The ability to choose a perfume that perfectly reflects your personality requires true skills. Unfortunately, before you find the perfume that suits you best, you’ll have to try dozens of other fragrances. Luckily there are some tips and tricks out there that can help minimize the searching process and help you find a perfume you’ll never get tired of wearing.

Bright Side compiled some quick instructions that will help you navigate your way around a perfume shop and finally find the scent you’ve been looking for. There is also a bonus at the end of the article that will reveal several secrets about applying perfume correctly to get that long-lasting effect.

How to get ready to choose a perfume

Though it might sound strange, you should get yourself ready at home before going to a perfume shop. The searching process will go a lot smoother if you already know about the different types of aromas and which ones you prefer. Are you more privy to citrus, fruit or musk? Consider the following before stepping into a perfume shop:

How to correctly smell fragrances in a perfume shop

What does the long-lasting effect of a perfume depend on?

One of the things affecting the long-lasting effect of the perfume composition is the concentration of aromatic compounds. The higher it is, the richer the perfume is and the longer it will stay on your skin.

The long-lasting effect also depends on the notes that this composition has. Basically, aromas include 3 compounds:

Top notes are the notes we feel when we first smell a perfume. Most often, these are fresh and citrus scents. They usually last for 1 hour or less.

Middle notes (or heart notes) are defined by the way the fragrance unfolds. Fruit, water and flower scents are typical elements of this group.

Base notes determine how long a perfume will last. Moreover, they are considered to be the core of any fragrance that gives the scent its depth. Usually, they are made up of animal and musk scents.

The base for citrus and fresh scents is usually light which makes the perfume not so long-lasting, while musk and animal scents have a heavier base, making this kind of perfume stay on your skin longer.

How to apply perfume correctly

How do you usually choose perfume? Which fragrances do you like most? Please tell us about it in the comments!

Preview photo credit Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO/EAST NEWS, EAST NEWS