How to Choose a Perfume for Your Loved One

Choosing a fragrance for someone close to you is a wonderful way to express your affection, show that you care and create a lasting memory. Perfume can evoke emotions, lift the mood and reflect someone's personality, which makes it a deeply personal and intimate gift.

At the same time, choosing a fragrance for a loved one can be a tricky and risky task, because you may not know their preferences, you might buy something too generic or too personal, or miss their taste and style altogether. A scent can also change depending on skin chemistry, the weather and the occasion, which makes perfume a rather unpredictable gift.

So how do you choose a fragrance that will make your loved one happy and suit their personality, mood, preferences and the occasion? In this article we share some practical tips for choosing a scent for someone special, based on four factors: their fragrance family, the occasion, testing and experimenting. Let's get started!

Tip 1: Know their fragrance family

One of the first things you need to know when choosing a fragrance for a loved one is their fragrance family. A fragrance family is a group of scents that share common characteristics and notes – floral, fruity, oriental, woody or spicy, for example. Each family has its own mood and character, and people often gravitate towards one or more of them.

For instance, someone who likes fresh, light scents may enjoy floral or citrus fragrances. Someone who loves warm, cosy scents may appreciate an oriental or gourmand fragrance. Knowing your partner's fragrance family lets you narrow down the options and find scents that match their taste.

But how do you work out your partner's fragrance family?

There are several ways to do it, for example:

• Look at the products they use – perfumes, body lotions or scented candles – and check the labels or descriptions for notes and ingredients. You can also smell them and try to identify the dominant notes and the family they belong to.
• Notice what foods they eat, which places they visit and which smells they enjoy, and see whether a pattern emerges that reveals their fragrance family. If they love spicy food, exotic destinations or the smell of vanilla, they may like an oriental fragrance. If they love fruit, tropical places or the scent of berries, they may enjoy fruity fragrances.
• Ask them, directly or indirectly: start a conversation about scents, or give them a little quiz and see what they answer or choose. You can also ask their friends or family whether they know their favourite fragrances.

Tip 2: Consider the occasion the fragrance is for

Another thing you need to take into account when choosing a fragrance for a loved one is the occasion. Different occasions call for different scents depending on the time of day, the season, the weather, the outfit and the atmosphere. A formal event, for example, suits a more elegant and refined fragrance, such as a floral or oriental one. A casual get-together or a fun party suits a more playful, cheerful scent, such as a fruity or citrus one. You can also choose a fragrance to match a mood – depending on whether you want to feel more relaxed, energetic, romantic or adventurous.

Here are some suggestions for fragrances that suit different occasions:

• An ordinary day off: this is a day when you want to feel comfortable and free, with no rules or expectations to follow. You might spend it at home, with friends or on your hobbies. A day like this calls for a fresh, light scent that goes with any outfit and activity. Some fragrances that suit a day off are Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, Miss Dior and Calvin Klein CK One.
• A formal occasion: a formal evening is when you want to feel elegant and luxurious, and when certain rules and expectations apply. It might be an evening at a party, the theatre, a restaurant or a wedding. A formal evening calls for a rich, intense fragrance that makes an impression and turns heads. Some perfumes that suit a formal evening are Chanel No. 5, Dior Poison and Armani Code.
• A romantic date: on a romantic date you want to feel romantic and seductive and impress your partner. The date might be in a park, at the cinema, in a club or by candlelight. A romantic date calls for a sensual, radiant fragrance that stirs emotions and stays in the memory. Some fragrances that suit a romantic date are Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Dior Hypnotic Poison and Lancôme Trésor.

We also recommend reading:

• How to find the right perfume for your man
• An exclusive Valentine's Day gift: which perfume to choose for your loved one
• Understanding perfume concentrations

Tip 3: Try before you buy!

One of the most important tips for choosing a fragrance for a loved one is to try it before you buy it. That means testing the scent on skin before purchasing and seeing how it develops over time. A fragrance can change depending on skin chemistry, the weather and the occasion, and it may not smell as good on the skin as it does from the bottle or on someone else.

To test a fragrance properly, follow these steps:

• Avoid testing too many scents at once, as different fragrances can confuse you and tire your senses. Stick to three or four at a time and use different parts of the body – wrists, inner elbows or neck – so they don't mix.
• Spray the fragrance on your skin or a test strip and wait a few minutes for the alcohol to evaporate and the scent to settle. Don't rub or touch the spot, as this can alter the scent or make it fade faster.
• Smell the fragrance and decide whether you like it. Pay attention to its different stages – the top, heart and base notes – and how they change over time. Top notes are the first impression and usually last from a few minutes to half an hour. Heart notes are the core of the fragrance and typically linger for a couple of hours. Base notes are the final accord, which can stay on the skin for several hours and even longer on clothing.
• If you like, repeat the process with another fragrance and compare them. See which one you prefer and which suits your loved one better. If possible, ask for their opinion too, or that of a friend or sales assistant.

There are several places where you can test a fragrance, for example:

• Perfume shops: these are the most common and convenient places to test fragrances, as they offer a wide choice of brands, products and testers. You can also ask a sales assistant for advice and recommendations, or request a sample to try at home at your leisure.
• Online store samples: online stores also offer ways to try fragrances, especially if you can't find the scent you want in a shop or would like to try something new and different. You are welcome to ask us for samples too.
• With your order: whenever possible, ESSENSA adds fragrance samples to your order that might suit you – a great way to discover new and exciting scents.

Tip 4: Enjoy the process – it could take you anywhere...

The final tip for choosing a fragrance for a loved one is to have fun and experiment with different scents until you find the one that makes both of you happy. There is no right or wrong way to wear perfume, as long as you like it and it reflects your personality and style.

One way to play and experiment with fragrance is to combine and layer different scents to create your own unique signature. You can do this by applying two or more fragrances on top of each other on the skin, or by spraying one on your skin and another on your clothes or accessories. You can also try different products from the same fragrance line – a body lotion, shower gel or deodorant – to intensify the scent and make it last longer.

Combining and layering fragrances can produce very different effects and impressions depending on the scents you choose and how they work together. Here are some examples of fragrances that can be combined and the impressions they create:

In summary

Choosing a fragrance for someone close to you is a wonderful way to express your affection, show that you care and create a lasting memory. At the same time, it can be a tricky and risky task, because you may not know their preferences and might buy something too generic, too personal, or simply not to their taste.

That's why we've shared some practical tips for choosing a fragrance for a loved one based on four factors: their fragrance family, the occasion, testing and experimenting. Follow these tips and you'll find the perfect scent for your loved one – one that makes them happy and suits their personality, mood, preferences and the occasion. If you want the gift to be enjoyed for longer, read also how to make your perfume last longer.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned more about how to choose a fragrance for your loved one. If you have any questions or comments, please share them with us. You'll find Chanel and Dior fragrances at the ESSENSA online store. Thank you for reading and have a lovely day! 😊