary steps to trying perfumes to find your perfect scent, the following steps are for you to know how to properly test a perfume.
Step 7: Test on your skin
Did you know that the top notes you smell on a test strip are what make you buy a fragrance?
Well, it's not uncommon for these notes to be the most intense and pleasant. As you might have guessed, this is no accident, and beauty brands invest heavily to get you to make a quick decision.
Unfortunately, most of these quick decisions end up being failed purchases. That's why you're going to approach perfume testing differently.
Once you've done your online research and found up to four fragrances you want to try, you're going to spray each of them on test strips first and let them dry for one to two minutes.
Be sure to write down on the strips which fragrance is which. Once the perfume has settled, smell them again and decide which ones are worth spraying on each wrist.
Since everyone's skin is slightly different, each perfume will react differently on you. And that's it. Leave the store and let the perfume develop throughout the day.
PRO TIP: Decants, which are smaller versions of the original perfume, allow you to test the perfume from the comfort of your home as many times as necessary.
Step 8: Skip the coffee beans
Coffee beans and perfume testing go hand in hand, right? Well, that might not be entirely true. If you've smelled a couple of perfumes and started to notice "nose blindness," we recommend skipping those coffee beans.
Unfortunately, you won't reset your nose's palate by smelling coffee, as you're only replacing one heavy scent with another.
What we recommend is either smelling the unperfumed part of your skin (like your elbows) or your clothes to reset your palate between sampling sessions.
Step 9: Wait for them to dry
Once you've chosen a couple of fragrances that you initially liked on the strip and sprayed them on your skin, it's time to see how they develop.
Each perfume develops differently throughout the day, and after a couple of hours, you'll see how a particular fragrance works for you.
Everything you've learned before about fragrance notes, fragrance families, and perfume concentrations will now come in handy.
Some fragrances can end up being boring, while others, which may seem strange, can develop wonderfully. In any case, you will have tested the potential purchase in the right way.
Step 10: Temperature affects perfume performance
During your search to find the perfect perfume, you'll discover that some fragrances work better during colder seasons, and others work better when it's hot.
That's why it's important to know your future perfume. If you use a stronger perfume during the winter, it will work very well.
But, if you decide to use it during the summer, it may turn out differently, and potentially bother other people. Also, keep in mind that during hot weather, perfumes evaporate faster due to the combination of pulse, sweat, and warm skin surface.
Step 11: Test perfumes multiple times
You should always give everything a second chance. Especially with perfumes. As mentioned before, you have to take your time and do a lot of testing until you find "the one."
If you buy a decant, test that fragrance on multiple occasions until the last drop.
Step 12: Wear what you like, not what others want
The path to glory is not quick, but it will lead you to the goal. Many tests, paths full of detours, and experiences will get you to 100%, but let us give you one last piece of advice.
Ultimately, it's about what you like. The scent that is your signature is a reflection of your personality and an image of yourself that you send out to the world.
Therefore, always wear what you like and not what others want.