Is It Time for a Change? How To Choose a New Fragrance

Whether you’re rocking a new aesthetic, you’re interested in finding a scent that reflects the time of year, or you’re entering a new phase of life, there are tons of reasons why you might want to swap your fragrance for something new.

Switching perfumes can feel like a big risk. You might be nervous to let go of your signature fragrance, but the truth is that making this change can be fun.

Today, we’re explaining all things fragrance. We'll start by breaking down what they’re made of and how to categorize them by notes, styles, and concentration levels, and we’ll give you tips and tricks for exploring new scents.

What Is a Scent Profile?

A scent profile is the full description of the characteristics that make up a fragrance. This includes information about its style, the ingredients it's made with, and what feelings it evokes.

The scent profile should also cover how strong the perfume or cologne smells and how long it lasts when applied to the skin. This is, of course, an estimation and can change depending on your body chemistry. 

An important aspect of scent profiles to pay attention to when searching for a new body spray is which fragrance family it belongs to. Fragrance families group common scents together and make it easier to pick one based on your mood and personality. They can range from fresh to warm.

Warm Scents

Warm scents are one of the most popular fragrance families. They are usually rich and inviting. The warmth that these scents evoke make them a particularly good choice during the chilly fall and winter seasons. Aroma notes that belong to the warm scent family include fougere, leather, woods, gourmands, and spices.

At Snif, some of our favorite warm scents are:

• Burning Bridges: This toasted scent knows how to make a statement without ever speaking a word. Bold and addictive, this fragrance is infused with vanilla, tobacco, iris, rose, fresh spices, freesia, and oakmoss.

• Sweet Ash: Like a crush you just can’t quit, this sweet fragrance leaves you wanting more. The down-to-earth, addictive scent is woody and aromatic. It’s boosted with juniper, white moss, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka, and patchouli.
• Way With Woods: Subtle and inviting, this woodsy scent provides you with a warm, outdoorsy scent. This fan-favorite fragrance includes cozy smells like sandalwood, amber woods, white tea, and musk.

Fresh Scents

Fresh scents are one of the most common choices for individuals looking for something light. They are typically clean and bright. Their airy, uplifting nature fits the vibe of the warmer months of the year and are most commonly used in the spring and summer. Aroma notes that belong to the fresh scent family include citrus, floral, green, aldehydes, and aquatic.

Looking for some suggestions? Here are some fresh scents to try from Snif:

• Citrus Circus: This energetic citrus scent features a balancing act of a woodland forest and ocean air. The fragrance features creamsicle, grapefruit, lime zest, sparkling water, neroli, violet, and cedar.

• Coco Shimmy: This fruity, tropical fragrance is a tropical vacation in a bottle. The aroma smells like a coconut spritz with a sun-kissed twist. The fragrance is infused with smells of coconut, pineapple, sunscreen, surf wax, and tonka bean.

• Golden Ticket: One whiff of this magical tea fragrance transports you to another dimension. This green, mystical escape blends smells of sage, bergamot, green tea, galbanum, and golden mate. 

What Are the Strongest Notes in a Scent?

There are three different categories of notes used in the making of a fragrance. These are the top notes, middle notes, and base notes. When perfumes are being designed, a lot of care goes into making sure these different notes complement each other and create the best possible result.

Top notes are the lightest notes in the bunch. They make up the very first scent that you will smell when you spritz your perfume and usually evaporates after about 10 minutes. Common top notes include scents like orange, apple, and mint.

Middle notes are what you smell next. Sometimes called heart notes, these accords make up the main body of the overall smell and are meant to last for a few hours. Middle notes are carefully selected to bridge the top and base notes together. Common examples include rose, sage, jasmine, and pine.

Base notes take about 30 minutes to develop but once they emerge they are the longest lasting aroma. Because they evaporate the slowest, you will continue to smell them for several hours. In very strong perfumes, this can last as long as 12 hours. Common base notes are richer scents like sandalwood, vetiver, amber, musk, and patchouli.

If you’re still nervous about picking out a perfume that smells too strong, consider its concentration levels before making a purchase. There are three categories of concentration in perfumes.

Fragrances labeled eau de toilette are the lightest and typically have a concentration of 5-15% fragrance oil. Eau de parfum has a higher concentration level at about 15-20% and smell stronger.

Extrait de parfum, which translates to pure perfume, is the most concentrated form of fragrance and tends to have around 20-30% fragrance oil, making it last the longest.

How To Choose a New Fragrance

With so many types of fragrances to choose from, searching for your new signature scent can seem overwhelming. Use these five tips to help guide you through the process and to select your new scent stress-free.

Know Your Personality

One of the simplest ways to find a fragrance that feels natural on your skin is to pick one that reflects your personality. Come up with words that describe you, and then pick out perfumes that match these qualities.

For example, if you consider yourself to have a more brooding, mysterious personality, then woody scents are right up your alley. If you think of yourself as more fun and playful, look into citrus scents instead. Want to express your romantic side? Floral scents could be a good fit.

Try Different Scents

Wearing different scents and seeing what you like best is the most direct way to find the right perfume. With Snif, you won’t need to drive to the department store to try out perfume samples thanks to our Try Before You Buy program on certain scents. 

Order your fragrances, and when they arrive at your door, they’ll also come with sample-size bottles. Use the next seven days to test the different fragrances. Send back the bottles of any scents you don’t like, and keep the ones you do — you’ll only be charged for what you keep!

Try Layering

Layering is a fun way to find your new favorite fragrance, especially if you are hoping to settle on something unique. Instead of using a standard scent, why not try combining all the scents you love instead?

Choose a base scent that you enjoy, then select the top and middle notes based on what is complementary. Think about each scent’s aromatic compounds to make sure they don’t clash.

Note Your Favorites

One of the most logical ways to figure out the best fragrances for you is to pay attention to scents you’ve liked in the past. Open up your notes app and start tracking which perfumes and body sprays you enjoy.

Explore these fragrances and see where they lead you. Still not sure what scent to choose? Take a look at their fragrance notes and use that to help crack the case. Notice that you like a lot of colognes with spicy notes? Search for a spicy fragrance. Easy peasy. 

Choose What Feels Like You

Remember, the bottomline is that the perfect scent comes down to what feels right to you. You’re the one who’s going to be wearing the fragrance, so try your best to put the opinions of others aside.

Regardless of what is trendy or popular, you should make the choice that you are most comfortable with. We guarantee that when you’re wearing a smell you love, you’ll be able to move with more confidence than before.

Match Made in Heaven

Choosing a new fragrance can feel daunting, but in reality, it’s an exciting opportunity to consider your personality and style (not to mention how fun it is, too).

Now that you know how to navigate the process of discovering your signature scent, we’re confident that you’ll be able to find your match made in heaven.

Our main advice is to take risks, try new things, and trust your instincts. You know what you enjoy, whether that’s something familiar or brand new. 

Sources:

Stress Management | PubMed

Insight into how skin changes perfume | PubMed

Effects of odor on emotion, with implications | PMC

Aromatic hydrocarbons, Benzene, Cyclic compounds | Britannica