How to try different fragrances on a budget

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Perfumes can be expensive, but building a perfume collection doesn't have to break the bank. Trying different fragrances is a great way to find the perfect scent for you, but it can be difficult to do so on a budget. Fortunately, there are several ways to try different fragrances without spending a fortune. In this blog post, we'll share some tips and tricks for trying different fragrances on a budget.   Get sample fragrances One of the best ways to try different fragrances on a budget is to get samples. Most perfume brands and authorised sellers offer free samples or charge a small fee for them. You can also find sample sets that include several 2-3ml fragrances for a reasonable price. This is a great way to try different scents without committing to a full bottle. Look for fragrance decants Fragrance decants are small vials, usually 5-10ml, filled with a fragrance that can be purchased online. This is a great option for trying out a fragrance for a period of time without comm...
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Things to know before you start a perfume collection

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Iris, bergamot, lavender, agarwood and leather. Which of these scents do you treasure? If you asked me to choose a signature scent it would be like choosing a favourite parent. The world of perfumes is vast with countless unique scents to discover, so why settle for one? This blog will give you a deeper understanding on how fragrances work, and how to build the perfect collection based on numerous factors. 




Why have a perfume collection?

First off, what constitutes a perfume collection is entirely up to you. Whether it be 2, 3, 4 or 100 bottles, designer or niche, it is your own curated collection that you should cherish. I personally appreciate fragrances as an art form created by talented perfumers who combine various notes to produce a distinctive scent profile, and I take pleasure in learning about the subtle differences between various scents. 

It's safe to say that everyone can appreciate a good fragrance and when you smell good you feel good. You can find lots of pleasure in wearing different scents based on mood, occasion or even your outfit. That's right, certain scents are more compatible with certain situations than others, especially the weather. Future posts will go more in depth about which fragrances and scent profiles work best in which seasons, but all in all, dark, woodsy, warm and spicy scents are more appropriate for the winter and autumn, while lighter and fresher scents are compatible with the summer and spring. This is the beauty of having a versatile collection where you can rotate based on all these factors.

Important fragrance terms to know

You may have already heard the terms Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Parfum (EDP) and Parfum/Extrait de Parfum. These are the concentration of the fragrance and they are what you will find in majority of fragrances on the market. The concentration of a fragrance indicates how intense and potent it is. The higher the concentration of fragrance, the stronger and longer lasting the scent. 

The EDT concentration is the weakest of the bunch, generally with a concentration of around 5%-15%. This means that there is a 5%-15% volume of fragrance oils with the rest being alcohol. The EDP concentration is the next step up from the EDT with around 15%-20% concentration of fragrance oils and 80%-85% alcohol. Parfum/Extrait de Parfum, which you will also see marketed lately under the term "Elixir" is the highest and strongest concentration of fragrance. It generally has a concentration of around 20%-30% which allows for long lasting projection, so it is important to go easy on the number of sprays, but future posts will talk about proper spraying techniques. 

Essential tips

To conclude this post, let's talk about a few tips that ensure you don't waste your hard earned money and time:
  1. Don't blind buy: It is important to not make the mistake of many beginners and blind buy a fragrance, you should always try to sample in stores before purchasing. Sure it may work out well at times for some, but you want to really make sure you adore the fragrance you are spending money on and avoid regret. Before sampling, I suggest looking for recommendations and reviews to learn a bit more about a fragrance than just how it smells. I recommend YouTube channel Gents Scents https://www.youtube.com/@GentsScents,  Demi Rawling https://www.youtube.com/@demirawling and the encyclopedia of perfumes https://www.fragrantica.com/
  2. Purchase smaller bottles: Something that I came to learn as a collector is that it is better to buy smaller bottles. For reasons being that they are cheaper, and even if you have a tiny collection of 3, it will take you a long time to finish 3 50ml bottles, so having 3 100ml bottles would be pretty useless
  3. Buy those that you really love: If you are really fond of a specific type of scent, wouldn't it make the most sense to find that one you like the most instead of having a few that are fairly similar? After all you'll mostly be using the one you are most fond of and neglecting the others. For example I would prefer to use Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Extreme over any other sweet/spicy winter fragrance, purely because it's the best of that fragrance family in my opinion.
I hope this post was informative and that you now understand some of the basics of fragrances, leave a comment and stay tuned for more posts within this guide. 






Location: United Kingdom

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