Here’s a fun quiz! Would you rather experience the fragrance of an orange or a rose? A cupcake or the ocean? Pine trees or a cinnamon stick? The great news is there are no wrong answers!
It’s both exciting and daunting to embark on a quest to find favorite fragrances to fill your home and delight your soul. Think of it like choice paralysis. When everything is an option, how do you even start to narrow it down and choose something? How do you know what you like — and what you don’t like?
Arm yourself with a little knowledge, a sense of adventure and an open mind to navigate the fragrance landscape with confidence.
Fragrance 101
Fragrances are classified into distinct “families” based on their primary characteristic: citrus, fruity, floral, fresh, woods, bakery and spice. These fragrance families can give insight into your personal preferences and guide your exploration. For example, if you’ve always been compelled by florals and spices, chances are you’ll love a fragrance in one of these families.
Individual fragrances are blends of various aromatics, typically categorized into top notes, mid notes and base notes. Top notes provide the initial impression of a fragrance, mid notes (or heart notes) emerge once top notes dissipate, and base notes provide depth and stability and linger the longest.
Start slow
Resist the urge to try everything all at once! It will overwhelm your senses and add confusion to the search. Limit your exploration to about three fragrances at a time. Fully immerse yourself in each scent and appreciate the nuances. Consider trying out different fragrance systems to experience how scents evolve over time through their top, mid and base notes.
Record preferences
Another way to start narrowing down is to start with what you like and expand from there. Grab a notebook and create a fragrance journal. As you try out fragrances, take notes:
- What is it about this fragrance that I like?
- What is the first component I smell? What builds? What lasts?
- What emotions does this fragrance evoke?
- Do I enjoy the overall fragrance family or a specific note in this particular fragrance?
Use the information you record to inform what fragrance to try next! Or go the complete opposite direction and try something entirely different!
Bounce back
Don’t be afraid to revisit fragrances you’ve enjoyed in the past. Your attraction to a particular fragrance family or specific scent indicates a genuine preference. Take some time to deconstruct fragrance components and what captivates you. Ask yourself questions and explore individual notes that contribute to its allure.
Trial and error
Embrace the experimentation process. It’s an essential part of your fragrance journey. After all, fragrance preference is wholly subjective. So not every scent will resonate with you, and that’s OK! Use each experience as a chance to better refine your preferences and know what you like … and what you really don’t.
Engage experts
When you’re not sure what to do next, seek out an expert! Scentsy Consultants have a wealth of knowledge (and fragrance samples) about fragrance families and notes. They can tailor recommendations based on your preferences and quickly help you determine a few must-haves. Find a Scentsy Consultant here.
Finding a home fragrance you love is a journey of self-discovery as much as an exploration of your senses. Remember to trust your instincts, seek guidance when needed and, most importantly, enjoy the adventure! Share your best tips for finding a new favorite fragrance in the comments!
