What Makes a Good Perfume?

By a girl who smells good — but not, like, intimidating-good

One day in the office in my twenties I think at the time I was IT support grovelling under desks I heard a voice say wow someone smells great That someone was me. Wearing a couple of sprays of Chanel which turned out to be my go-to for life.  What prompted me to write this blog was meeting a lady I got talking to in TK Max that had found hers and was oozing in confidence in her 60's and enjoying every compliment.

Let’s get real: finding a good perfume is like dating in your thirties. You’re just trying to find one that doesn’t give you a headache, isn’t secretly toxic, and doesn’t ghost you halfway through the day. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes. Yes it is.

There’s nothing more humbling than thinking you’ve found your scent soulmate — only to realize it’s gone by lunchtime or smells like wet cardboard the second you step outside. But don’t worry. I’ve sniffed, spritzed, and suffered through enough bad fragrance choices for the both of us. So, let’s break it down.

You know exactly the scent I’m talking about. That sweet, synthetic fog of sugary body spray that felt luxurious when we were 13 — but now smells like trauma and questionable text messages. We’ve evolved. Our noses have matured. We want a scent that smells like we journal at cafés and have a skincare routine, not like we just left a Claire’s clearance bin.

A good perfume has layers. Complexity. It smells like you, but if “you” had a French lover, did yoga in a sunlit loft in Paris, and always remembered to water your plants. It says, “I’m effortlessly put-together,” even if you just wiped lipstick off your teeth in the car.

Perfume is basically emotional chemistry in bottle form. And perfume people love to talk about notes — like they're sommeliers and your wrist is the tasting glass.

• Top notes: These are your flirty hellos — citrus, herbs, light florals. The “Oh hi!” part. They’re the ones that hit you first and disappear fast (kind of like the guy who said he was “emotionally available” on Hinge).

• Heart notes (or middle notes): These are the main character. They stick around longer and give the perfume its personality — think rose, jasmine, spice, or fruit. They’re the part that makes people go, “What is that? It smells familiar but also... kinda magical?”

• Base notes: The final act. The slow burn. The ones that linger on your scarf for days after. We’re talking sandalwood, musk, vanilla, amber. These are the notes that make people remember you.

A good perfume moves through all three stages like a rom-com with a satisfying ending. Not just a flat, one-scent wonder that disappears faster than your motivation on a Monday morning.

Look, we love a statement. But perfume is not meant to be loud. If people can smell you before you enter the room — or worse, after you’ve left and they’re still coughing — it’s too much.

Think “gentle trail” not “chemical warfare.” A good perfume whispers. It floats past you like a soft breeze, not a fire drill.

Pro tip: Moisturize first. Fragrance sticks to hydrated skin better. And spray lightly — wrists, behind the ears, maybe a touch in your hair or on your clothes (but check your fabric first, unless you’re into eau de permanent stain). This is not a marinade. You’re not dinner.

Here’s where it gets tricky — and kind of fascinating: perfume smells different on every person.

Yup. The scent you fell in love with on your best friend might turn into a weird baby powder moment on you. Or just completely vanish. Why? Because of science, skin chemistry, and maybe karma (jk).

Your body’s unique pH, oil levels, diet, and even hormones affect how a fragrance develops. That’s why it’s so important to try before you buy. Spray it, wear it for a day, see how it mixes with your natural scent. What smells luxe and warm on someone else might smell sharp and weird on you — and that’s totally normal.

The goal? A perfume that enhances your natural scent. One that settles in and feels like it belongs on you. You don’t want to feel like you’re wearing a costume. You want to feel like your hottest, most put-together self… just in fragrance form.

Let’s be honest: a good perfume should make you feel good. Not just "Oh, this smells nice" — but "I’m about to walk into a coffee shop and absolutely wreck someone’s week just by existing."

The best perfumes have emotional energy. They’re a mood booster. A little boost of confidence. A soft flex. Whether you’re into fresh and clean, dark and spicy, floral and feminine, or “I just walked out of a forest wearing silk” — your perfume should make you feel some type of way.

Bonus points if it makes people want to lean in closer. Even more if they casually ask, “What are you wearing?” and you get to pause dramatically and say something mysterious like, “Oh, it’s just something I picked up in Paris,” when really it was a duty-free impulse buy at the airport.

If not, don’t panic. Finding the right perfume takes time. You’re not supposed to nail it on the first try. (Same goes for dating, eyeliner, and folding a fitted sheet.)

A signature scent is the one you reach for again and again. It’s the one that gets compliments. The one that feels right. It becomes part of your presence — a little invisible extension of your personality.

Not sure where to start? Try:

• Clean florals if you like light, elegant, everyday freshness.

• Warm gourmands if you want sweet, cozy, delicious energy.

• Spicy woods if you want to feel powerful, expensive, maybe a little dangerous.

• Fruity blends if you’re playful, bright, and want something fun without being overly sweet.

And remember: You don’t need to follow trends. If everyone’s raving about a perfume that doesn’t feel like you, that’s okay. The best scent is the one that makes you feel amazing.

A good perfume isn’t just about smelling good — it’s about feeling unshakably you. It’s your invisible signature. Your vibe in vapor form. Your mood on a molecular level.

So don’t settle for one that fades too fast, overwhelms a room, or doesn’t make you feel a little bit electric. Test, play, explore. Be picky. You’re not just picking a fragrance — you’re picking the scent version of your favourite self.

And if it happens to linger longer than your last relationship? Even better.