Step 1: Choose Your Weapons
If fragrance is the ultimate Weapon of Mass Seduction then it certainly pays to know what kind of ordnance your dealing with! In terms of strength, parfum (like Amouage Interlude Man Eau De Parfum) is the strongest (and longest lasting) type, followed by eau de toilette (which generally lasts for around four or five hours), eau de cologne and aftershave. Because of the way they’re constructed, most fragrances also change as they mature on the skin and as different ‘notes’ (i.e. ingredients) emerge.
Most fragrances are based around ‘Top Notes’ which you smell first and dissipate after just a few minutes, ‘Heart Notes’ which last a few hours and warmer ‘Base Notes’ which can last all day. This is why it’s important not to judge a fragrance until it’s had time to develop on your skin. Bear in mind, too, that your skin’s unique chemistry can alter how a fragrance smells on you, compared to how it smells on someone else.