How to find your signature scent

A day is made better by the fragrant aroma of a signature scent.

The fresh whiff of daisies, the warmth of a vanilla dessert or even the sting of a pepper hits the nose in a special way. Smells create memories and enhance experiences differently than other senses. An aroma is not just a delightful pick-me-up, but a way to express a person’s uniqueness and personality. As fall approaches Syracuse along with a new wardrobe, students may be looking for a new perfume to wear.  Bath and Body Works will be selling it signature scents in Syracuse University’s Bookstore this academic year, including bestselling scent options such as Champagne Toast and Clean House Vibes in a range of products. With this new addition, here’s how to find your signature scent.

Think about environmental factors and skin types

Knowing how a scent reacts to factors like humidity, heat and sweat helps with choosing the right scent. 

Although evaporation makes fragrances potent, it is only for a short time and the smell disappears quickly. Sweat, on the other hand, creates bacteria on the skin that mixes with a perfume. This combination creates a muted aroma, making it harder to smell on the wearer. 

In cooler weather, perfumes last longer compared to warmer weather. However, in lower temperatures, scents tend to stick to the skin, meaning the smell can be more subtle. 

Other lifestyle factors like skin chemistry, diet and age affect how a scent lasts and smells, said Yosh Han, the founder of Eau de Yosh, a perfume brand and creative director of Scent Trunk, a perfume publishing house. 

“If you have dry or supple skin, the fragrances will not project the same,” Han said. “Well-moisturized skin helps scents last longer, as well as layering.”

Methodically apply for longevity

Where perfume is applied can help its aroma last longer. Applying  scents to parts of the body like wrists or on the back of knees helps an aroma linger on the wearer. 

Mindy Yang, co-founder and CEO of the World Taste and Smell Association and founder and CEO of Perfumarie, said pressing in a scent to the skin rather than rubbing, as well as layering a fragrance with a matching body lotion or oil, helps with longevity.

“Avoid rubbing your wrists together. It breaks down the molecules,” Yang said. “Try matching your body wash, lotion and fragrance within the same scent family.”

Look for scent types that perform best in particular temperature

Citrus scents like lemon and floral scents like iris are light enough to last without smelling too overpowering in warmer temperatures. Scents such as vanilla or cinnamon are strong and cozier scents that can be smelled in cooler temperatures and over layers of clothing.  

Mahlon Gatneau, co-founder of Syracuse-based Wick.ed Aromas, said customers purchase scents based on their moods or experiences.

“Perfumes bring back memories. It brings back something that you might have had as a child,”  Gatneau said. “You smell something and say ‘Oh, this reminds me of my grandmother or the house I lived in or my dog as a child.’”