As you already know, I love fragrances and all things smell related. I have a ton, more than I actually need, but I love all of the different scents, and can choose something different depending on my mood.
But what if you only want one? That one killer fragrance?
This is known as your signature scent. If you want to be known for a particular scent, this is how to pick out the best fragrance for you.
What Is A Signature Scent?
A signature scent is a fragrance which is that one stand out fragrance which you love. It’s something that defines you. It’s your go to bottle and when someone comes into contact with you, they’ll be able to identify you by your own great smell.
Finding a scent which you love enough to use exclusively can be a hard task, and can take time. On the other hand, it can be love at first sight.
The Different Styles Of Scents & Aftershaves
It’s important to know the different styles of scents and know the basics about notes before you get started. There’s a lot of styles out there, so here’s a brief explanation of each.
- Fresh Aquatic – Clean and easy to wear. Watery notes and usually inoffensive. If you love that clean smell, this is it.
- Citrus – Can be split up further into oranges and yellows. These can be zesty, fruity, tangy and sharp as well as soft.
- Green – Think of grass, marine, and rich green-like types of scents
- Floral – Everything from the flower ranges, this can be white flowers or something like violets
- Oriental – Spicy whether they’re light spices or heavy strong spice notes
- Smoky – Insense, tobacco and other smoky types of notes
- Woody – This can be strong dark notes like oud, or lighter soft woods like sandalwood
- Musky – The most manly of the scents. Musk, leathery and boozy types of notes
If you read about fragrances, you’ll probably find that many will have combinations of some of these notes. For example, you could have a woody/citrus style of scent, which will have notes from each of these families.
However, knowing the style of scent you like can help you discover what you’re looking for easier.
You’ll also want to know the difference between EDT and EDP. These are eau de toilette and eau de parfum. Principally, these denote the different strengths of the aftershave. However, they can also have different scents too, such as Bleu de Chanel EDT and Bleu de Chanel Parfum.
The next step is finding the style you like best.
Find The Fragrance Style You Like Best
There’s not a one-style-fits-all when it comes to fragrances. We all like different types of scents.
Some will opt for the more old school masculine scents, something musky, leathery or woody. Some will want a modern gentleman scent, still masculine but more refined.
Others may like something very light, such as a fresh aquatic scent.
You should find out which one of these styles you like the best, or that fits in with your life and lifestyle the best. Which brings us into the next point.
Find your favourite style of scent, then check out a few fragrances from that style and see which is a stand out smell for you.
Choosing A Scent That Best Fits Your Lifestyle
I love to categorise fragrances into different aspects of life. This is usually seasonally and also by day and night. For me, if there’s a scent perfect for a summer’s day, it’s probably not going to be perfect for a winter’s night.
You can check out the best fragrances by season here: Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter
Choosing the signature scent will mean you’ll want something which is well-rounded, and fits in with your life. It should also fit in with your own personality, so it matches your own style too.
If you only wear fragrances on an evening, then picking out one best suited for that would be the way to go. If you’re looking for an everyday office fragrance, you’ll be looking to choose the best for that setting.
How To Sample Fragrances Before You Buy
If you’re a fragrance novice or you don’t know what a particular scent smells like, it’s always better to sample a scent.
This can be as easy as going into the shop and spraying it on your arm.
You will get a good sense of what it smells like on your skin, and since you have 2 arms, you can try two at once!
You’ll also be able to gauge how long it lasts, and also what others think of the scent if you’re after a second opinion.
Another option would be to spray it on a card. This is commonly done in fragrance shops.
This is not as good, as fragrance can smell slightly different on a card than on the skin. However, it is better than nothing, and can still be very helpful.
A third and best option is to get a small sample bottle. Perfume stores usually give these away, although they can be in short supply.
This will give you a chance to try out the scent at home and at your leisure. You can even test it out in real world settings, such as wearing it to work, gym or night out.
Don’t Just Go With What’s Popular
Something which I have to mention is that you don’t need to go with a popular scent.
There’s plenty of popular and trendy scents, and most are popular for a good reason – They’re really good fragrances!
However, don’t be pressured into getting a scent just because it’s popular. Fragrances like Creed Aventus and Dior Sauvage are very popular, and I rate them very highly, however they’re not the only players in the game.
There’s tons of great scents out there for you to try. You’re looking for your own signature scent, not the one which everyone else is wearing.
It could be a mainstream popular scent, it could be an inexpensive one, or it could be something niche.
Verdict
Those are just some tips on finding your very own signature scent. The main takeaways from this are to find something which fits in with your own personality and lifestyle, and is a fragrance you love wearing.
You can of course check out my blog for some help. There’s 100s of fragrance reviews hopefully I can help you make a decision on what scent words best for you.
About Michael
Michael Adams is the founder and editor of Michael 84, blogger from Newcastle, UK. Sharing men's fashion tips, style advice and lifestyle information for all guys.
