PERFUME GUIDE

Does your friend have an amazing perfume that doesn't smell as good on you as it does on her? It's probably because her skin chemistry is completely different from yours. The heart notes of all perfumes develop differently based on skin chemistry and hormones - some perfumes, so-called molecule perfumes, are even developed to be completely unique to the wearer. This is of course something to be aware of before buying a perfume without smelling it first. When choosing your new perfume, it is a good idea to do the following to find the right heart notes for you.

• 1. Think about the purpose of the perfume. Many people buy perfumes by season, with fresh floral notes being good for the spring and summer months and oriental heavy notes being good for the autumn and winter months. Others shop for their signature scent that will be a staple in their morning routine. Here it's important to choose a fragrance that truly complements you and represents your personality.


• 2. Whether it's a signature scent or a seasonal fragrance, choose a perfume that represents you and your values. You should be able to tolerate smelling the perfume for a whole day and be confident that it suits your personality. Of course, if you are environmentally conscious or allergic to perfume, they should also be reflected in your perfume, where there are many good choices, such as Ærlig's hypoallergenic perfumes.


• 3. Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette? The two different perfume variants are distinguished by their concentration of fragrance oils. Eau de Parfum has a much higher concentration of fragrance oils than Eau de Toilette. Therefore, an Eau de Parfume will for about 5-6 hours, whereas an Eau de Toilette will only last for about 3 hours. An Eau de Toilette is usually cheaper, but in the long run it is worth investing in an Eau de Parfum as they last longer and you use less product.


• 4. Apply a selection of perfumes to different test strips and leave them on for 5-10 minutes. It's fine to notice the top notes of the perfume, but allow the perfume to develop so that its heart notes emerge. This makes it easier to determine whether you'll like this particular perfume and minimises the risk of making an unfortunate purchase mistake.


• 5. Once you've found your favourite scents, try applying one or two perfumes to your wrists. Let them develop over the course of the day so that you can smell the top, heart and base notes. How do the scent notes change over time and which scent do you find yourself most drawn to during the day?

To get the most out of your perfume, both in terms of scent and longevity, here are some tips and tricks for proper storage and application:

Apply perfume to warm areas where the pulse point is closest to the skin, such as just below the jaw, wrists, elbows and chest. The warmth from these areas helps develop the heart notes of the perfume and makes the scent more distinct and inviting. Consider applying perfume to your hair by either giving it a single spray or spraying it on your hairbrush. The perfume will settle in your hair and create a fragrant aura around you.

Moisturise your skin before applying perfume to help the fragrance molecules bind better to the skin and last longer. This can be especially useful when using an Eau de Toilette to help the scent last longer. Avoid rubbing the skin where you have just applied the perfume, as this destroys the fragrance molecules and weakens the strength of the scent.

When it comes to storing your perfumes, make sure you keep them dry and dark, for example in a cupboard or in their original box. Avoid temperature changes and humidity, as these factors can damage the effectiveness of the perfume. It is therefore not optimal to store your perfume in the bathroom, although it is a very typical place to store them.

In theory, perfumes do not get too old and they run out more often than they exceed their lifespan, but improper storage can reduce the efficacy and durability of the perfume.