How to shop for fragrance

Before you set out, purse at the ready, to treat yourself to a gorgeous new scent, read our guide to shopping for fragrance, so you don't make an expensive mistake.

Shopping for a new fragrance can leave you feeling confused, stressed... and smelling like a perfume factory, so we've pulled together everything you need to know to make your shopping trip a successful one.

The golden rule of fragrance buying is to remember that perfumes smell different on every person. Just because something smells great on your friend, that doesn't mean it will be as nice on you - in fact, it could smell downright disgusting. So, always try before you buy.

How a perfume smells can depend on your state of mind, so it's important to set aside a few hours in which to find your perfect perfume, rather than rushing to the shops before they close after work. When purchasing perfume you need to feel relaxed and unrushed.

Alcohol affects your sense of smell so it's not a good idea to go shopping after a lunchtime in the pub. Similarly, spicy food can affect how a perfume smells on your skin, so it's probably a good idea to give the curry a miss the night before your big shop!

Limit the number of fragrances you try in a single shopping trip. Trying any more than three makes it impossible to tell which was which.No matter how impressive the advertising, or how beautiful the bottle, it's what the perfume smells like that counts

When trying on a perfume, spray it from about 10 inches away to allow it to 'open up' as it comes to you. Smell it and then leave it for as long as possible - an hour is ideal - before smelling it again. This gives the perfume time to develop and it can come across quite differently from how it did when you first smelt it.

If you're still undecided, ask for a sample. This will allow you to live with the perfume for a while so you can see if it's the one for you.

Spraying a perfume on a cardboard tester strip is a good way to narrow down your choice because you'll be able to decide which you like and which you don't. However, you must try the perfume on your skin to find out what it will really smell like on you because the chemicals in your body react to a fragrance, while cardboard doesn't!

When testing a fragrance, never rub it between your wrists. OK, so most of us do it, but this actually 'damages' the fragrance, stopping it from opening out and making it smell a little different from how it should.

No matter how impressive the advertising, or how beautiful the bottle, it's what the perfume smells like that counts. Go with your nose!

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