In a world where first impressions are everything and confidence is the only currency that matters, wearing the right perfume can be a game-changer for men. But wearing perfume is not as simple as buying the first fragrance on the aisle and spritzing it on your pulse points. Your fragrance should be an extension of your personality and leave a trail of you wherever you go.
So, if you’re ready to find your signature scent, then you’re at the right place. In this guide, we will break down the steps to choosing the right perfume for men that will help you identify the perfect scented bottle that smells just like you want to.
1. Decoding Fragrance Families
Let’s start with the basics. Fragrance families are nothing but olfactory groups into which all perfumes can be placed. There are four primary scent families floral, fresh, woody and oriental. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Floral: Floral isn’t just for women! Floral scents like jasmine, ylang ylang and rose can be surprisingly sophisticated even for men’s perfumes.
- Fresh: If you’re into crisp and energising scents, then you’ll love perfumes with citrus or aquatic notes.
- Woody: Featuring notes like sandalwood, cedarwood and oak, these scents are earthy, rich and warm.
- Oriental: Want something exotic to spice up your fragrance game? Oriental fragrances blend spicy notes like vanilla, cinnamon and amber for a warm kick.
2. Determining Your Scent Profile
Now that you have an understanding of fragrance families, finding out your personal scent will be a lot easier for you. This will ultimately help you narrow down your options. Start by thinking about the kind of fragrance you like. Are you drawn towards fresh and citrusy scents or do you lean towards dark and spicy perfumes? While light, zesty fragrances are ideal for daily, daytime wear, a rich, woody scent is suitable for evening soirees.
If you’re a busy man who wants to keep things light and breezy during the day but come night, you’re all about dark and mysterious scents, then look for fragrances for him with versatile notes. For instance, the Blue Musk Eau de Toilette from The Body Shop is a perfect blend of fresh and woody notes that seamlessly transition from day to night.
3. Understanding Fragrance Notes
Every perfume has three fragrance notes: top or opening notes, middle or heart notes, and base or final notes. Let’s understand them in more detail:
- Top notes: These are the initial scents that you smell right away after spraying the perfume. The opening notes are usually bright and fresh but don’t last long.
- Middle (or heart) notes: The heart notes emerge once the top notes have faded. They form the core of the fragrance and last for about 4-6 hours.
- Base notes: The final notes are what give the perfume its lasting power. They are usually rich and deep, like sandalwood, amber, or musk.
4. Assessing Longevity
It’s also important to consider how long the perfume will last. The longevity of a perfume is determined by the concentration of perfume oils in it. Men’s fragrances can be broken down into the following based on longevity:
- Parfum: Parfum or pure perfume has 20-30% fragrance oils, making them the most concentrated and long-lasting type of fragrance.
- Eau de Parfum: EDP has a 15-20% concentration of perfume oils and lasts from morning till evening.
- Eau de Toilette: At 5-15% concentration of fragrance oils, EDT lasts for about 4-6 hours.
- Eau de Cologne: EDC has the least concentration of fragrance oils and needs to be reapplied for consistent fragrance.
5. Trying Before Buying
Once you’ve shortlisted a few perfumes based on their fragrance family, notes and longevity, it’s time to put them to the test. Whether you decide to buy men’s perfume online or in-store, trying the fragrance is a must. If you’re buying at the store, use testers. If you’re ordering online, you can try minis or samples. Take your time with these perfumes, wear them for a day and see which feels like you in a bottle.
Fragrance for All
No matter what kind of a man you are, sporty, mysterious or funny, there is a perfume out there for you. By understanding fragrance families and notes, determining your preferred scent profile, assessing longevity and testing thoroughly, you can find “the one.” So, get ready to put all this knowledge to the test and find the fragrance that feels right for you.
