Are you looking for a new favorite? That turns out well! Find all the fragrances of the biggest brands at Galeries Lafayette, a historic and iconic Parisian and French store! 

You will find perfumes for women and men, exceptional perfumes, or emblematic fragrances… To help you make the right choice among these multitudes of scents and find the perfume that sticks to your skin, here are our tips and tricks. Let’s go!

The olfactory families

Your perfume represents you, it defines your character and your personality. This is why it is important to take the time to choose it well! The first thing to do is figure out what your favorite notes are.

Know that each perfume belongs to an olfactory family. In all, there are 7 of them, further divided into subfamilies.

Citrus

The perfumes of this olfactory family are characterized by citrus fragrances: lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot, or pomelo. These notes are both sweet, sparkling, fresh, and tangy.

The chypres

Perfumes that belong to the chypre category are recognized for their notes of oakmoss, patchouli, bergamot, or even labdanum. They are easily identifiable, as they have character and sophistication.

The flowers

This family of perfumes is built around a single floral note such as rose, jasmine, orange blossom, violet, or even lily. The floral scents are delicate, natural, and fresh.

Orientals

Perfumes with oriental notes are easily recognized by their scents of vanilla, patchouli, musk, amber, or even dried flowers. They are sensual, sweet, and exotic!

Aromatics

This family of perfumes will speak to you for sure because it is composed of aromatics such as lavender, rosemary, sage, or thyme. These fragrances are heavy, virile, and therefore typically masculine.

The woodlands

This group of perfumes is defined by evocative notes of sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, vetiver, or guaiac wood. It is a warm, heavy, and intense family.

The secrets to properly testing a perfume

Once you understand the difference between each family of fragrances and know which one you like the most… The job is not done!

Among the perfumes of the olfactory family that you prefer, you will smell each perfume by spraying it on a touch of paper or a fabric ribbon.

Let the perfume develop for a few seconds, then smell.

If you like the one you selected, you can spray it on the inside of your wrists. Let the smell evaporate then plunge your nose into it. Attention! Do not rub your wrists against each other, at the risk of breaking the odor molecules.

The first scent is called: head perfume. Then, the fragrance that you will smell is the perfume of the heart. It stays on your skin for between 2 and 3 hours.

If the magic works with one of the selected perfumes, let it evolve for a few hours before buying it to be sure that it suits you completely.

A word of advice: avoid chaining perfumes, because your nose, assailed by odors, will no longer recognize any. To choose your perfume well, do not try more than 3 in a row.

You now have all the cards in hand to choose the ideal perfume!

The vocabulary of Perfume: How to Find It?

The world of perfumery is as fascinating as it is complex: like a good wine, perfume is appreciated, and savored, its different notes stand out and its vocabulary is very specific. 

Do you feel lost between heart and top notes, citrus and woody notes, powdery or milky scents? Do you think that the adjectives round and dry are exclusive to oenology? 

Do not panic! Here are some explanations that will help you see things more clearly and impress the person who will give you your future perfume.

The different concentrations

You’ve probably noticed that not all fragrances stay on your skin and clothes for very long. This is explained by the different concentrations of perfume that each product has. 

Thus, a very diluted eau de cologne will last less than an eau de toilette, itself more moderate than a more intense perfume.

So there are fragrances for all tastes, both in terms of smell and hold. Many stores will allow you to enjoy a wide choice of brands and concentrations, such as the Jane de Boy boutique, which brings together major brands such as Maison Margiela, L’Artisan Parfumeur, 19-69, Bon Parfumeur, or Juliette has a gun.

Top, heart, and base notes: the olfactory pyramid

These terms are not unknown to you, but it would be impossible for you to explain what they correspond to. In reality, the olfactory pyramid is a classification of odors in the order in which they are distinguished when smelling a perfume.

• The top notes: these are the most obvious notes, which can be distinguished from the first inspiration. On the other hand, they fade from the first minutes. The citrus notes are for example top notes.

• Heart notes: They reveal themselves after a few hours to take over-the-top notes. Floral notes are usually middle notes.

• The base notes: these are the last to appear, but also the ones that will last the longest on your skin and clothes (up to several days). The woody notes are the best example.

The olfactory families

Several scents combined in the same perfume form an accord. The different agreements, according to their similarities, are grouped within olfactory families:

• Woody: is said of scents whose main note is taken from a bark: cedar, sandalwood, patchouli… Like the perfume Female Christ from 19-69, with patchouli and cashmere wood.

• Florals: jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, and lilac is the basis of floral fragrances, which are preferred in spring or summer. Bon Parfumeur’s 002 (neroli, jasmine, white amber) is a very flowery fragrance.

• Citrus: this category of perfume refers to citrus notes, such as orange, lemon, pink grapefruit…

• Powders: this type of scent relates to certain flowers, such as iris or mimosa, or even rice powder or talc. These are generally very soft perfumes that are easy to wear daily.

• Dairy: the milky touches come for example from coconut milk, or can recall a warm, enveloping and comforting smell of milk.

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