How to find your signature scent

Your scent will always announce your presence, hence why it is important to have a signature scent that is unique to you. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Perfumes were used in burial ceremonies especially for the royals and high profile people in the society
  • It enhances your image and personality and notifies every one of  your presence
  • During this season of love, here is a proper guide of different scents that you can wear to attract or gift your partner

We all want a signature scent. Whether we are heading to the office or for a hot date, there is nothing as striking as smelling good.

You might wonder why a person owns one to three different types of perfumes in their closet or would invest in one of those expensive designer perfumes. It enhances your image and personality and notifies every one of your presence. 

Did you know that in Ancient Egypt, perfumes were used as a tool for social status and elegance? They were used in burial ceremonies especially for the royals and high profile people in the society.

In ancient Egypt, Queen Cleopatra would fill her ship with many roses that were enough to submerge herself in. She did this on her way to meet her love Antony so that she could create an ineradicable image of herself.

The enchanting smell of the roses would depict her beauty and to create a memorable atmosphere.

This is until the Persians came and took up the culture and used perfumes for people it political status and thereafter the Greeks and Romans took up the culture and made it as a form of art.

During this season of love, here is a proper guide of different scents that you can wear to entice or gift your partner.

FRAGRANCE NOTES

Your scent will always announce your presence, hence why it is important to have a signature scent that is unique to you.

Fragrance notes are the ingredients that make up a fragrance. They are classified into three; Top notes, middle notes and base notes.

Top notes also known as head notes are the scents that we first sense after wearing a perfume. These are more notable in fresh or citrus scents such as lemon and floral scents such as rose and lavender.

Middle notes and base notes of a fragrance provide the depth of a fragrance. These are what we smell after the top notes which commonly die out after two hours.

Base notes will last up to six hours and are associated in bringing out a lasting impression since they can last on the skin for longer hours.

These notes are associated with woody scents such as sandal wood.

EXOTIC FLORAL SCENTS

Floral scents will bring out a more natural feel and most commonly referred to as the “good girls “in the world of fragrance. They have a chic appeal and they can be worn to church, date night and even an outing with the girls.

Because of its light touch, these fragrances bring out the beautiful summer vibes and are the best when worn during the day.

As many would say, floral fragrances   have a feminine look which is not entirely true since floral scents can also be worn by men and still bring about an essence of elegance.  These fragrances are still highly ranked as the top fragrances of all time.

Floral fragrances as the name goes are scents from the flowers. Most of the commonly known fragrances are made from roses, jasmine, lilies, violets, lavender, gardenia and frangipani.

It is highly recommended to wear a blend of a fruity and floral scent.

Eau De Chanel, Miss Dior, Dolce and Cabana, Jo Malone London, Shisiedo, Obsession by Calvin Klein, Youth Drew by Estee Lauder are examples of exotic floral scents.

DEEP WOODY SCENTS

Just as the name suggests woody scents, give a simple feel from the woods. This type of fragrance will give warm dry and leathery notes.

Woody scents can not only be used the men by also the women but they have to be very choosy. If blended well, woody fragrances can be long lasting.

Obtained from barks and stems of sandalwood, patchouli, pine, cedar, rosewood and vetiver can be used together with other scents because of their deep base notes.

Because of their warm feel, woody scents can be worn during the winter season. The fragrance can last through the whole night and can be worn to a date night or even an office meeting.

Examples: Paco Rabanne One Million, Oud Wood by Tom Ford, Givenchy Gentlemen, Guilty by Gucci, Splendid Wood by Yves Saint Laurent.

BREEZY FRESH SCENTS

Fresh fragrances are assimilated to nature and the smell of the fresh oceanic breeze with a bit of some minty effect.

These scents emit light fragrance notes of citrus, greenery, oceanic breeze and some fruity sub families such as lemon with some sharp sweet fragrance.

These fragrances are good for the summer season; maybe a day at the beach, going to church or even a pool party.

Lovers of fresh fragrance can go for Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel Eau Fraiche among many others that are trending in the market.

ORIENTAL SCENTS

When we think of oriental scents, a spark of spicy herbs and the sweet essence of frankincense. With many of these scents associated with the deep exotic of femininity, richness, elegance and sensuality.

The major sub families are spicy, florals, vanilla and musky scents.

Lovers of oriental scents should definitely try; Black opium by YSL, Code by Armani, Boss by Hugo Boss, Angel by Mugler among many others

MUSKY SCENTS

Musky scents are an extra ordinary category of scents because of its source of extraction. Musky scents can be described as an earthy, animalistic and spicy.

Fragrances which emit a musky scent are created from an ingredient called Musk.

Musk is a perfume ingredient that is extracted from the anal gland of a male musk deer. A male deer will secrete musk so that it can attract a female deer to cuddle with them.

As outrageous as it sound, a musky fragrance can be detected from far because of its strong and sweet aroma. Having base notes, musky fragrances can last on the skin for long hours.

Some of the musky fragrances in the market right now include Emotions by Rasasi , Dolce & Gabbana's Feminine, Kiehl’s Original Musk, Royal Copenhagen Musk and many others.

SPICY SCENTS

Popular in the Middle East , Spicy perfumes are made from spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, pepper and  mixed with oriental materials such woods to form distinct fragrance notes.

Some trendy spicy scents that we can’t ignore are MIU MIU, Coco Chanel, Cinnabar by Estee Lauder, Clinique Aromatics In White .