Scentsational!

“The good news is that there are no rules anymore,” says Sue Phillips, CEO and founder of Scenterprises and Sue Phillips Fragrance.

Whether you’re feeling floral or woodsy, preferring an aroma akin to a fruit or simply a scent that is fresh, the key to choosing a fragrance that’s right for you is, well, you. “It’s all about your personality, your individuality and how those categories or fragrance families can really enhance and reflect [them],” Phillips explains. Below are her suggestions about the best ways to choose a fragrance.

Know What’s Available

It helps first to know what fragrance families exist. Phillips has broken down the categories into fresh, floral, fruity, woodsy and spicy. A fresh fragrance will have bright, exuberant notes, like “tangy, citrusy, sparkling notes with lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, Mandarin, fresh-cut grass and watery notes,” she says. Florals will range from fresh to heavy, with lighter florals like freesia and heavier florals like gardenia. Fruity fragrances encompass everything from juicy, youthful watermelon to luscious, exotic pomegranate. Woodsy scents, Phillips says, will remind you of communing with nature, including cedarwood, sandalwood and patchouli. Spicy scents include actual spices like cinnamon, but also warm vanilla and amber.

Know Yourself

The first key to choosing a fragrance is to think about your lifestyle, Phillips says. If you enjoy the great outdoors, for example, you may be interested in lighter, fresher, citrus-inspired fragrances. If you’re happiest at a place like the opera or the ballet, Phillips says, you may long for something creamier and more sensual. Also think about your favorite flavors, color palette, clothing choices and even when you like to wear perfume — for example, do you prefer lighter scents for the day and a more romantic fragrance for the evening hours?

Mix And Match

Ultimately, you want a fragrance that’s unique to your needs and desires, one that suits you, Phillips says. Avoid navigating directly to a brand, and instead follow your nose. Don’t be afraid to choose more than one scent, either. As already explained, your fragrance needs may change depending on the time of day, whether it is the weekend or if you are relaxing at home or at the office. “You’re not going to wear the same clothes during the day as you are going on a date at night,” Phillips says, so choose perfume that works the same way. “Think about the occasion, the time of day and about how you want to feel.”