When it comes to perfume, I’m a sucker for packaging. Sure, finding the right fragrance is definitely key and everyone leans towards a certain type of scent. However, if the perfume has nice packaging, I’m usually more inclined to try it out. Common complaints I’ve heard from friends are that they get very overwhelmed when they go to perfume counters. This is undoubtedly due to the vast choices available on the market. Here are some quick dos and don’ts when it comes to choosing fragrances:

Dos:

• Do shop for perfume in the afternoon and onwards.  This is when your sense of smell is best.
• Do wear more perfume if you have dry skin. Scents last longer on oily skin, so those with dry skin will need an extra spritz or two.
• Do wear stronger scents in cold weather as the cold reduces a scent’s strength.
• Do make sure to try the fragrance on your own skin. Everyone’s skin chemistry is different which means the result may not be the same as the pure fragrance.
• Do apply perfume after you’ve showered and dried. Your pores are most open then, allowing the scent to  soak into your pores.
• Do keep perfume in a cool, dry place away from direct light to make it last longer.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use perfume near pearls (will cause them to yellow) or costume jewelry (will strip the coatings).
• Don’t sample more than two or three new scents at a time. Your olfactory senses will become confused. A tip, coffee beans clears up your olfactory senses so a lot of beauty counters will have them around.
• Don’t overdo it. Overpowering smells can make the people around you very uncomfortable and may even cause headaches.
• Don’t use snap judgement when selecting a scent. Different aspects of a fragrance emerge as the day goes on.
• Don’t spray fragrances onto light-coloured clothing as this will stain the fabric.

Finally how long can you expect your scents to last? Here’s a general guideline:

Body spray – 1 to 2 hours

Shower Gel – 30 minutes

Cologne – 2 to 3 hours

Eau de Toilette – 3 to 4 hours

Eau de parfum – 4 hours

Body Lotion – 3 to 4 hours

Body cream – 4 hours

Perfume – 6 to 8 hours

So we’ve talked about this mostly from a female point of view but what about for guys? Head on over to Hong Kong Fashion Geek to read an interview we did with Danny Ventura, International Training Manager for Beaute Prestige Internationale which handles the Gaultier, Miyake, and Rodriguez lines of fragrances and body products, for some tips on men’s fragrances.