Perfume 101

Get a refresher on perfume etiquette from a fragrance expert and learn how to make the most of your scent wardrobe

Nathalie Pichard, founder of toPNotes—a fragrance training and evaluation company—and author of Web Fragrant Newsletter, gives us a handy cheat sheet with which to navigate notes.

What’s the best way to pick the right fragrance in a store?

Before picking a perfume, ask yourself some questions: What are your preferences, what makes you happy, what do you dislike—this information is the first step in the process. Then try different scents on a blotter card to pick up the top note. Next, spray the one you like most on your wrist [without rubbing], and smell it throughout the day to help you decide.

What are notes in perfumery?