As beautiful and rich as they are, fragrances are the hardest items to shop for whether it’s for yourself or others. What makes one person feel sexy can choke another. What some consider a classic, others never want to see again.
To truly capture the essence of a fragrance, you have to go beyond the top notes and wait for the perfume to settle. “A fragrance is a chronological composition that evolves with time,” says perfumer Frédéric Malle. “The top notes function for about 15 minutes, then leave way to the heart of the perfume, which is its real personality.”
That said, if you’re looking for a scent, spritz a bit on your wrist and walk away. Walk around the store for a bit and come back. Why? Because the top note can be off putting but the dry down is absolutely fantastic.
“Some fragrances also change from one skin to the other,” says Malle so don’t think that if it smells ahh-mazing on your best friend, it’ll be the SAME EXACT way on you. It won’t but it certainly doesn’t hurt to use your friends as a resource.
Below are six fragrance - and in some cases, sets - I have a deep and personal love for and you might too!
PS: I was given samples of a few but that doesn’t affect editorial integrity. Trust.
