boisdejasmin.com: Perfumer and fragrance writer Victoria Frolova posts thoughtful reviews on perfumes, and a useful forum for fragrance lovers to post questions and share discoveries.
Buying perfume
- Spray fragrance on to a blotter card and take away with you. Eliminate any that don't feel like you until you are left with one or two. Try these on your skin, and review the scent over several hours before you pick your favourite. (Perfumier Roja Dove)
- Spray fragrance on clean skin in the morning, when your sense of smell is at its peak. The next day, smell your clothes to get an idea of the full depth of the perfume. (Linda Pilkington of Ormonde Jayne)
- Move out of the cosmetic department to get a better assessment of scent, away from competing fragrances.
- Take your time and if in doubt have a cup of tea. Try not to smell more than three at once, as you'll overload your senses. (Lyn Harris of Miller Harris)
- To prevent your nose gettting overwhelmed, smell the lighter, citrus fragrances first, then work you way up to heavier florals and musks. (Jo Malone of Malone Loves)
- Fashion brand H&M has extended its sustainably sourced Conscious clothing to inlcude fragrances. Exclusive Perfume Oils are made from Ecocert organic oils and sold in recycled glass bottles.
- The Body Shop Elixirs of Nature perfumes use ingredients from community-traded farms.
