How to Pick and Wear a Fragrance the Right Way

*Scroll down to win a three-gift set of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio Essenza EDP 75 ml + 75 ml After Shave Balm + 75 ml Shower Gel ($175 value).

Scent has the power to seduce, relax, entice and transport you back in time. 

It can also remind people of you. It is, after all, your signature in a sense (no pun intended). 

That’s why you need to get it right and apply it properly.

Fragrance decoded.
Not that we have to tell you by this point, but a fragrance is not just a perfume or cologne. You’ve heard terms like eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne. What do they mean? The difference lies in the amount of essential oils in the fragrance. The strongest and most potent is straight perfume, then eau de parfum, eau de toilette and, finally, eau de cologne. The higher the amount of essential oils, the less you need to apply and the longer the fragrance will last. Needless to say, the price of your fragrance will also increase based on its essential oil content.

Pick a scent that reflects who you are.
Don’t buy a fragrance just because it smells good on your friend. You could wear it a lot differently, as dictated by your own body chemistry. Pick a fragrance that reflects your personality, just as the way you dress can. Are you more natural and free-spirited? Then you should choose something aquatic and light. If you’re sensual and seductive, you may gravitate toward a vanilla (for the ladies) or a fragrance with animalistic notes like amber (for the guys). Even when you’ve picked a fragrance, it’s always safer to try it on your skin instead of a blotter, keep shopping for 20 minutes or so, and smell it again. This will be the true test to see if your chosen fragrance is a right match for you and your body’s chemistry.


Wear the right scent for the season.  
As much as you love your fragrance, switch it up throughout the year. Your fragrance should match the climate. In the summer, choose something lighter and fresh that’s citrusy, flowery and refreshing. An eau de toilette makes a good summer option compared to others that can be overwhelming with the heavy heat of the summer. Like wine, you may want to opt for something more full-bodied in the winter months. The colder weather invites something warmer, more sensual and weighty. There are, of course, certain fragrances that work no matter the season. In order to keep your signature scent year-round, Giorgio Armani offers a range of different concentrations for most of its fragrances so you can stay true to your scent while keeping up with the seasons. 

Apply properly.
Anyone who has ever been in an elevator with someone who’s overdone it in the fragrance department knows that there is definitely an art in the application. If you wear the scent every day, it’s easy to become so used to it that you spray too much on. As a general rule, people should only be able to smell you when they step within an arm’s length from your body and two sprays at a distance of at least six inches is plenty. The best places to apply are where the blood contacts the skin closely, in what are called hot points that generate heat – wrists, the inside of the elbows and the neck. Contrary to popular belief, you’re not doing yourself any favours by rubbing your wrists together. The heat and friction created through rubbing will take off the top notes in the fragrance, which is what drew you to it in the first place. Finally, don’t ruin that crisp white shirt or dress with a spray of perfume. Certain scents can damage clothing fibres. Stick to the skin.

These tips come right from the experts themselves at Giorgio Armani Fragrances. Speaking of, we’re giving away a three-gift set of their Acqua di Gio Essenza EDP 75 ml + 75 ml After Shave Balm + 75 ml Shower Gel ($175 value).

Just fill out the form below to enter the contest.