To buy a perfume in a store

The choice you make when buying a fragrance in a store can be made according to several criterias: some will be tempted to choose a fragrance with an elegant bottle, while other customers will go for the trendy fragrances of the moment, seduced by the promotion that has been made. The fragrance can also be chosen according to its brand. Sometimes none of these factors are taken into consideration, and customers simply look for the fragrances that suit them best.

How to choose a perfume in store if you are a perfume expert

If you already have some knowledge in perfumery and you are curious to know more, you can start by defining the types of fragrances that might suit you, according to your olfactory family and your tastes. 


Define your olfactory family before choosing your perfume in store

Before going to the store to choose your fragrance, it is important to know which olfactory family you belong to. Here are the different olfactory families: 

An educated and curious customer will be able to be very precise in the search, and will be able to orient towards defined dominant notes, such as :


Be precise in your request when choosing your perfume in store

If you are truly passionate about perfumery, you can also carry out an in-depth perfume search:

  • You can look for fragrances with fresh notes with for example bergamot, other citrus notes (cf. Citrus Notes), lavender or aromatic notes.
  • You can select a fragrance whose main theme will be rose, or another specific flower you particularly love, like iris, orange blossom, jasmine, or other solar flowers for example.
  • If you are a patchouli lover, you might want to find a fragrance based on this scent (cf. Woody Facet).
  • If you are looking for a fragrance with a woody facet, you might want to go for fragrances with highlighted vetiver note.
  • Depending on your taste and olfactory family, you can also go for scents with more gourmand notes, like vanilla (cf. Gourmand facet) amber notes, or even fragrances with leather notes.

 

How to choose a fragrance in store if you are new to perfumery

For people who are new to the world of perfumery, it will not always be easy to know exactly what type of fragrance to go for when buying a perfume in a store. First of all, be aware that there are different styles of perfumery.

If you are not sure about your taste in perfume and you do not know which fragrance will appeal to you, the easiest way is to go to a traditional perfumery, or a department store. Advisors will then be able to direct you to the fragrance that best suits your expectations.

However, it is important to know that they do not always have the technical background and product knowledge to guide you correctly in your purchase. There is a big choice of brands and fragrances in a traditional perfumery that it can be very difficult for advisors to know all the pyramids and main notes of each of the fragrances on the shelves.

A perfect adviser should be really interested in your desires and needs to find the fragrance that suits you.


The questions asked by a perfumery consultant

In order to be able to anticipate your answers, here are some examples of questions that a perfumery consultant may ask you:

  • What fragrances have you preferred to wear in recent years?
  • What style of fragrance do you feel like wearing right now?
  • Do you change fragrances according to the seasons, your mood or your clothes?
  • What are the smells and tastes of everyday life that attract you the most?
  • Which of these notes do you prefer: citrus fruits; fruits such as strawberries and raspberries; cut grass scents; herbs such as lavender, rosemary, or mint; or flowers?  
  • Which fragrances do you prefer for their odor and not for their beauty? Woods? Flowers? Spices? Or gourmand notes such as vanilla, chocolate, and caramel? 
  • Do you like a strong or discreet trail?
  • What are the remarcable scents from your childhood?

Depending on your answers, these specialists will be able to direct you towards two or three fragrances that you might like.

A person who is looking for a signature fragrance may head for niche perfumeries, also known as "confidential perfumeries" or "alternative perfumeries". As a rule, the owners or advisors who work in these shops are passionate experts. They have a smaller selection of fragrances, but they know how to ask the right questions and give the right advice for each person. These specialists will certainly help you find the fragrance of your dreams.


Buy your perfume online 

If you do not want to go out shopping, you can also visit the brands' web sites and buy your perfume online. Each fragrance will be precisely described (with its composition, history, manufacturing process, etc.).

On the Sylvaine Delacourte website you will find complete information about raw materials through cards and films retracing the genesis of each fragrance. In addition, a complete guide will also allow you to enrich your knowledge of perfumery, with about a hundred articles about perfumes (raw materials, facets, olfactory families, extraction techniques, tips on choosing a perfume, etc.).

You can also buy discovery boxes and test all the fragrances at home. Each discovery set contains five samples. Your discovery experience is refundable, with your order you earn a credit of the same amount valid toward your favorite 30 ml or 100 ml perfume.

Sylvaine Delacourte offers several Collections based on a main note. The first collection is built around musk, the second around vanilla and the third around orange blossom.


Tips to enrich your knowledge of perfumery

If you wish to enrich your knowledge of perfumery so that you can choose your perfume in store, do not hesitate to regularly consult professional sites. This will allow you to learn about the notes contained in each fragrance. Here are a few references of professional sites and magazines to discover:

These sites list the latest scents in perfumery and post reviews for each fragrance (keep in mind, though, that every review is subjective and therefore questionable).


Conclusion 

Buying a fragrance in a classic or an alternative perfumery requires finding the right consultant, who will listen to you and meet your expectations. When you think you have found the perfume that suits you, always take time to test it on your skin and take a little walk, to give it time to evolve, before you decide to buy it. 

In the end, a beautiful perfume will be the one that will give you a lively and pleasant emotion, and which will be the object of many compliments from those around you. 

 

Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances

Discover Sylvaine Delacourte's brand with her Orange Blossom, Musks and Vanilla Collections. You can try them thanks to the Discovery Boxes (5 Eaux de Parfum x 2 ml) and rediscover these raw materials as you have never smelled them before.