Shopping for the perfect fragrance for yourself can be quite a task. It depends on the mood, personality, or preference that you desire. Whether it’s an everyday scent or for special occasions. There are a lot of things to think about and consider. And buying perfume online can be even more complicated. The biggest disadvantage is that you cannot smell what you are buying until it is delivered to your home.
Here is how to buy perfume online from expert advice:
1. Use your imagination
“You have to bring all your senses, memories, and imagination,” said Ixchel Leigh, author of Aromatic Alchemy and founder of Artisan Parfums. “If a fragrance has a scent of orange in it, remember your memory of that kind of orange. If it says that the fragrance evokes forests, imagine yourself walking through a forest and taking a deep breath. If you haven’t been in a forest, find an image or video of a large group of tall, healthy trees. Then, close your eyes and start breathing, imagining yourself in the middle of those trees. You will feel your body relax. Your shoulders drop. How do you feel when you smell a forest? Then, you will know what a forest smells like, even if you can’t pinpoint the fragrance.”
2. Know what you need and want
“When buying perfume online, ask yourself, ‘How do I want to smell? What emotion do I want to convey to others? What emotion do I want to feel? What do I want to achieve or create in my life?’” suggests Leigh. “Fragrance and scent can support your desires. Then, choose a fragrance that supports positive thoughts for you, a fragrance that brings you energy and supports your creative or spiritual goals.” You may also want to ask yourself these questions if you are also buying perfume online.
3. Communicate with the seller
This depends on the retailer’s communication channels, but you should ask questions if you can. “A big factor now that can make you feel comfortable shopping online is the ability to communicate with the seller,” said Ben Krigler of the legendary perfume house Krigler. “For example, Krigler has an online chat with consultants, but social media is also a good way to learn and communicate.”
4. Understand the notes and descriptions
Many online perfume descriptions have details about specific notes, so it can be helpful to know which scents will be stronger and which will be more subtle. Cat Chen, founder of Skylar explains, “Each perfume has notes about top, middle, and base. Top notes refer to what you ‘taste’ or smell first, these scents fade more quickly. The middle notes last a bit longer, and the base notes are the scents you detect last but linger the longest.”
5. Understand fragrance “families”
It can also be helpful to remember different fragrance “families,” which is the classification. Leigh lists a few popular ones, with examples of scents:
Floral: rose, jasmine, lavender
Herby: lavender, thyme, lemongrass
Woody: sandalwood, cedarwood
Citrus: orange, lemon, grapefruit
Spicy: cinnamon, clove, ginger
Fruity: pear, apple, peach
6. Consider the concentration of the perfume
You may have heard of eau de toilette, eau de parfum, and cologne, but what do those terms actually mean? Chen says, “Eau de parfum is stronger than eau de toilette,” she explains. “Many Skylar fragrances have the strength of eau de parfum, but we label them commonly as eau de toilette. Our fragrances have concentrations from 15% to 20% or 5% to 15%. Fragrance concentration is from 0% to 5%, so they are more subtle than usual. There is overlap between these types, and from a consumer standpoint, people don’t necessarily think about this technique.”
7. Focus on your favorites
While you can have adventures and try new things, if you stick to what you like, you likely won’t be disappointed. “I like to just focus on my personal preferences as a starting point for exploration. When a fragrance has three or more notes that I like in it, I know I’ll be a winner!” – beauty editor Courtney Higgs.
8. Order samples
If you’re not ready to dive in and commit to a full-size fragrance, you can check if the retailer has samples you can order. “There are more and more websites offering perfume samples,” said Krigler. “At Krigler, we started doing that from 2010 and it still continues now. It’s a modern way nowadays to continue the online ordering from the early 20th century.” Chen adds that Skylar also offers a sample pack for first-time users, which is helpful because sometimes product descriptions are not enough.
9. Remember that fragrance is also dependent on your body
In general, buy fragrance based on your personal preferences. But it’s important to note that the chemistry of your body can also be a big factor. “Fragrance develops together with your body chemistry, your pH,” explains Krigler. “You can’t plan how the fragrance will develop on your body. It can be great for one person and not for someone else.”
