There’s this phenomenon called the “lipstick index,” where people in a financial crisis tend to carve out a niche in their budget for tiny, non-essential luxuries like makeup. That little luxury seems to be fragrance this year: sales were up by almost 50 percent in the first quarter of 2021.
Has a lady in your life caught the scent bug like so many others? If you’re stumped when it comes to buying perfume for women, read on for our guide.
1. Consider the Notes
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When it comes to options for perfume, you need to pay attention to the notes as much as the overall fragrance. The more balanced the notes, the longer the scent stays on the skin and the better it develops over time.
The three fragrance notes are:
- Top notes: smell immediately
- Heart notes or middle notes: the essence of the fragrance
- Base notes: the longest lasting and most memorable scent
Not every perfume contains all notes. Cheaper perfumes typically have only the top notes, so they tend to be sweeter smelling.
2. Buy Online or In-Shop?
When purchasing perfume for someone else, it pays to shop in a retail store. But why is this?
Buying perfume online is an excellent option if you know what you’re looking for. You can easily hunt around for the best deals, take advantage of coupons and promo codes, and don’t have to leave the comfort of your home.
Of course, there’s a distinct disadvantage to online perfume shopping. You can’t experience the scents. Yes, you can read reviews or browse the opinions of fragrance bloggers, but there’s no “smell-o-vision” yet. In-store, you can not only smell each of the fragrances, but you can also ask the experienced sales clerk for advice.
So, if your loved one always buys the same fragrance, then sure, shop online. But if you’re in the market for a new perfume, head to the store.
3. Popular Perfume Brands
When it comes to choosing which is best among trending perfume brands, it really depends on the tastes of the woman you’re buying for.
If they’re classic in style, go for something like Chanel No. 5, Yves Saint Laurent Opium, or White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor. If they’re willing to experiment, consider a bespoke perfume–even big brands like Louis Vuitton are launching custom fragrance services now–or buy something vintage.
4. Comparing Perfume Prices
Whether you’re buying from an online perfume store like PerfumePrice or heading to the mall, it pays to shop around and compare prices.
More expensive perfumes are likely to have more complex scents–that is, more “layers” of different aromas that make up the overall fragrance. So the sheer volume of different ingredients–and potentially pricier individual components–raises the value.
Expensive perfumes may also have higher quality packaging, such as handcrafted glass bottles, gold-plated stoppers, and much more.
Buying Perfume for Women Explained
When you’re buying perfume for women, it helps to understand their preferences.
Do they like to stand out from the crowd? Do they have an artistic streak? Or do they lean toward the luxurious?
Finding this out will help you select a brand, scent, and bottle design to suit a female family member or friend in your life.
For more advice on smart beauty purchases, read the other articles on our blog.
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