How to Find Your Signature Scent

Few things will make you feel as powerful as when someone stops you to ask what fragrance you’re wearing.

The amount of scents on the market may seem daunting, and it can be hard to find the one that’s the Goldilocks-perfect fit for you. Have you ever tried a fragrance that smells amazing on a friend but ends up smelling weird on you?

But that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. We reached out to Snif co-founder Bryan Edwards on foolproof ways to find your ultimate signature scent. Read his tips below, and get ready to turn heads.

Step 1: Decide what you’re looking for.

“Before you start shopping, take a moment to think about what you’re looking for in your signature scent,” Bryan advises. “Consider…

Scent strength: Are you looking for a subtle skin scent you can wear for everything or a bold scent that makes itself known when you walk into a room?
Scent direction: Reflect on the type of scents you typically gravitate towards. Do you want something sweet and nostalgic, or perhaps something spicy with a modern twist?
Scent quality: Make sure you’re looking for a fragrance that aligns with your values and personal needs.”

Step 2: Start testing.

“The best way to find your signature scent is by trying it out yourself,” says Bryan. “Scent is extremely personal, so you should wear a fragrance you absolutely love, not just what is popular or has the most aesthetically pleasing bottle.

Skin chemistry and environment can change how a fragrance wears on one person compared to another, so always test the fragrance on yourself.”

Step 3: Narrow it down.

“Next, pick the fragrances that made the best first impression,” suggests Bryan. “We recommend picking two to three scents and ordering a small sample or travel-size version. Wear each scent for a day [or week] for a valid test drive. Make sure the scent has longevity, and you like how the scent might shift throughout the day.”

Pro-tip: Fragrance scent notes have three parts: The top (“T”), the middle (“M”), and the dry-down (“D”). This reflects the order in which different notes are present throughout the wear of a fragrance. For example, fruity and floral notes tend to be more towards the “top” of a fragrance, meaning you will smell it when it first sprays. Woody and musky notes tend to be more towards the bottom, or “dry-down” of the fragrance, meaning as the fragrance settles in you may notice a more musky undertone to the scent. Wearing your fragrance all day can help you make sure you truly love the scent from top to bottom.

Step 4: Pick the one that speaks to you.

“Once you’ve tried your fragrances, notice which ones made you feel the best—your most confident, excited, or spontaneous. Your signature scent is a way to boost your mood and present yourself to others, so pick whatever scent makes you the happiest,” says Bryan. “If you’re struggling to narrow it down, it can help to ask your friends or partner which one feels the most ‘you’ to them.”

Below, try some scents that the Poosh team loves. You might just find your next favorite.