How to choose the right fragrance

BY:Vanessa Calitz, Dis-Chem Pharmacies fragrance promo and marketing manager

With such a variety of fragrances on the market, it can be rather daunting to decide what to buy. If you are anything like me, standing out and being unique is important. Your fragrance is part of who you are and is another layer to how people perceive you.

Gone are the days of wearing one fragrance throughout the year and for all occasions. Fragrance has become a fashion accessory that completes your look. It is the final touch to your proverbial wardrobe.

A personal thing

On hot summer days one is more likely to select a lighter, fresher fragrance with sparkly notes, whereas in winter months a heavier, warmer fragrance works well especially considering all the scarves and warm jackets that are worn.

Generally the way you select your fragrance for the day is a very personal thing. It may be based on your mood – if you are feeling playful and seductive then something like Ariana Grande’s Thank U Next fragrance would be ideal. Ariana has not only won numerous music awards, but her fragrances have also won a number of Fragrance Foundation awards, including Fragrance of the Year In the category Women’s Popular. If you are selecting a fragrance for the day based on a spring day you may consider something like Jimmy Choo’s I Want Choo fragrance, a powdery amber floral. Jimmy Choo is synonymous with class, style and all things gorgeous. There is a Jimmy Choo fragrance for everyone. Perhaps when preparing for that big meeting you want to feel strong and empowered and select a fragrance that says just that when you enter the room – something like Givenchy’s L’Interdit Eau de Parfum Rouge would do the trick. Givenchy is a French luxury fashion and fragrance house, founded by Hubert de Givenchy in 1952 and is now owned by luxury conglomerate LVMH – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton group. Their fragrances exude class, refinement and cutting edge innovation.

Pour homme 

For the men a playful, provocative and powerful option would definitely be the black credit card styled, No Limit$ fragrance by Philipp Plein. Plein, a self-made 40+ entrepreneur, launched his Philipp Plein fashion brand in 1998 and has since received numerous brand and fashion awards over the 20+ years of the brand’s existence. He is often referred to as the rock star of the fashion world and has three fashion labels – Philipp Plein, Plein Sport and Billionaire. For that important business meeting something assertive and charismatic like the Mercedes Benz Select fragrance would be perfect and make a grand statement when you enter the room. For the man preparing for a night out, Issey Miyake Nuit Bois Arctic would be a gorgeous sparkling aromatic fragrance which will lingers with warm accords. Issey Miyake is a world renowned Japanese fashion designer who launched his fragrance lines in the 1990’s. He is quoted as saying “I’d rather look to the future than to the past”. His fragrances epitomise this adage and he continues to delight us with his sensorial genius.

There is definitely a fragrance out there for every individual and taste. Why not step out of your comfort zone today and try something new?

 Visit your local Dis-Chem store where a trained fragrance consultant will assist you in finding a future favourite. Remember, smell and memory are closely linked. Wear a fragrance that will leave a lasting impression and evoke powerful memories in all who experience it.