Have you ever smelled a perfume on a friend, or a stranger passing by, and loved it, only to try it on yourself and hate it?

Each person has their own unique scent, or odor type, and fragrance will not smell the same from one person to the next.

A lot of it has to do with science and biology, but it mostly comes down to your skin’s PH level - or the acidity level. This essentially means your skin is either dry or oily.

Your skin has something called an Acid Mantle, which is a layer that protects your skin from environmental factors. It keeps moisture in and bacteria out.

A higher PH level will produce more oil in skin, and lower levels drier skin.

Dryer skin tends to absorb any type of oil or moisture, as it needs more of it. Fragrances made with more natural oils can be absorbed faster and therefore seem like they do not last on the skin. Skin with more oils will do the opposite and can make fragrances seem to last much longer, which can be good or bad.

Hormones can also play a role in how fragrance performs on the skin. Estrogen levels that are too high or too low can affect sensitivity, such as with pregnancy or menopause. Testosterone levels seem to create a musky quality, and can have an effect on fragrance in that way as well.

Climate can also affect the way fragrances smell, as a rise in body heat and sweat can reinvigorate your fragrance, while sweating too much could break down the scent’s molecules by mixing in too much of your own natural scent.

The types of foods you eat, and even the medications you take can affect the way fragrance changes on the skin.

There are many factors to consider when trying fragrances. Your best bet is to try before buying.

Fragrance consultations can help tremendously when you’re not sure how to pick the right fragrance for you, versus your friends and family, and strangers.

Parfumerie Nasreen is here to help you along on your fragrance journey, every step of the way!