Katrina Rosales
When it comes to testing perfume samples, it's important to take your time and trust your senses. Start by avoiding wearing any other fragrances, as these can interfere with your ability to accurately perceive new scents. Instead of spraying directly on your skin, opt for tester strips or blotters—absorbent, porous papers that allow perfumes to be quickly absorbed, providing an accurate reading of the fragrance. Narrow down your favourites, and then test them on your skin, as the same scent can smell different on different people. Wait at least 30 seconds for the scent to settle, and then take a sniff. You can also ask for small samples to take home, allowing you to experience the perfume over time and in different environments. Remember, the key is to enjoy the experience and find a scent that truly resonates with you.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fragrances to test | 3-4 |
| Testing method | Tester strips, then skin |
| Coffee beans | Used to cleanse the olfactory palate between tests |
| Time between tests | 30 minutes |
| Time spent in-store | 10-15 minutes |
| Time of day to test | Morning |
| Number of scents the brain can discern | 3 |
| Where to test | Wrist or back of the hand |
| Number of sprays | 2 |
| Wait time after spraying | 30 seconds - 30 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Use tester strips to narrow down your options
Tester strips are a great way to sample perfumes without spraying them directly on your skin. They are especially useful when you want to compare several perfumes or assess their longevity.
When using tester strips, it is important to hold the strip away from you when spraying the perfume. Avoid soaking the strip by spraying once or twice from a distance. If you are testing multiple fragrances, it is important to keep the number of sprays consistent across all strips to accurately compare their concentrations. Allow the alcohol to evaporate for a few seconds before bringing the strip under your nose. Do not touch the strip to your nose, as this will leave a trace of perfume that can interfere with subsequent tests. Instead, sniff the strip lightly and set it aside. You can smell the strip every hour to experience the complete fragrance cycle, including the top, heart, and base notes.
You can make your own tester strips using paper or cardboard. Some people cut strips from notepads, A4 paper, or watercolour paper, while others use card stock or index cards for a heavier option. However, be aware that some papers may have a strong smell that can interfere with the scent of the perfume.
While tester strips are a convenient way to sample perfumes, it is important to remember that perfumes react uniquely with the warmth and natural oils of your skin. Therefore, it is recommended to test perfumes on your skin after narrowing down your options with tester strips.
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Test on skin to see how it blends with your body chemistry
Testing perfume on your skin is an important step in the sampling process. While paper strips can give you an initial idea of how a perfume smells, testing it on your skin will reveal how it blends with your body chemistry. Body chemistry has a major effect on fragrances, and the same scent can smell very different on different people.
When testing perfume on your skin, it's best to limit yourself to a few fragrances to avoid olfactory fatigue. Start by spraying the perfume on your wrist and wait at least 20 minutes before smelling it again. This will give you a sense of the middle note, or heart note, of the fragrance. If you still like the scent after 20 minutes, wait another 40 minutes to an hour to get a true reading of the base note and how the perfume interacts with your body chemistry.
It's worth noting that your choice of fragrance may also send out subconscious genetic signals to potential mates. According to a 2001 study, people tend to prefer fragrances that complement their major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which is part of their immunogenetic profile. By choosing a perfume that blends well with your body chemistry, you may be signalling to potential mates that you have a strong immune system.
To get the most out of the sampling process, it's recommended to shop for perfume in the morning, as our sense of smell is at its peak then. Additionally, avoid buying a fragrance after smelling it in a store for the first time, as the top notes can be deceiving. Instead, ask for samples to take home and test the fragrances over time to get the full evaluation of how they work with your body chemistry.
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Avoid olfactory fatigue by taking breaks between scents
Olfactory fatigue, also known as odor habituation, is the temporary inability to distinguish a particular scent after prolonged exposure to it. In the context of perfume sampling, olfactory fatigue can occur if you spend too much time smelling fragrances. Your nose will quickly become blind to the individual components in the various compositions, and you won't get an accurate perception of the scents.
