AD. Finding a scent that makes you feel like the best version of yourself can be really difficult. With so many different scents and fragrance notes available it can feel highly overwhelming. But don't fear!... With the help of Arosmic perfume I'm giving you the lowdown on how to find your signature scent and decode different perfume notes.
How to choose the right fragrance notes
In order to find your perfect perfume you must first understand fragrance notes and the parts they play in making up your scent. It's something that can feel overwhelming (admittedly I used to find fragrance choice really daunting) but hopefully this article will make things a little easier for you.
What are fragrance notes?
Let's start with the basics shall we. Fragrance notes are the different scents that make up your perfume. They're categorised into three groups, top notes, mid notes and base notes.
Top notes
Top notes (often described as head notes) are the scents you initially smell once a perfume is spritzed. These play the role of giving the perfume its first impression.
These scents usually linger for around 15 minutes or so before evaporating making way for the mid notes and base notes. Because of this they're usually lighter scents such as citrus or floral odours.
Mid notes
The job of the mid (or heart) note is to retain some of the top not scents whilst giving something a little deeper. Mid notes also act as a buffer for base notes (which may not smell as appealing on their own).
Mid notes make up the majority of your perfume and include more hearty scents such as lemongrass, neroli and jasmine.
Base notes
And last but by no means least, base notes. These are the foundation of your perfumes scent and can last six hours or more after application.
Popular base notes include deeper scents such as woody fragrances, musk or vanilla.
How do you identify fragrance notes?
So how do we identify fragrance notes? It can feel mind boggling at first, but the easiest way to know which scent reflects which note is by the amount of time it lasts. Top notes are those you smell straight away, making way onto mid notes, finishing on base notes.
- Top notes - Up to 15 minutes from application
- Heart notes - 15 - 60 minutes from application
- Base notes - 1 - 6 hours from application
Each fragrance note brings its own sense of wow to your scent. Some common scents include fresh, fruity, spicy and musk: Each which are typically used in specific note categories. For example fresh and floral usually make up top notes whereas musks and woody fragrances typically make up base notes.
Let's look at a few more scent notes in depth.
Floral fragrance notes
Floral fragrance notes add a touch of nature to your scent. They're often used as top notes and can be mixed with other notes for a more deep, impressive scent. You could opt for a fruity floral such as ylang ylang or keep things more fresh and traditional with jasmine scents.
Fruity fragrance notes
Fruity scents are often used as mid notes as they blend really well with other fragrances. Choosing the right fruit however is crucial. Blackberry for example gives a deeper more musky scent compared to citrus which gives a more fresh, juicy vibe.
Spicy fragrance notes
Spicy notes are used to add depth to a fragrance. Cinnamon can add spice with a bit of sweetness whereas rosemary has herbal more fragrant scent.
Wood fragrance notes
Sandalwood and patchouli are two woody fragrance notes you'll find a lot in perfumes. Whilst most woody scents give your perfume a more Earthy vibe, scents like cedarwood and oud have a certain sweetness to them.
Musk fragrance notes
The richness of a musk means it's typically used as your perfumes base note. Different types of musk, ie: cashmere or black musk, add unique traits to your fragrance.
Tips for finding your perfect perfume
Fragrance notes play an important role in picking your perfect perfume. The composition of different notes and how they react with your skin is what makes your perfect perfume unique to you.
Since there are so many different fragrance notes and compositions it's understandable if you feel overwhelmed. It can be tricky knowing how to choose perfume, so let's try and make things a little easier.
1. Don't try too many perfumes in one go
The worst thing you can do when trying to source your signature perfume is try too many scents. By trying a limited amount you'll get a truer, less interrupted sense of the scent. This means your decision will be much more easily made.
2. Get your head around fragrance notes
Understanding fragrance notes or finding your scent profile is imperative for narrowing down initial perfume choices. You need to think about which scents you'd like your perfume to hold on to. Which types of mid and base notes do you want your perfume to have?
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help or recommendations
Whether your fragrance shopping IRL or online it's always worth asking for help. If you need some starting inspiration utilising store assistants is your best bet. It's what they know best and I'm sure you'll be pointed in the right direction. Furthermore if you're in a difficult position narrowing a few down, having an outside opinion can be crucial.
