If one’s response to scent is as instinctual as squinting in the sun, then why isn’t choosing a new perfume a simpler, more straightforward experience? “There are so many [fragrances],” acknowledges Patricia Choux, the nose who has crafted memorable blends for companies including Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, and Carven. Even within spring’s latest perfume launches, which are arriving on shelves there is dizzying variety.
When deciding on a signature scent to stand as your own olfactory portrait, Choux explains, the most effective tactic is to narrow your search by shopping at a niche destination—she favors the approachable, curated selections at Barneys, Aedes de Venustas, and Paris’s Nose boutique. Though, arriving at any perfume outpost with the name of a favorite standby fragrance or note will immediately help an expert guide you toward equally fresh, floral, or spicy options. From there, the process should be slow and contemplative. “Smell five at most,” says Choux, who warns against overwhelming your nose. Then select two or three to try on. “I always recommend wearing it [on your skin],” she says of allowing the scent to evolve on the back of your hand or forearms before buying it. “We tend to judge fragrance by the top notes, but follow it for a couple of hours, and if you still like it, go back for it.”
And there are a few more cues you can take into account. A favorite destination could be your lead—Dior’s Fève Délicieuse centers on the complexly sweet absolute of Venezuelan Tonka Bean, evoking escapist nights on the beaches of Los Roques. Or perhaps you can be swayed by a beauty icon. Serge Lutens Beaute’s La Religieuse (which translates to The Nun) weaves together jasmine and incense in a duality that may call to mind Sophia Loren’s bombshell figure defying the confines of her habit in a screen test for The Nun of Monza. So, too, sartorial inclinations can steer you toward the path of perfume bliss. Spring’s smart, paper-bag waist leather pants at Loewe would find equal androgynous ease in Frédéric Malle’s Cologne Indelebile; while the breezy, beaded fringe of Preen’s dresses was as made to travel (and dance in) as Malin+Goetz’s Moroccan Fig. With that in mind, we’ve put together a comprehensive visual roadmap help you find a fragrance that hits all the right notes.
The post How to Shop for Perfume: An Insider’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Spring Fragrance appeared first on Vogue.
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