To avoid olfactory fatigue, it is recommended to limit your perfume testing session to around 10-15 minutes. You can also take breaks between scents to give your nose a rest and prevent overstimulation. During your testing session, limit the number of scents you test to three at a time, as the brain cannot discern between more than three.
If you are testing multiple fragrances, it is a good idea to take breaks and step away from the testing area to get some fresh air. This will help reset your sense of smell and prevent olfactory fatigue. You can also try smelling coffee beans or lemon slices between scents, as these are believed to act as nasal palate cleansers that can reduce the effects of olfactory adaptation.
Additionally, it is important to remember that the same fragrance can smell different on different people due to body chemistry. Therefore, it is recommended to test fragrances on your skin rather than solely relying on tester strips. However, if you are testing many fragrances, it is advisable to use tester strips first to narrow down your options before testing your favourites on your skin.
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Try different perfume families to avoid scent overlap
When testing fragrances, it's important to try different perfume families to avoid scent overlap and olfactory fatigue. Fragrance families are a way of classifying scents into olfactory groups, each with distinct characteristics. This helps tell them apart and makes it easier for perfumers to layer different scents.
There are four primary scent families: woody, floral, amber (previously known as oriental), and fresh. The woody family includes warm and opulent scents, mixing incense-like fragrances such as sandalwood and patchouli with drier notes like cedar. The floral family, commonly used in women's perfumes, smells like fresh-cut flowers or has a powdery note. Amber or oriental fragrances include herbs, spices, and dry, powdery resin notes, often described as sensual and exotic. The fresh family is characterised by zesty, aromatic, citrusy, or oceanic notes, perfect for brightening up warm summer days or dull winter ones.
To explore different fragrance families, you can refer to the Fragrance Wheel, a circular diagram illustrating the four primary scent families and their corresponding subfamilies. Side-by-side subfamilies on the wheel are most similar and likely to blend well together. For instance, soft oriental complements citrus, and oriental complements water. You can also select three subfamilies that create a triangle on the wheel, which will complement each other nicely.
When testing fragrances, limit yourself to three scents at a time, as the brain cannot discern between more than three effectively. Additionally, don't spend more than 10-15 minutes in a store smelling fragrances, as your nose will quickly become desensitised to the individual components. Instead, use tester strips to find the fragrances you like, and then test them on your skin. You can ask for samples to try at home, allowing you to evaluate how the perfume interacts with your body chemistry over time.
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Take samples home to test in an odour-free environment
Testing perfume samples at home in an odour-free environment is a great way to truly evaluate a fragrance. When testing perfumes in-store, your nose can quickly become overwhelmed, and you may experience nasal fatigue or olfactory fatigue. This can cloud your impression of the samples, so testing at home gives your nose a break and lets you take your time.
You can ask for a few free samples at the fragrance counter, or buy decants to test at home. Paper tester strips are also freely available in-store, so you can take a few home to test. When testing, hold the strip at least an inch or two away from your nose, and avoid touching the strip with your nose.
At home, you can start by spraying the samples on paper strips, then narrow down your favourites to test on your skin. When spraying on your skin, direct the spray towards your pulse points, like your wrist or the back of your hand, as these areas are naturally warm. Avoid applying lotion to the testing area, as this can influence the scent.
After spraying, allow the fragrance to dry naturally and develop over time. Avoid washing your wrists or applying other fragrances during the testing period. You can periodically take a sniff to note how the scent changes and develops over time.
It's best to test fragrances earlier in the day, as our sense of smell is usually sharpest in the morning. You can also note down your reactions to each perfume to track your sampling journey.
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Frequently asked questions
Hold the paper (or blotter) at least an inch or two away from your nose, pause, close your eyes, and inhale.
Limit yourself to testing three scents at a time. Take a break of a few minutes between testing each set of three.
Spray the perfume on your wrist or the back of your hand and wait at least 30 seconds for the scent to settle. Once it has started to dry, bring your hand up and inhale. Wait another 15-30 minutes before smelling it again to see how the perfume interacts with your body chemistry.
