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The power of smell is stronger than many people realize. That is why the choice of a fragrance is every bit as important as the choice of shoes you wear to complete an outfit or the choice of accessories you wear to set off an ensemble. Your perfume speaks volume to other people about your personality, your lifestyle and the way that your mind works. It also has the ability to make an impression on other people. Bear in mind that a fragrance is so many things and you want it to linger ever so slightly in a room after you have made your exit. A fragrance is art after all and it is also a statement about emotion. Fragrance is also romance, energy, empowerment, vitality and intimacy. A perfume tells a tale simply by its memorable scent and also by how it makes the wearer feel.

Tips for shopping for a signature scent

When it comes time to buy a signature scent, decide whether you want to indulge in a classic scent, a delicate scent or a sensual scent. Let us take a brief look at all three.

Classic Scent

If you are not sure what scent appeals to you then go for a classic scent. Classic scents are the staples of perfume, they are the tried-and-true perfumes without a trace of dullness connected to them. A classic perfume is comparable to the classic little black dress or a classic pair of pearl earrings that no wardrobe should be without. A classic fragrance coordinates with absolutely everything. It is perfect with every outfit and every pair of shoes. A classic fragrance is also suitable for every occasion whether it is business, social or casual and it suits all four seasons of the year. Two of the most timeless examples of classic fragrances are the legendary Chanel No. 5 and Oscar.

Delicate Scent

Delicate fragrances are just that- delicate, light, soft and incredibly feminine. Delicate fragrances are the perfume of choice for incurable romantics who enjoy watching sunrises and sunsets, sipping wine over a candlelit dinner and walks on the beach hand in hand at midnight. One of the most modern delicate fragrances on the market is made by Nina Ricci and is called Premier Jour. This perfume is based on a note of sugared almond and is very delectable to the senses.

Sensual Scent

The sensual group of fragrances is not for the meek and mild and certainly not for the faint at heart. Sensual scents are bold, self-confident, intense and very passionate. The two most well known sensual fragrances on the market today are Opium and Chance by Chanel. Opium has been around since 1977 and is a very sultry scent whereas Chance is spirited while at the same time, energetic, optimistic and edgy. Chance combines jasmine, pink pepper, white musk and citrus notes and would appeal to any sensuous woman.

Try it on yourself- you and only you

Keep in mind that perfume does not smell the exact same on everyone. Just as we all do not like to eat the same foods, we all do not like the same perfumes. How a perfume smells on a person has a lot to do with their body chemistry and body chemistry is a very individual thing. That is why it is essential to try a fragrance out on your own skin as opposed to that of your friend, your sister or your mother. Keep in mind as you sample different fragrances at the perfume counter that after they are applied to the skin, their smell changes slightly so make sure you are patient and give ample time to decide if the scent in question is suitable for you.

It cannot be emphasized enough, try a scent out on your own skin and do not just spray it into the air or spray it on a piece of cardboard. You have to make a determination of how the scent mixes with your body chemistry. Spray the scent on the inside of your wrist and then allow it to warm and absorb into your skin. Your own personal body oils will determine how the scent will smell on you on an individual basis.

Be patient with your perfume

Are you the queen of the snap decision? If yes then cool your heels when it comes to making a decision about a fragrance of your choice. After applying a given fragrance, give the scent 20 minutes to an hour to make a proper determination of whether or not it appeals to your sense of smell. An even better suggestion is to give your nose a whiff of the scent every couple of hours to determine for yourself if the fragrance has retained its original scent or not. Whether or not a scent has the power of longevity is very important to know. Some do, whereas many do not, and it depends on the person as well. Keep in mind that not all scents have the same effect on every person due to body chemistry. One scent may smell better on you than it does on your best friend and vice versa. Some people like to apply a scent to their inner wrist and then rub it on the other wrist hoping to transfer the scent. Do not do this because it will not have the desired result. If you rub your wrists together this can serve to alter the scent of the fragrance tremendously and that is definitely not something you want to do.

Where are the best places to apply fragrance? Think pulse points.

The best places on the human body to apply fragrances are the areas designated as pulse points, which include the sides of the neck, between the breasts, the inside of the wrists, the elbow creases, behind the knees and around the ankles. If you have already put on your watch and/or a bracelet be careful when spraying a fragrance near them. The fragrance you apply could easily react to the leather or plastic strap of the watch and/or the gold or silver that the bracelet is made up of and this could dull the material. Many women like to apply fragrance behind their ears but this is not advisable because that area of the human body contains a number of sebaceous glands, which will have an effect on how the fragrance smells both when you first apply it as well as hours later. Be aware that the area behind the ears is not a pulse point. Women who have skin that tends towards being dry will need to reapply their fragrance often but ladies with oily or combination skin will need to do it less often. The reason for this is that dry skin does not hold in scent quite as well as does skin that is higher in oil content.

