How to: Find a Signature Scent

By Instyle
Updated Oct 03, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Devon Jarvis

How to: Find a Signature Scent

Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Sarah Jessica Parker Covet

.

Don't know your tuberose from your patchouli? No matter. The best scents are the most personal, those you respond to instinctively and still love after a day on your skin.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Covet from Sarah Jessica Parker, $52/1.7 oz; at nordstrom.com.

Check out

Style 101 for more of what every stylish woman needs to know!

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Marc Jacobs Daisy

.

To find your signature, first get a sense of which family of fragrance appeals to you. You may gravitate towards fruity scents with sweet but refreshing citrus notes: Daisy from Marc Jacobs has notes of strawberry and red grapefruit.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Marc Jacobs Daisy, $55/1.7 oz; at neimanmarcus.com.

3 of 13

Estee Lauder Pleasures

.

Floral scents, like Pleasures from Estee Lauder, are the most popular perfumes, with notes of jasmine, rose, gardenia or hyacinth, among others.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Estee Lauder Pleasures, $65/3.4 oz; at saksfifthavenue.com.

Advertisement

4 of 13

Issey Miyake L'eau D'Issey

Devon Jarvis

Green scents (like L'eau D'Issey) are clean and energetic with bamboo, grass, pine or chamomile notes.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Issey Miyake L'eau D'issey, $84/3.4 oz; at dillards.com.

5 of 13

YSL Opium

Devon Jarvis

An exotic scent is more sweet and spice with notes like musk, vanilla or ginger. What's more exotic than Opium from Yves St. Laurent?

BUY ONLINE NOW
YSL Opium, $269/1 oz; at saksfifthavenue.com.

6 of 13

Estee Lauder Pure White Linen

Devon Jarvis

You'll also want to consider what intensity you want your perfume to pack: Something light (like Pure White Linen) is best if you work close to others; a stronger scent works for a night of clubbing.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Estee Lauder Pure White Linen, $35/1 oz; at esteelauder.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Intimately Beckham

.

Climate also matters. A basic rule of thumb is that the higher the temperature-and humidity-the lighter your fragrance should be. Intimately Beckham is a light option.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Intimately Beckham, $55/2.5 oz; at ulta.com.

8 of 13

L, L.A.M.B. Fragrance

Courtesy of LAMB

Take your time when shopping: spritz options on blotters if possible, then take a stroll while they dry. The top note, or opening burst, of a fragrance often bears little resemblance to its "dry down" (the way it smells after a few hours), so you'll want to whiff at intervals. L, by Gwen Stefani, has a fresh top note, but a base of musk.

BUY ONLINE NOW
L, a L.A.M.B. Fragrance by Gwen Stefani, $55/1.7 oz; at macys.com.

9 of 13

Fracas Robert Piguet

James Wade

As weird as it sounds, smelling something made of wool between moments of sniffing helps you clear your nasal palette. So bring a scarf or sweater the next time you test drive a scent like Fracas.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Fracas by Robert Piguet, $95/0.25 oz; at sephora.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps

Devon Jarvis

Work your perfume hunt into a few other shopping expeditions, since you don't want to try more than three scents at a time. Any more and the nose gets overwhelmed.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Nina Ricci L'Air du Temps, $42.29/3.3 oz; at fragrancenet.com.

11 of 13

Coco Mademoiselle

Devon Jarvis

If you think you may have found a favorite (like Keira Knightley's fave, Coco Mademoiselle), go back and try it on the inner wrist of your dominant hand-but don't rub wrists together, as friction alters the smell. Leave it on for several hours before you buy, since it takes time to ascertain how the notes will develop with your skin chemistry.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Coco Mademoiselle, $80/1.7 oz; at chanel.com.

12 of 13

Joy Jean Patou

Devon Jarvis

To gauge cost, know that most scents are a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients; the greater the percentage of things like jasmine and Bulgarian rose, the higher the price. Joy by Jean Patou has long been an expensive luxury.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Joy Jean Patou, $400/1 oz; at nordstrom.com.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

Chanel No. 5

Devon Jarvis

Classic fragrances like Chanel No. 5 can be purchased in a variety of forms. Eau de toilette and eau de cologne are cheaper options than perfume, since they contain smaller percentages of fragrance oil and higher percentages of ethyl alcohol.

BUY ONLINE NOW
Chanel No. 5, $155/0.5 oz; at chanel.com.

Check out

Style 101 for more of what every stylish woman needs to know!

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com