Do not ignore this. It is a vital part of refine grooming. Fragrance may be the last bit of accessory one puts on before meeting the world at large, but it is the world's first impression of you. And this happens on a daily basis.
Therefore, the point that is being driven here is; one does not want to the world to meet you gushing with the redolence of antiseptic pine soap. Not that there is anything wrong with pine as an aroma; apart from the friendly GP a the family clinic down the street, one does want to layer that singularly astringent note (perhaps with cedar and a touch of bergamot and geranium).
Selecting a fragrance suitable for the self is not rocket science. However, it is critical to choose the right one; also remember this - every individual skin chemistry is unique. What smells like the air of spring after a shower on your best mate might be the pong of dead rat on you. Fragrances are highly personal, so DO NOT buy one without trying it on your skin or worse, because someone tells you to do so (girlfriend, boyfriend, promoter at the mall, mum, dad... you get the picture).
An artist always start on a clean canvas in a room with good light; one should begin one's selection in the day, preferably morning, when your olfactory senses are at its sensitive and selective peak. Do so only after a good (non-fragranced) shower. You do not want any residual smell on your skin that may affect the ACTUAL smell of the fragrance on you.
Decide on the mood/impression/feeling you want the fragrance to speak about you. That is usually the impression you want to deliver about yourself. Communicate this with the sales person where necessary and possible.
Patience is a virtue. Smell the one's that appeal to you; either by name, design of bottle, description of fragrance etc, etc. Pick up the cap and have a whiff. DO NOT spray first. Chances are, if you do like the scent as it is on the cap, you would not like the fragrance. Period. Spraying the perfume then would affect the rest of the choices one may sample later and it is wise to minimise that.
When you come across a particular concoction that stands a chance ask for a sprayed sample on a stick of paper. They are readily available at the counter. If they do not even stock that, walk away immediately, do not look back. However, if you like what you smell on the sample blotter, it is still important to have it on your skin and see how the fragrance reacts to your skin chemistry - remember the unique skin chemistry theory? Your skin is DEFINITELY different to the paper.
Let the fragrance have a chance to work with you. This is a good time to talk about the layers of a fragrance. A typical fragrance begins with the head note; this is what you smell the first thing the fragrance is released. It is usually the lightest and lasts the shortest time.
As it warms to your skin, the heart note is released. Depending on your skin chemistry, temperature and metabolism, this might take 10 to 15 minutes to develop.
Finally, when all the layers have been exposed and revealed, we are left with the base notes; this is the layer that reveals itself last and will be the one that stays with you throughout the rest of the day. So it is important that one is REALLY comfortable with it.
From the head note to the base, it may a couple of hours, factor dependent (skin temperature, ambient temperature, metabolic rate, etc) for the fragrance to fully develop and bloom on you, so in reiteration, patience is a virtue.
Greed, on the other hand, is not. As mentioned earlier, our impression of a fragrance is influenced by the ones we experienced earlier. So, less is more - do not try more than two at once (three if you have no choice). Also, do not be shy to ask for coffee grounds to help you neutralise your olfactory senses - you breathe (not drink) in the coffee aroma. This has a cleansing effect on your nasal palate.
Finally, you've made you choice. Next comes the dilemma of purchasing. Should we go for bulk order or retail portions? Fragrances, preserved in alcohol will lose its potency within six months to a year. In hot and humid climate, this is reduced considerably. So decide based on the amount you'd use within that time frame. The smaller denomination is usually a wiser choice, so is storing the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight - all enemies of fragrances. That makes the bathroom the worse place to store them and the closet one of the best.
There you go! You are now ready to hit the mall to select a fragrance that announces to the world, "GET READY FOR ME!!". Have fun!
Next instalment: how to layer your fragrance.
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