4. How does the scent make you feel?
When trying different scents it's worth asking yourself two questions: How does the scent make you feel? And how do you want the scent to make you feel? The epitome however is that you want your perfume to feel like you! When trying different scents you'll know in your gut whether it's the right fragrance for you.
Discover Arosmic Perfume
Arosmic believe that smell is nostalgic and can transport our minds to specific memories, people and places. Scent has the power to make us feel good and leave a lasting impression. And what's so brilliant about Arosmic is that they feel this should be financially accessible to all.
Whilst still sourcing premium ingredients Arosmic offer impeccable fragrances at affordable prices. They reformulate our favourite perfumes whilst ensuring we're not breaking the bank paying for them. Win, win right?
Inspired by designer scents
Each Arosmic perfume is inspired by a designer scent. If you have a particular designer scent you enjoy it's quite easy to decipher as Arosmic perfumes all have similar names. Space girl for example is inspired by alien, and she rich by lady million.
I was kindly sent a bundle of Arosmic perfumes to try out and give my honest review. Let's dive in:
Arosmic - Good gal
Good gal is inspired by very good girl. It feels feminine yet funky and lively. To me it's the perfect day to night perfume. It's an easily wearable scent which is just as perfect for the office as it is for drinks with the girls. Good gal makes me feel all spritely and positive!
- Top notes - Redcurrant & lychee
- Mid notes - Rose
- Base notes - Vanilla & vetiver
Arosmic -Dark opium
Inspired by black opium, this fragrance has an irresistible scent that I know will appeal to so many. It's sexy, it's awakening, it's one for when you want to feel like the baddest version of yourself. Dark opium is a multifaceted scent and a must have for ultimate luxury.
- Top notes - Pear, pink pepper & orange blossom
- Mid notes - Coffee, jasmine, bitter almond & liquorice
- Base notes - Vanilla, patchouli, cashmere wood & cedarwood
Arosmic - Cherry
Cherry is a deliciously powerful scent inspired by lost cherry. Fruity top notes and heart notes are at the forefront, backed up by a warmer, woodier background. Cherry is a really great transformative scent which gives so much more than its name suggests.
- Top notes - Bitter almond, black cherry & licquoir
- Mid notes - Sour cherry, plum, Turkish rose & jasmine
- Base notes - Roasted tonka beans, sandalwood, vetiver & cedarwood
My review of Arosmic perfume
I personally find perfume shopping really difficult. And it's not because I don't know what I want, because I do. I just think it's really difficult to find a good one. Or a good one which doesn't break the bank anyway!
But I've found them with Arosmic!
I absolutely love all three Arosmic perfumes. Good gal and cherry feel more wearable to me however I can't deny how badass dark opium makes me feel. But for me, it's the longevity (and price) that really makes these perfumes winners. I can apply before doing the school run, and I can still smell the sweet scents of Arosmic perfumes come 3 o'clock when it's time for pick up. I don't know if it's just me, but I find a lot of scents don't really hang around. These ones certainly do!
These perfumes currently retail at £26.99 for 100ml and £15.99 for 50ml, which I think is brilliant. They're much more affordable than their designer predecessors. And they smell incredible!
From the three Arosmic perfumes I recieved, which one tickles your fancy the most? What are your go to fragrance notes?
I recently revolutionized my husband's scent choices as he used to just grab any old thing and go with that. To me, he has a certain natural smell that is woodsy and suit things that bring that out. If you can find something that compliments and brings out your natural scent it can be amazing! Thanks for this information, it was so helpful!
Thanks for sharing lovely!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
I love how classic these bottles look and how the notes change based on how long it's been on your skin x
I always try to leave it a few days when I'm using scents. I like to let one settle in, before trying another. At the moment I'm living for pear from a local seller!
You know what, I've never really understood fragrance notes so this has been really helpful and made it make much more sense, so thank you! I like quite masculine scents, woody, musky, although I am a sucker for something fruity and citrussy too!
ok yess this perfume brand have somehow slipped below my radar and I am kicking myself for it! They sound amazing, love the packaging and love the sound of these scents!
Rosie