Learning about perfumes: Why do perfumes smell differently on different people? How this can help you pick the right one.

From the time I was a very little girl, I associated a certain fragrance with my beautiful mother. Even after she passed away, I could open one of her perfume bottles and remember how good she always smelled. She wore Clinique Aromatics Elixir every single day.  She was one of those women that never went out without her fragrance on.  She considered it an essential part of getting ready in the morning and it smelled wonderful on her.  I bought some, thinking it would smell the same on me, but it just did not at all. Have you ever really liked someone’s fragrance, asked them what they were wearing, and gone out to buy it, only to find when you got home that it did not smell good on you at all?  Turns out that there are real reasons why that is.  I was curious to find out what those reasons were and started to investigate. Of course, when I started down the rabbit hole researching this, I found that there was a lot about the art of perfumery and fragrance that I didn’t know. It helps to understand some of the background information when you are trying to understand why certain fragrances smell differently on different people and you are trying to pick the right fragrance for yourself.

Perfumes and other fragrances are experienced in what are described as top, middle, and bottom notes:

Top Notes

Top notes are the initial burst of scent that you pick up when you first apply a fragrance. They are usually light with citrusy or fruity essences and are short-lived, lasting just a few minutes to an hour. Examples of citrusy or fruity top notes might be Lemon, Mandarin or Berghamot. Aromatic top notes might be Anis, Lavender or Lemon Grass

Middle Notes

Middle notes are what you get after the top notes dissapate and are consider the “heart” of the fragrance. Middle notes might be floral or spicy and may last for several hours. They balance the initial brightness of the top notes with the heaviness of the base notes. Examples of the “heart” notes could be floral like Rose or Jasmin, green like grass or leaf, fruity like Raspberry or spicy like Cloves, Nutmeg or Cinnamon.

Base Notes

Base notes are the heavier foundations of a fragrance that emerge after the middle notes fade. They may last for an extended time, even up to 24 hours and are composed of heavier ingredients such as woods, resins or musk.  Examples of base notes would be vanilla bean, cedar or Patchouli.

Understanding the layers of fragrance notes put together with a knowledge of body chemistry and environmental factors that affect how fragrance is experienced in individuals can give insights to help you understand and choose perfumes that work for you!

So what are some of these factors?  Here are a few, I was really surprised by some of them:

pH of Skin:

The pH of a person’s skin plays an important role in how a fragrance smells on them. pH is how alkaline or acidic your skin is. Normal skin pH balance is between 4-7, slightly acidic. According to an online article by MTI from 2/12/2025, acidic skin may cause certain fragrances to be sharper, while someone with a more neutral pH may experince a more balanced, softer aroma. Believe it or not you can actualy test the pH of your skin with a pH testing strip.

Body Temperature:

The 2025 online article from MTI also discussed that fragrance molecules react to heat. This means warmer skin can intensify certain fragrance notes, especially base notes like vanilla, musk or amber.  People who have a naturally higher body temperature due to increased circulatory flow may find that the perfume they put on projects stronger  and evolve faster. Those with cooler skin might find that fragrances have a more  subtle scent. This is also why people apply scent to pulse points- the warmth at these points helps the scent diffuse.

Outside temperature matters too. Hot weather will cause the top notes to evaporate faster, leaving you with more of the middle notes. Humidity even plays a role. This means that a fragrance can smell differently on different days or different times of the year.

Diet and Lifestyle Choices:

Spicy or garlicky foods, medications, alcohol and caffiene can alter the way a fragrance reacts on your skin. Eating a lot of spicy foods or a lot of garlic may cause a fragrance to take on a more pronounced, altered quality. Having a hangover from alcohol can actually alter a fragrance on your skin as well. Hydration also affects this, well-hydrated skin can hold a fragrance longer than dehydrated skin.

Hormonal Fluctuations:

Hormonal fluctuations can affect how fragrances interacts on the skin. Pregnancy, the menstrual cycle and stress hormones all affect oil production and this is why a fragrance can smell different on you in different life stages or even different times of the month.

Skin Types: Oily, Dry, Normal &Combination

I was very surprised at how much skin type affects how a fragrance smells and how long-lasting it is.  People who have oily skin may notice that fragrance will last longer on them because the oil allows the fragrance to cling and bind to the fragrance notes. They may also notice it is easier for them to go overboard with fragrance because it can be amplified on them. People with oily skin may like fragrance with citrusy, floral or aquatic scents because they can hold these notes longer               ( Fragrance Advice, 2024, online). Individuals with dry skin may notice that they absorb fragrance faster and their fragrance can wear off quicker. Those with dry skin might like fragrances with heavier base tones because milder bouqets could dissapate faster. (Fragrance Advice, 2024, online).  Keeping skin hydrated and moisturized can help fragrance last longer throughout the day.

Those with normal skin have a little bit more room for variety, and those with sensitive skin may opt for fragrance from natural essential oils.

I was amazed at the number of factors that affect how fragrance smells on one person versus another. Obviously everyone’s body chemistry is different but personal preference is important as well. The best way to find out what smells good on you is to experiment. You should always try perfumes on your skin instead of on a test strip. Spray perfumes or fragrances on your wrist or the inside of your elbow and let it mature over a few hours. This is known as dry-down and will reveal the heart and base notes, which can be the most defining elements of the scent (MTI, 2025, online).

Once you have fragrances that smell great, reflect your personality, and that you love, find a good source. I like checking fragrances out in person, but I also like to find a good source with reasonable pricing after I have picked what I like. I have ordered several perfumes from Perfumania with good results. Their prices were much better than at my local department store, and they had prompt and efficient service. Here is the link if you want to check them out:

https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101159793-12884870