Why Sampling Is the Smarter Way to Find Your Autumn Scent
Middle of September; the air is already getting crispier, and that means it's the perfect moment to move from bright summer citruses to warmer, woodier and spicier fragrances. But before you go off to buy your new fragrance, there's one thing you shouldn't skip: testing on your skin.
Why perfume smells different to each individual
Perfume are complex blends that unfold over time. But the version you wear isn't what the perfumer intended it to be; but rather it's the result of a conversation between the fragrance and your skin. Your skin's oils, pH and the community of bacteria that live on it can chemically interact with perfume molecules which change how top and base notes develop during the dry down. In other words, the same bottle will behave differently from person to person
The dry-down: the part to pay attention to
Many shoppers fall in love with a perfume's immediate spray (the top notes) and buy it too soon. But perfumes change. What you smell at 10 minutes, 1 hour and 4+ hours can be very different. The dry down is the final stage when base notes anchor the scent and is what becomes your "signature" - so give a fragrance time to tell you how it's actually like on your skin.
What else changes the way a fragrance wears?
- Diet: what you eat can affect your body odour; garlic, cruciferous vegetables, certain seafood and red meat may change your personal scent and influence how a fragrance is perceived. (Yes - diet isn’t just about breath.)
- Skin type and moisture: Oily skin usually helps a perfume last longer whereas dry skin may make it evaporate faster. Using an unscented body cream as a base can increase longevity.
- Hygiene & microbiome: Your skin’s microbiome can be temporarily influenced by regular products, cleansing routines, or antibacterial soaps .
So, How do you test perfumes properly?
- Spray on skin: inner wrist and inner elbow being the best but don't rub the wrists together; that will change the top notes.
- Side by Side Comparison: moisturise one area (unscented lotion) and leave the other bare - see which version you prefer.
- Wait for the dry down: Give it 1-4 hours to see how it settles.
- Limit yourself to 2-3 scents due to olfactory fatigue and use in real settings (commute, office, evenings etc) to get a better read
Why decants from Badshah Scents make sense this autumn
Switching your perfume wardrobe shouldn't mean that you should spend a large sum on a bottle you liked on someone else. Badshah Scents' samples and decant options let you test signature autumn picks (would recommend amber, oud, tobacco, woods) across days and outfits, all with no big investment.
Ready to find your autumn signature? Shop Badshah Scents’ decants to have a proper feel of owning a fragrance before owning it.