Category — Choosing Perfume

A few years back one of the big fashion magazines pointed out that the most popular perfumes varied by country.  The results of their findings were interesting.

The three countries they provided information on were the United States, France and China.  They listed the top five most popular perfumes of each country. Only one perfume made it into the top five of each country, and one was a top five contender in two countries.  There the similarities ended.

What’s also interesting is the perfume that made it into all three lists has been around for decades!  It was released in 1921.

What is it?

No surprise here.  Chanel No 5, released in 1921, is the only perfume to make it into the top five popular perfumes for the United States, France and China.  It ranked number 2 in the States and number one in both France and China.  The other perfume that made it into the top five of two counties is Christian Dior’s J’Adore.  It ranked number three in France and number two in China.  This perfume was released in 1999.

So, that leaves the perfume that was ranked as the number one most popular perfume in the United States.  What was it?  Another perfume that has stood the test of time.  Beautiful, by Estee Lauder, was released in 1985, and was the perfume that outsold all others in the United States a few years back.

So, does the fact that a perfume has been around for a long time, perhaps even longer than you have been alive, lessen its appeal?  Obviously not!  According to this data, the buying public has stated quite plainly that they prefer the tried and true.

If you haven’t tried one of these popular perfumes yourself, why not give one of them a try?

Call it what you want—eau de toilette, cologne, perfume, parfum, scent or fragrance—there are over 20,000 women’s perfumes.  That’s pretty intimidating!

So, how do you go about choosing a perfume, or your signature fragrance?  Well, your first step is to decide on what kind of mood you’re looking to create.  Remember, scents are inexplicably tied to emotions, so this is a very important step.

In a very general sense, fragrances can be classified into three different groups.  These are classic, delicate and sensual.  Keep reading, as I will explain each group to you!

If you’re already confused by the choices and not sure what kind of fragrance you’re looking for, I recommend going with a classic scent.  These are the tried and true perfumes, the ones that have stood the test of time.  They are the real deal—authentic.  Don’t be fooled into thinking these perfumes are dull or boring because they have been around since your mother’s day.  The classic, little black dress has been around for decades as well, and that will never go out of style!  In fact, it should be a staple in every woman’s wardrobe.  The same can be said of a classic scent.  It will go with everything.  Going shopping for groceries in jeans and a t-shirt, a little more dressed up for dinner with the girls, a business meeting, a job interview, or yes, you are pulling out all stops with that little black dress, a classic perfume will work in any of these cases.  One of the all-time classiest perfumes is Chanel No. 5.  It’s timeless.  A blend of ming, rose and jasmine, it’s a sophisticated and elegant choice and is a favourite of women around the globe.

The second group of women’s perfumes is the delicate scent.  These fragrances are soft and feminine, as the name suggests.   Two of the most popular delicate scents on the market today are from Nina Ricci.  The first has been around for decades and the second has been out for just a few years.  They are L’Air du Temps and Premier Jour.  L’Air du Temps is a floral mixture that mainly consists of gardenia and carnation, but also jasmine, rose and sandalwood.  The ultra modern Premier Jour is based on a note of sugared almond.  Another delicate favourite is Dreaming by Tommy Hilfiger.

The third group of women’s perfumes is sensual.  Bold.  Self confident.  Passionate.  The most notable sensual perfume to hit the market is Opium, which appeared in 1977 and has been popular ever since.  Described as sultry and magical, this fragrance is a blend of carnation, jasmine, lily of the valley, mandarin, amber and vanilla.  Chanel Chance was released in 2002, and is another sensual choice.  Described as spirited and edgy, it’s made up of citrus notes, jasmine, pink pepper and white musk.

There’s a lot to think about when choosing a perfume for yourself.  Remember, your choice of perfume should complement the entire you—your looks, your personality and your lifestyle.  It’s generally a good idea to test a fragrance on your skin first, but this isn’t always doable.  Just remember that perfumes mix with your body chemistry, so the same scent will smell different on every woman.  Once it’s on your skin, it becomes something absolutely individual.  You can make a perfume your signature scent in every sense of the word.