Shop items just for your Type from dozens of online stores.

Join Lifestyle Lifestyle members sign in here
Back to results

What’s Your Type of Perfume?

 

A fragrance can perfectly capture the essence of who you are.

When selecting a fragrance keep in mind the following things:

1. Consider the keywords for your Type of Beauty

Type 1: Fresh, light, crisp, playful (Scents that are fruity, floral, sweet, fresh)

Type 2: Subtle, soft, muted, blended (Scents that are musky, powdery, soft floral)

Type 3: Rich, textured, warm, earthy (Scents that are spicy, oriental, woodsy)

Type 4: Clean, classic, bold, striking (Scents that are pure, clean, simple, deep)

2. Consider your favorite smells in nature and beyond!

In order to figure out if you like more light, fresh scents or spicier, earthier scents, just walk outside! Which of these do you tend to prefer?

  • Cinnamon
  • Citrus
  • Rosemary
  • Jasmine
  • The ocean
  • Lavender
  • Vanilla

Make a list of your favorite smells. It can be anything from clean laundry or freshly cut grass to campfires or lilacs! Your favorites might be all over the place, but it doesn’t matter. The point is to remember the scents that mean something to you so you can choose a perfume with similar notes.

3. Know the different formulas and applications

Eau de toilette and body sprays are less concentrated than perfume and would work well for Type 1 or Type 2, while perfume would be great for Type 3 and Type 4.

If you are sensitive to artificially scented perfumes consider using an essential oil. Reference the same tips to add a hint of fragrance.

Also you might consider layered application using lotion and/or oil when applying fragrance for depth and complexity. You could also choose a scented moisturizer for a more subtle scent.

4. Mix it up — or not

If you’re a Type 1 woman, you may prefer to have a variety of fragrances so you can mix it up frequently. It might even be fun to create your own unique “perfume cocktails” by mixing 2 or more scents together. On the other hand, if you’re a Type 4 woman, maybe you’ve been wearing the same scent every day for the last 5 years and it’s your signature scent!

If you’re a Type 3 woman, you may want to keep it practical and change your scent less often. If you’re a Type 2, maybe you have a small collection of scents you rotate depending on your mood.

5. Let the design of the bottle guide you

Often the design of the perfume bottle can be a dead giveaway as to what kind of scent you will find inside. For example, consider the animated bottle of “Daisy” by Marc Jacobs. The daisies on the cap and the bright gold touches match the light, floral Type 1 scent!

6. Try it on

Perfumes take on a unique scent once we’ve applied them to our skin. Anything from your diet, body temperature and other scented products you are using can affect the final scent of a product. The same fragrance may smell completely different on your friend! So, remember when testing perfumes to try it out on your skin and let it sit for awhile before making a final decision.

Perfume Recommendations:

Type 1: Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Miss Dior Cherie, Clinique Happy, Orange, Lemon, Peppermint essential oils

Type 2: Coco Mademoiselle, Ralph Lauren Romance, Viva La Juicy, Lavender or Ylang Ylang essential oil

Type 3: Calvin Klein Obsession, Beyonce Heat, Burberry Brit Rhythm, Sandalwood and Frankincense essential oil

Type 4: Chanel No. 5, Estee Lauder Beautiful, Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue, Cyprus, White Fir or Rose Essential Oils

Related Articles