Building a perfume collection starts with understanding the bottles you already own. Identify their notes, your actual uses and what you are missing before adding a new fragrance. A collection can be kept small and cohesive.
This guide concerns the evolution of an existing collection. For a starting point limited to three uses, also see the wardrobe of three perfumes.
Take inventory of your bottles
For each perfume, write down the occasions you wear it and why you like it. Describe the accords in your own words. A bottle kept for a souvenir does not necessarily have the same role as a perfume used every morning.
| Question | Usefulness |
|---|---|
| When do I wear it? | Identify the uses actually covered |
| Which notes do I like? | Identify a recurring preference |
| Why do I rarely wear it? | Distinguish a lack of opportunity from a preference that has changed |
| What other bottle does it look like to me? | Identify purchases that meet the same desire |
Distinguish a new desire from a duplicate
Two vanilla flavors can have different appeal if one appeals to you for its fruity side and the other for its woody accord. Conversely, different pyramids can give a similar impression for your use. The useful difference is the one you perceive and want to wear.
The guide vanilla accords illustrates these nuances. To broaden your discovery, compare a direction gourmand to one direction woody or floral, without obligation to represent all families.
Define the role of the next perfume
Before purchasing, write a sentence: “I am looking for a perfume that I would like to wear in this situation, with this impression. » This benchmark avoids choosing only because something new is available. It also allows you to decide that no new bottle is necessary at this time.
Test the candidate several times and compare it to a perfume already present in your collection. The skin test method helps keep observations readable.
Plan the budget and keep the perfumes
The number of bottles is not a measure of collection quality. Set a comfortable spend, check the format and take the time to use what you like. A Discovery Set can help prepare a choice, provided you check the included references.
Store the bottles according to the product directions, away from conditions that expose them unnecessarily to heat and light. The conservation guide brings together the points to check.
Frequently asked questions
How many perfumes do you need in a collection?
There is no mandatory number. One may be enough; several may respond to distinct preferences or uses.
Do you have to have all the olfactory families?
No. A collection reflects your desires. You can enjoy several vanillas without wanting to wear an aquatic or woody accord.
How can I avoid a purchase that I won't wear much?
Define its role, test it in a real situation and compare it to your current bottles before deciding.