Perfume can be just as big a part of a woman's style as the clothes, shoes, and accessories that she wears. Fragrances can be classic, they can be stylish, and they can even be daring. The only thing that a perfume should never be is boring, which is why it is important for a woman to do a little bit of searching to find the perfume that is right for her.
There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing women's perfume. Many women switch up their perfumes depending on the season. Other women might have an entire arsenal of perfumes at their disposal, allowing them to pick and choose their ideal fragrance depending on the occasion. However a woman chooses the perfume that she will wear, there are several things that she can consider to ensure she has made the right choice.
Understanding the Varieties of Perfume Aromas
In general, perfumes can be divided into a few main categories. These categories are organized by the aromas that feature most prominently. A single perfume may belong to more than one category, depending on the ingredients it contains.
Floral Perfumes
Floral perfumes are among the most common in the industry. However, the floral perfumes in production today are not the classic florals that may remind women of their mothers and grandmothers. The new floral fragrances on the market include everything from rose notes and notes of violet to gardenia, lily, and much more. Floral perfumes are oriented toward the woman who prefers tradition and classic style.
Woody Perfumes
Wood notes have long been confined to the world of men's colognes. However, an increasing number of women's perfumes are seeing oak, cedar, and other woods used to create distinctive scents. Woody perfumes are often blended with other natural aromas, such as light florals or green fragrances. Woody perfumes are perfect for the no-nonsense woman who still wants to retain a feminine edge.
Spicy Perfumes
Just because an aroma originates in one's spice drawer doesn't mean it can't be high class. Spicy perfumes containing notes of everything from nutmeg to cinnamon can create a sense of exoticism that is particularly appealing to those who enjoy warmth and comfort and just a little bit of pizzazz. These spices are often combined with other fragrances such as musks and natural essential oils.
Green Perfumes
Fresh, green perfumes evocative of leaves or freshly cut grass appeal to the senses in a number of different ways. These aromas are invigorating and refreshing, and can be great for the woman who prefers a simple and clean perfume as opposed to the more complex perfumes available on the market.
Fruity Perfumes
The notes in fruity perfumes can range from sweet cherry and pear to pineapple, coconut, and mango. Fruity perfumes offer a light aroma that easily blends with different florals to create a scent that is truly refreshing. Fruity perfumes are among the most common in the perfume market, and are especially ideal for younger women.
Citrus Perfumes
Citrus perfumes fall within their own category due in large part to the unique sharpness of their scents compared to other fruity aromas. Citrus perfumes are invigorating, refreshing, and clean. They can either be combined with synthetic fragrance ingredients to create one-of-a-kind aromas or combined with natural fragrance ingredients such as rose for something more on the classic side.
Oceanic Perfumes
These perfumes, created with synthetic fragrance ingredients, bring to mind the coolness and crispness of an ocean breeze. They may attempt to capture the aroma of freshly clean linen or the mountain air. The key words with oceanic perfumes are "clean and fresh." That makes this type of perfume perfect for casual events as well as for business wear.
Oriental Perfumes
Containing strong musk notes, oriental perfumes bring to mind the ancient exoticism of the old world. Containing notes of classic aromas such as ambergris and musk, oriental perfumes are often blended with floral aromas to create great scents that are sensual as well as classic.
Choosing a Perfume by Season
Many women choose the type of perfume they will wear based on the season.
- For spring - women should choose fresh and invigorating aromas. Florals are perfect throughout spring, while fruity and citrus aromas can help bring to mind the approaching warm weather months.
- For summer - women can choose green perfumes that capture the freshness and warmth of the season, as well as oceanic perfumes that are pleasant, fresh, and clean. Some woody perfumes can also be a good choice, though it is best if they tend toward the lighter side.
- For fall - women can begin choosing warmer aromas. Oriental perfumes and woody perfumes are among the best. Spicy perfumes can also work well as the holiday season approaches.
- For winter - women can lean toward spicy perfumes, oriental perfumes, and wood perfumes, all of which provide warmth throughout the cooler months. Strong notes of vanilla and other warm aroma components are great for wintertime perfumes as well.
Remember that even if it is not the traditional time of year for a certain type of perfume, hints of other fragrances can make the perfume more versatile. For example, a floral perfume with heavy wood notes might transition more easily into fall and winter, while an oceanic fragrance punctuated with woody notes can work just as well in winter as in summer.
Most Popular Perfumes by Category
Generally, each perfume will fall under one category (though some will fall under multiple categories). The process of choosing the right perfume starts with selecting one of the main categories and exploring the many options that fall within those lines.
Type of Perfume |
Examples |
|---|---|
| Citrus |
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| Spicy |
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| Oceanic |
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| Floral |
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| Fruity |
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| Oriental |
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| Green |
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Choosing a Perfume Type
Once a woman understands the different aromas that are available to her, it is time to pick out a specific type of perfume. A woman's choice largely depends on how strong she wants the perfume to be. Perfumes are categorized by the concentration of the essences within the perfume. In order from the smallest to largest concentration, these types are eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne.
Buying Perfume on eBay
eBay offers a number of different perfumes from top manufacturers. When an individual is looking for a perfume on the site, they will find it easy to begin the process by narrowing their search with the refinement feature located on the side of the page. Here, they can choose the brand of perfume they prefer, the type (such as eau de cologne as opposed to eau de toilette), and the size of the perfume bottle they want.
Buyers will find that a number of reproductions are available that recreate classic perfumes such as Chanel No. 5 and Clinique Happy. These can be great bargains, but the value matches since most do not last as long and are not as strong as the original. While it can be a great way to try out a scent, this is not a recommended way to buy for the individual who wants extended use from their perfume.
eBay offers buyers the chance to buy some of the best perfumes available. While some people may be intimidated by the prospect, purchasing perfume is simple as long as the individual follows a few simple tips. Pay attention to the type of aroma within the perfume as well as to the concentration of essences inside it, and it becomes easy to find the one that best suits an individual's needs.