Scents Worth Your Cent That Just Make Sense!

I will be the first to admit that at a certain point in my life I was not too thrilled about spending hundreds of dollars on fragrance. If “I like perfume but not that much” was a person it would be me. Quite frankly the ounces to price ratio did not add up. Why the change of heart you ask? One word, eight letters. Research. Once I became educated on fragrance as a whole, I became a fanatic. Being asked what I am wearing always calls for a celebratory hair flip. It truly makes me feel like THAT girl. Beginner of fragrance and only want the best of the best? You’re in luck because over here at Progression the last thing we do is gate-keep. Dive in as we take a closer look at concentration, layering, and scent categories. By the end of this read I promise your spritz will be worth the splurge.

Those French Words You Can't Pronounce

Let's start off with a little history lesson. The term perfume comes from Latin origin translating to “through smoke”. Burning incense was a popular method used to produce scent hence the term given by the French. The concentration will indicate the fragrance’s strength. A higher concentration means less alcohol and more oils, longevity without reapplying, and more money.

Eau Fraîche: Concentration of 1-3%. For the girls who are irritated by strong fragrance or easily get migraines, this is a great alternative. You smell great without compromising your wellbeing.

Eau de Cologne: Concentration of 2-5%. For the girls who don't want to do too much but still need some umph.

Eau de Toilette: Concentration of 5-15%. For the girls in the middle. Just enough fragrance to turn heads but she still keeps it subtle.

Eau de Parfum: Concentration of 15-20% For the girls wanting to make a statement. She leaves a lingering aroma in any room she enters.

Parfum: Concentration of 20-40%. Her fragrance talks so she doesn’t have to. She won't need to pack the travel size in her clutch because she is all set for the night. Let’s face it, it’s simply her world and you’re just living in it.

Layering

If you find yourself reapplying and spritzing more than you would like, try layering. Layering is a technique that will amplify your fragrance. This can be very much trial and error. Although there is no specific way to do this, here are some tips to help obtain the best results. One way is to use an array of body care products with similar scents prior to applying perfume. Soaps and scrubs will help to create a stronger base for your fragrance. Lotion, oils, and body butters keep your skin moisturized allowing the fragrance to stay locked in. Layering can also be successful by using at least two fragrances that will compliment each other. The key is to combine fragrances that pair well together. For example amber and vanilla. Spray your stronger scents first then your lighter ones on top.

Application

Unlike layering there is a right way to do this. Unconsciously we love to take that bottle and start going wild covering our clothing from top to bottom. Over spritzing can become overbearing, unflattering, and will take away from the fragrance’s aromatic structure. Need not to mention you are wasting your perfume. Hitting all of your pulse points is a great way to keep this from happening. The heat emitting from the inside of your elbows, behind your ears, back of your knees, your wrist, neck/ throat, and chest will help your fragrance linger. Adding a couple spritz to your hair, torso, ankles, and indirectly on your clothing will give you that extra razzle dazzle you are looking for. Oh and most importantly, never rub in. The molecules will break down and give the opposite effect. Instead leave certain areas untouched or lightly dab. You will thank me later.

Shop By Scent

Finding scents that mix well with your body chemistry is step one. Once you know what you like and establish what works for you, you can pretty much take it from there. Here are a general list of scent categories & the best of what your money can get the girls (and your editor) swear by:

Floral: If you are very much into smelling like flowers.