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Perfume: Fragrance for Women

Few things can make you feel more feminine or ready for a night out on the town like a good perfume.  Each perfume says something about who you are, or who you are trying to be, and what vibe you want to give off. Just changing your fragrance  can make you feel entirely different -- flirty and fun one moment to sophisticated and classy the next. Part of that has to do with the oils that make up a particular fragrance and how well they react with the chemical balance of your skin. Whether you gravitate towards light, fresh scents, sweet ones, or classic floral orientals, there's tons of fragrance options out there on the market. See our tips to pick one that's best for you. 

Fragrance Wardrobe

There are four main fragrance categories: fresh,  floral,  spicy/oriental,  or woody  (a.k.a. chypre, pronounced shee-pra).There is much debate on how you should compose your fragrance wardrobe. Some say that you should own at least one fragrance from each of the groups, and others say that you'll need a set from every category to cover both hot and cold weather. Some denounce the categorized wardrobe completely and suggest getting perfumes to suit moods and occasions rather than classifications. Then again, there are many people who believe in sticking to a signature fragrance. The choice is truly yours.

Shopping

When shopping for fragrance, be sure to note the perfumes that you typically like and dislike. Once you know which you prefer, it will be easier to shop for a new fragrance. That's because the ones you like will usually have common notes or pertain to a particular fragrance family.  Notes are what perfumers refer to when speaking about the different stages of a perfume; top, middle, and bottom. The top notes are what you smell when you first spray a perfume, less important than the middle notes that create the heart of a perfume. The middle notes are those that set in about 15 minutes after application and linger for several hours. The bottom notes are what appear during a fragrance's dry down, usually a period that occurs after the perfume has been worn for several hours.

Fragrance Families

Now that you understand the composition of a perfume, you can start learning about the different types of perfume categories and which might suit your personality best.  Below, you'll find a brief explanation complete with sub-groups for each fragrance family, along with some nice perfume recommendations.

Fresh

The freshest notes are light, often fruity or citrus, and may remind you of the sea or fresh cut grass. These are perfect perfumes for springtime, summertime, weekends, and relaxing because they are not too strong. They emit an aura of a fun-loving and playful nature.

Recommendations:

Floral

The soft, feminine, romantic smell of fresh-cut flowers are reminiscent of roses, gardenias, jasmine, and lilies. The majority of fragrances fall under this category, probably because flowers are in fashion year round. Floral notes can range from a soft bouquet to a stronger one with underlying hints of white flowers (gardenia, lily, orchid), citrus, and fresh greens.

Recommendations:

Oriental

Many of the perfumes in this category tend towards the citrus side, but there are plenty of floral aspects too. Their defining notes are spicy, and you will often smell patchouli, sandalwood, and/or vanilla in them. Oriental notes are rich and sophisticated, and give off an air of confidence and exoticism. Perfect for evenings, fall, and winter, but they tend to be too heavy for summer. However, they are still the second most common type of fragrance.

Recommendations:

Woody

Think of cedarwood, pine, moss, and amber with oriental and green touches. These are more citrus and classical smelling than floral. Perfect for people who are down-to-earth and romantic.

Recommendations:

Fragrance Strength

Not all fragrances are made the same. Some are much lighter than others, and intensity is categorized discreetly. Here's a quick breakdown.

  • Fragrant body products : Creams, powders, aftershaves, and soaps that claim to have fragrance in them usually have less than 3% fragrance, giving off the lightest scent. However, they do last a long time because they are absorbed into your skin.
  • Eau de cologne : This is a downgraded version of men's cologne (5%-8% perfume), with only 3% perfume diluted with water. It should linger for about 2 hours.
  • Eau de toilette : This alcohol or water-based perfume is quite light comparatively, made of only 3%-8% of perfume compound. This is good for summertime when perfume can become overpowering in the heat, and it is also good for younger girls who want to try out their first perfumes.
  • Eau de parfum : With 10%-15% perfume compound, it is slightly lighter than a full-blown perfume, but usually just as pricey. These can last from 4-5 hours.
  • Perfume : Perfume contains the highest levels of perfume compound with 20%-50%. It is strong, long lasting, and expensive. Expect lasting fresh smells for 6 hours or more.

Quick Picks

Now that you know the difference between fragrance strengths, check out a few more products below.

Casual by Casual, 4 oz. Fine Parfum Spray 

Ciara by Revlon, 2.3 oz Cologne Spray 

Ellen Tracy by Ellen Tracy, 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray 

Euphoria by Calvin Klein, 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray 

Nude by Bill Blass, 3.4 oz Cologne Spray 

Vanderbilt by Gloria Vanderbilt, 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette Spray 

Jontue by Revlon, 2.3 oz Cologne Spray 

White Shoulders by Parfums International, 4.5 oz Cologne Spray 

Related Guides

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
DE: Frauendüfte