The key facts

  • Franck Boclet advises against choosing a perfume based only on its description or the look of the bottle
  • A fragrance smells different right after application than it does a few minutes later — it's important to wait for the heart and base notes
  • Skin changes the way a fragrance smells, so it should be tested on yourself; on fabric a perfume may smell different

Perfumer's tips: from first impression to base

Choosing a perfume is a very personal process: the same fragrance can evoke different associations in different people. Franck Boclet, founder of the perfume house Franck Boclet, told Gazeta.Ru about this. founder of the perfume house Franck Boclet, Franck Boclet,According to him, for some people one favorite fragrance for all occasions is enough, but you can also experiment — for example, blending two or three fragrances directly on the skin to create a combination that will belong only to you. There are no strict rules here, the expert emphasized.

Why you shouldn't rush your choice

Boclet noted that you don't necessarily need to understand notes and fragrance families: what matters more is understanding what you feel when applying the fragrance and whether you want to return to it. He does not advise choosing based only on the description or the appearance of the bottle. The key point is time: right after application a perfume smells different than it does several minutes later, so, according to the expert, you should let it develop and experience not only the top notes but also the heart notes and the base, which last longer on the skin.

Skin changes how a fragrance smells

The brand's founder emphasized that skin can indeed slightly alter the way a perfume smells, which is why you should test the fragrance on yourself. For comparison, he suggested applying perfume to clothing as well — on fabric it may smell different than on skin. General descriptions of notes, in his opinion, only help form a first impression, and the final choice should be made after a personal acquaintance with the fragrance. The article is published as part of the outlet's themed series on perfumery: earlier, on November 3, Gazeta.Ru published a psychologist's account of which fragrance can attract a man when meeting someone.