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Introduction
Choosing the right fragrance can feel overwhelming. With hundreds of scent profiles, concentrations, and styles on the market, understanding how perfume works is essential before buying. This fragrance guide breaks down everything you need to know—from fragrance families and perfume concentrations to longevity, projection, and gifting—so you can make confident, informed choices.
This guide also serves as the foundation for all fragrance reviews, comparisons, and brand-specific deep dives across my-fragrance.info.
What Is a Fragrance?
A fragrance is a blend of aromatic compounds, essential oils, alcohol, and fixatives designed to create a distinctive scent experience. Perfumes evolve over time on the skin, revealing different notes as they dry down.
The Three Layers of a Fragrance
- Top Notes: The first impression (citrus, fruits, light florals)
- Heart Notes: The core scent (florals, spices, aromatics)
- Base Notes: The lasting foundation (woods, musk, amber, vanilla)
Fragrance Concentrations Explained
Perfume strength directly affects longevity and intensity.
- Parfum (Extrait): 20–30% oil, longest-lasting
- Eau de Parfum (EDP): 15–20% oil, strong and versatile
- Eau de Toilette (EDT): 5–15% oil, lighter everyday wear
- Eau de Cologne (EDC): 2–5% oil, fresh and fleeting
- Body Mist: 1–3% oil, subtle skin scent
Fragrance Families (Scent Categories)
Understanding fragrance families helps narrow down what you will enjoy.
Floral
Romantic and soft, featuring rose, jasmine, peony, and tuberose.
Fruity
Juicy and playful notes like berries, apple, peach, and citrus blends.
Fresh
Clean and crisp profiles including citrus, aquatic, green, and aromatic notes.
Woody
Warm and grounding scents built around sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and oud.
Oriental / Amber
Rich and sensual compositions featuring vanilla, amber, spices, and resins.
(See: Which Fragrance Family Is Right for You?)
Longevity, Projection, and Sillage
These three factors determine how a fragrance performs.
- Longevity: How long the scent lasts on skin
- Projection: How far the scent radiates
- Sillage: The scent trail left behind
Skin chemistry, climate, and application method all influence performance.
How to Choose a Fragrance
By Personality
- Soft & romantic → Floral, musky
- Confident & bold → Woody, amber
- Energetic & playful → Fruity, fresh
By Season
- Spring/Summer → Citrus, fresh, light florals
- Fall/Winter → Woody, amber, gourmand
By Occasion
- Office → Clean, subtle scents
- Date night → Warm, sensual profiles
- Everyday → Balanced, versatile fragrances
How to Test a Fragrance Properly
- Spray on clean skin (not paper only)
- Avoid rubbing wrists together
- Wait 30–60 minutes to evaluate dry-down
- Test no more than 3–4 fragrances at once
Fragrance as a Gift
Buying perfume as a gift can be safe when you focus on crowd-pleasing scent families and moderate projection. Gift sets and best-selling fragrances are often the safest options.
(See: Is This Fragrance a Good Gift?)
Popular Fragrance Categories on This Site
Reviews
In-depth evaluations covering scent profile, longevity, and value.
Comparisons
Side-by-side fragrance breakdowns to help you choose between similar scents.
Longevity Tests
Wear tests analyzing performance, projection, and reapplication needs.
Gift Guides
Curated recommendations for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does perfume last on skin?
Most Eau de Parfum fragrances last 6–8 hours, while Eau de Toilette lasts 3–5 hours.
Why does perfume smell different on different people?
Body chemistry, skin pH, and moisture levels affect how fragrance notes develop.
Where should you apply perfume?
Pulse points such as wrists, neck, and behind the ears provide optimal diffusion.
Related Guides
- Complete Guide to Perfume Longevity
- Fragrance Families Explained
- Best Perfumes for Everyday Wear
- How to Build a Signature Scent
Final Thoughts
A great fragrance is more than a scent—it is a personal statement. By understanding fragrance families, concentrations, and performance factors, you can confidently select perfumes that fit your lifestyle, personality, and preferences.
This fragrance guide is the starting point for every in-depth review and comparison on my-fragrance.info.
“To see how we tested this scent and read our disclosure
policy, visit our [Review Standards] page.”
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