Scentsational spring fragrances

Get Scentsual

“The sense of smell is very much tied to emotion,” says Carla Chalmers, the National Education Manager for Elizabeth Arden. “As you experience your environment, smells can recall emotions of a previous time when you smelled that same scent.” So how do you find your favourite fragrance? Figure out a positive mental association and start from there. Your favourite flower? The smell of freshly cut grass? It’s all a great starting point.

Spring Scent: Elizabeth Arden Pretty Hot Eau de Parfum Spray (100 mL), $80.
This fragrance has a combination of blood orange, apple, and red current along with pimento blossom and peonies.

Make a List, Check it Twice

Once you’ve figured out some of your favourite notes, make a list of the scents you don’t enjoy. Once you have your list of likes and dislikes do a little research of fragrances with the elements you’re looking for. Get googling or head to your local beauty counter to get help from an expert.

Spring Scent: Nina Ricci L’Air Eau de Parfum Spray (50 mL), $80.
This bouquet-filled scent has rose, jasmine, freesia, violet and honeysuckle.

Taste Test

The best way to find your new scent is to test the fragrance on your skin, says Chalmers. It is the only true way to know what it will smell like on you. As for smelling coffee beans in-between fragrance testing, Chalmers says it’s a bit of a myth that it totally clears your nose. It merely confuses your sense of smell and takes your mind off of the fragrances so you are open to smelling new ones.

Spring Scent: Yves Rocher The Jardin des Nymphes Eau de Toilette (75 mL), $25.
This floral fragrance stays fresh with the aquatic scent of water lily.

To Each Their Own

Fragrances smell different on every person because everyone has a unique body chemistry, says Chalmers. When you put on a scent it mixes with your own natural oils and creates a slightly different fragrance. Something that smells great on your best friend may not work for you.

Spring Scent: Jennifer Aniston Eau de Parfum Spray (1oz ) $45.
In her first fragrance, Aniston used light florals against a base of woody scents and musks. Available exclusively at Sephora.com.

Trial and Error

Take home samples of the fragrances you think you might enjoy. Wear them for a few different occasions and ask around to gauge the reaction of others. Also, bringing samples of the scent home allows you to see if you truly enjoy the scent for a whole day and see if you like the way it smells with your body’s chemistry.

Spring Scent: Lancôme Ô d’Azur (75 mL), $54.
This brand new concoction has both floral and fruity accents of Calabrian lemon essence, Turkish Damask Rose and peonies.

Sweet Dreams

Depending on how strong you like your fragrance, there are different concentrations that you can buy to achieve a different scent level, says Chalmers. An eau de toilette has a lesser concentration of the essential oils that make the fragrance last on your skin while an eau de parfum has a higher concentration of the essential oils and therefore will last longer on your skin.

Spring Scent: Jimmy Choo by JIMMY CHOO (60 mL), $73.
A fruity chypre with woody notes, this is sure to lift your mood.

Make It Last

“The best way to make a fragrance last is through layering more than one product,” says Chalmers. Bathe with the shower gel in the same scent as your fragrance and then use the body lotion as you’re drying off. Finish with a spritz of eau de parfum to help your scent last all day.

Spring Scent: Prada Infusion de Rose (100 mL), $120.
Fresh rose petals, tea, mandarin and honey are mixed with mint for a refreshing tang.

Seasons Change

While it isn’t necessary to change your fragrance type and style with the seasons, many women go lighter in the spring. The release of body temperature can make a scent seem much stronger so as it heats up tone down your signature winter fragrance and opt for a lighter summery version from the same brand.

Spring Scent: Guerlain Aqua Allégoria Jasminora Eau de Toilette (75 mL), $60.
This fresh floral fragrance has notes of bergamot Calabrian jasmine, lily of the valley, and ends with musk and amber.

Sexy Signature

Many people have signature scents that they have been wearing for years and it’s something that their friends and family know them for, explains Chalmers. Others choose have signature scents by the season — something to keep in mind when deciding on your signature and its rotation. In the fall and winter they may wear a heavier more musky or woody fragrance and in the spring and summer they might go for a lighter floral or citrus scent.

Spring Scent: The Body Shop Dreams Unlimited Eau de Parfum (30 mL), $26.
This fusion of orange blossoms, blackurrant, and chilli pepper flower is balanced by iris and cedarwood. Plus it’s made with fair trade alcohol and organic sugar cane.