Finding your signature scent can be a challenge. It’s not always easy to figure out which fragrances compliment your personality and style.
But don’t worry, with a little guidance you can easily identify the perfect fragrance for you. In this post, we’ll discuss how to find your signature scent using three simple steps.
So if you’re ready to discover your ideal fragrance, keep reading!
What Is A Signature Scent, And Why Do You Need One?
Your signature scent is the fragrance you wear that best represents your personality and style. It’s the one you feel most confident and comfortable wearing, and it’s the one people associate with you. Think of it as your own personal brand.
Many people like the idea of a signature scent to help make a lasting impression on those they meet. After all, it’s well known that scents trigger memories very strongly.
Feeling good about your choice of scent also makes you feel more confident and put-together, similar to how we feel when wearing a great (and flattering) outfit.
People will pick up on that.
So if you’re looking to make a good impression or just want to feel your best, finding your signature scent is a great place to start!
How To Find Your Signature Scent
Let’s move on to the three steps you can take to find yours.
Step 1: Determine Your Fragrance Preferences
This might sound a little obvious, but the first step to finding your signature scent is determining your fragrance preferences. This means figuring out which scents you like and which ones you don’t.
This isn’t about picking a scent yet, its about narrowing down the range. To do this, it’s helpful to start by taking stock of the fragrances you’ve worn in the past.
What did you like about them? What didn’t you like? Did you enjoy woody fragrances, or are florals more your thing? What about leather scents – do they give a masculine impression to you, or more “new car seats”?
Once you have a good idea of the types of fragrances you’re drawn to, you can begin exploring and testing new scents with confidence from a smaller range.
Step 2: Consider Your Personality and Style
The next step in finding your signature scent is to consider your own personality and style.
- Do you prefer big scents and bold outfits, or subtle scents and classic clothing?
- Do you like to make a big entrance, or be more subtle?
This will help determine if you should be considering a lighter fragrance like an Eau de Toilette, or whether a strong sillage is key to choosing your personal scent.
Step 3 – Test, Test, Test
Once you’ve determined your fragrance preferences and considered your personality and style, it’s time to start testing out different fragrances. This is the fun part!
But it’s also important to keep in mind that not every fragrance is going to be a good fit. So don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the perfect scent for you. Always ask for a sample before you commit to a full-sized bottle (or try out a subscription service like Scentbird).
Better yet, have a sample sprayed on your pulse points at a fragrance outlet. Make sure you start your day scentless (including no scented moisturizers) and go in with a specific style in mind (e.g. “I want to try something new, something with sandlewood as a base.”)
Make notes! What was it, where did you try it? What was the sillage like? What was it like after a few hours?
If you do this a few times, you will start to narrow down to a few styles you like, and then you can start thinking about buying some to try on a more regular basis.
Don’t overthink this. Before too long, you’ll have narrowed it down to something that speaks to you, and you can claim as your own signature scent!
Boss Move: How To Make Your Own Signature Scent By Layering Perfumes
We can’t all be like Audrey Hepburn and have perfumers creating scents just for us!
But if you’re confident in trying out new scents and taking a few risks, there is a way to create a scent that is truly unique to you.
The trick is to layer two perfumes (technically, “two or more”, but let’s not go crazy here) to create something unique.
How To Layer Perfume
When layering perfume, it’s important to start with the base notes and then build up to the top notes. This is how the professionals build up a scent and will ensure that the scent lasts longer and smells more cohesive.
Start with a perfume that has strong associations with base notes like vanilla, musk, or sandalwood.
Start by spraying this fragrance on your pulse points. Then, wait a few minutes for it to dry before applying the second fragrance. It’s important to be patient and give each layer time to dry before moving on to the next one.
Now add a scent more oriented toward the top notes. For a woody base for instance, this could be citrus notes or a floral with dominant notes of rose or jasmine.
Depending on the type of perfume you’re using, you may want to apply more than two layers. But as a general rule, two should be enough to create a unique and lasting scent. And who has time to wait for multiple layers to dry in the morning?
Mixing notes is an art as much as science. But if you know what you like, and you stick with layering simpler perfumes – you can create something no-one else is wearing.
Before You Go…
So there you have it! These are the steps to finding your signature scent. Let’s be clear though – it takes years to become a trained perfumer. Want to find out more? Check out our next article:
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FAQs
What Is A Signature Scent?
Your signature scent is the fragrance you wear regularly that best represents your personality and style.
What Happens When You Change Your Signature Scent?
If you find yourself wanting to change your signature scent, there’s no need to worry. This is perfectly normal! As you evolve and grow, your taste in perfume will likely change as well. So if you find yourself gravitating towards different types of fragrances, don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the (new) perfect scent for you.
Bonus Video
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