How to choose the ideal perfume 

Choosing the type of perfume

During Christmas, perfumes and colognes are a classic gift, both for adults and children, but getting it right... is difficult! Today there are many types of perfumes and to choose the right one, you must consider several things including the perfume's fragrance, who is for and the type of situation.

Difference between perfume and cologne

The main difference between a cologne and a perfume lies in the level of concentration of the essential oils, alcohol and water contained in each, which affects how long they stay on the skin. In these cases, colognes have less concentration of these ingredients and generally have fresher aromas.

The olfactory families of perfumes

There are many combinations when it comes to making colognes and perfumes, but to simply it, we can group the olfactory families into:

• Floral and powdery fragrances: characterised by the scent of a single flower or several varied flowers. The most common are usually jasmine, rose, nard, lily, freesia or violets. For example, powdery fragrances typical of children's colognes usually have white flowers.
• Sweet fragrances: characterised by aromas of vanilla, and notes of caramel, chocolate, coconut or honey.
• Citrus fragrances: characterised by notes from citrus fruit peels such as bergamot, lemon, orange, tangerine or grapefruit. They're usually soft and fresh fragrances, suitable for both men and women of all ages.
• Oriental fragrances: extracted from more exotic aromas such as musk, or different spices such as cinnamon, ginger or vanilla. They tend to be stronger fragrances and last longer on the skin.
• Woody fragrances: characterised by the olfactory representation of aromas with wood as their defining note and other derived aromas, such as roots, barks, resins, leaves, moss, pineapples or shrubs. Among these fragrances, are drier aromas, such as cedar, or fresher aromas, such as pine.
  
  

Who the perfume is for and the type of situation

• Women: perfumes with floral or citrus fragrances are often popular among women because they are delicate yet fresh fragrances. This type of perfume is usually used for the day, while fragrances with oriental touches and sweet aromas are usually more intense and long-lasting, so they are most used for the evening or special occasions.
• Men: for everyday use, fresh fragrances with citrus and woody touches are the most popular option, while perfumes with oriental, woody notes or fragrances with sweet undertones are more often used for special occasions due to their duration and more captivating aroma.
• Children: there are no perfumes as such for children since most are colognes and are formulated in a different way to protect the child's or baby's skin. These fragrances are usually fresher and are made with citrus or powdery notes.

When choosing the perfume, remember not to try it directly on the skin, as the aroma is different and can vary depending on who wears it. That's why we recommend using a strip of paper to test it.

How is the ideal perfume presented?

• Combo format: this type of format is composed of perfume and another body hygiene product with the same aroma, such as a body cream or a body mist. Nowadays, you can find them for all genders and ages, and they make for a great gift.
• Create your own gift hamper: it's a well-rounded gift and you can make it yourself. In addition to body cream, you can add some cosmetics or hair care to the perfume... Get creative! And, if you can't decide, your beauty salesperson will surely help you put together the perfect pack.