Lowdown on perfume. How to choose the perfect scent.

Ever been at an intimate gathering, in a closed-in space? Maybe it's a cocktail party, or maybe a small group of friends, getting together to blow off some steam. Or maybe it's even a date, at a small cafe, squeezed into a tiny table with the man of your dreams....a tall, dark, and handsome man (not to sound cliche), that is funny, witty, and still a little bit exotic, and mysterious. You're in a dream-like moment, where it feels that nothing exists in this world, except for you and him, in this wonderful place. And suddenly, you smell it....an overwhelming stench, that gets stuck in your nose, to the point you can't smell or taste anything else. It's perfume--either cheap or VERY over-done perfume.  Then, you realize it's your perfume! You're the culprit! This can ruin any girl's night, because lace face it...no man wants to be gagged down by the overwhelming smell of bad perfume. It's violating, and sure to not land you another date with Mr. ahhhhhmazing. But, with my simple tips, you are sure to not let this happen. I will lead you in the right direction. 

Now, let's get started with some boring basics. There are 4 types of scents that you need to familiarize yourself with.

1)Eau de Cologne: 3-5% perfume oil, mixed with water. Lighter and refreshing scent. You can find a lot of these in drug stores, and are usually a little less expensive. They are fun for the summer time, for a splash of freshness.

2)Eau de Toilette: a slightly higher percentage of perfume oil, mixed with alcohol instead of water. This is a little stronger of a scent. My favorite choice of these is Barbie "Eau de Toilette" (Don't knock it until you try it/can't help I'm a Barbie girl)

3)Eau de Parfum: 15-18% perfume oil, mixed with alcohol. These are very common in department stores, such as Victoria's Secret. Also, a lot of times, stores will offer an Eau de Parfum choice, which is less expensive than the regular Parfum. My favorite is Victoria's Secret "Love Rocks". 

4)Parfum: Avg of 30% perfume oil, mixed with alcohol. It often comes in the smallest bottles, but costs the most money.


Now, that you know what different types of perfume there are, and can speak the lingo, let's move on to scent types. There are four scent types when dealing with perfumes: floral, fresh, oriental, and woody. In order to pick the one that compliments your skin the best, try them on the inside of your wrist, and walk around the mall with them for a few hours. Let them soak in, and see how your skin chemistry reacts with them. Of course, always start out with a clean canvas, that way you truly know how the particular scent you are choosing reacts with your body.

   

Good luck, and remember: Perfume can be the ultimate accessory, or the ultimate turn off, when the right scent is not chosen. Dont let your perfume make an entrance before you do!!