When sampling new scents at a store, it is best to test them one at a time and not to overdo it. You can always plan another trip back to the perfume counter of your favorite department store or drug store in a day or two. If you sample too many fragrances at once you will likely confuse your nose and your brain and it will make it difficult for you to decide on any one fragrance.

Less is more

When it comes to applying fragrance always keep in mind the general rule that less is more. A spritz of a fragrance applied with a light hand to a pulse point (or two) is all that is really required. If you are attending a social event remember that other women and men will be wearing fragrances as well and you do not want all of that co-mingling to add up to one big smelly and intoxicating mess!

When you are preparing for a special evening on the town or are attending a social event for work, here is something you can try- spray the outside of your hand with fragrance instead of your wrist. This spraying alternative works well because it allows the scent to diffuse in an outward direction. This leaves you with a very airy and subtle scent, which is what a social occasion calls for. Another option is to spray the air (in a similar fashion as you would spray air freshener in a room) and then walk through the scent as it falls around you. This envelopes your entire body in the beautiful scent. Consider this a soft and subtle but yet effective method of perfuming yourself for a night out. If you spray the fragrance gently into the air it should not affect your clothing or your jewellery in any negative manner.

Less is more is also important to keep in mind in relation to your age when it comes to applying fragrance. Our sense of smell is not as sharp as we get older and the dulling effect means that it is not as simple to figure out if we have on enough fragrance or if we have applied too much. Often if we are unable to smell our fragrance on our own skin we assume that it has completely disappeared and others cannot smell it either. However this is not usually the case and the people around you might be able to smell it so whatever you do, do not be heavy-handed in your application!

How to make a scent last as long as possible

One of the biggest complaints that fragrance consumers have is how to make a scent last as long as possible. Be aware that the length of time that a fragrance will last on the skin is different for everyone. Perfumes are made to have more staying power than are eau de toilettes due to their higher concentration of alcohol to water. Dry skin retains fragrance for a shorter span of time than does oily or combination skin as oily skin contains more natural moisture and is capable therefore of retaining scent for a considerably longer period of time. Another factor is the PH level of any given person as it is not the same for everyone. PH stands for the amount of acidity in the skin and a personal PH level will help to determine how a scent will react once it is applied to your skin. There are other factors that play a role as well such as hormonal changes in the body including pregnancy and menopause, stress, and taking a variety of kinds of medications. There are even certain foods that can play a role in how a fragrance smells on the skin as well as how long it will linger. Two examples of these are foods that contain a great deal of garlic or spices.

Layer your scent

One of the very best ways to encourage your scent to last all day is to layer it. Layering a scent is key to coaxing it to have longevity. What this means is that you use more than one type of product of the same scent. For example you might want to first shower with a body wash or scented soap and then when your skin is still damp from the shower, slather on a generous portion of body lotion or cream. Then to conclude the fragrance layering process, dab some of your favorite scent on a pulse point or a few select pulse points or else spray some on your pulse points. Your skin will warm to the scent you have applied and then will absorb it making you smell great and helping to ensure that the scent will last as long as you need it to.

Other suggestions

But there are yet other ways to help make sure your fragrance keeps going as long as you do. Apply a fragrance immediately after taking a bath or shower due to the fact that the pores of your skin are as open as they will ever be and they will quickly and easily soak up the scent. An excellent way to make this happen is before you get dressed after your shower, while you are still naked, spray your perfume into the air and then walk through it as it falls down. Another suggestion is that since perfume has more lasting power on skin types that tend to be oily, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the areas on your body where you will be applying perfume. The petroleum jelly will give the fragrance something to adhere to and by so doing will give it more staying power.

Start low and upward you go

When applying perfume it is always the best idea to spray from the ankles upward, because just like hot air, fragrance also rises and if you apply it lower on your body it will cling to your skin for a much longer span of time. Another tip about applying fragrance that you want to last is not to use your fingers to apply it directly to the skin but instead place the perfume on a cotton ball before you apply it or for an even better fragrance effect, consider using an atomizer.

It is generally regarded in the world of fragrance that a scent should be sprayed approximately 20 centimeters away from your body. If you decide to spray an even amount of scent over a larger area of your skin it will last a great deal longer than if you decide to instead concentrate the scent over a smaller area of the skin.