How to choose your first perfume: three useful questions

How should a beginner choose perfume?

Choose your usual occasion, note the smells you enjoy and dislike, and set a budget you feel comfortable using Then narrow the choice to two or three scents to try

When will you wear it?

A commute, a weekend out, a dinner date and a quiet moment after a shower may call for different choices Start with the occasion that happens most often instead of looking for one perfect bottle for everything

Which everyday smells appeal to you?

You do not need specialist vocabulary Citrus peel, flowers, wood and fresh cotton can help explain what you enjoy These are descriptions of impressions, not proof that the perfume contains those materials Write down two likes and two dislikes

Will you enjoy using it regularly?

Compare price, size and portability A bottle you feel comfortable wearing often may have more everyday value than one you hesitate to use

Keep notes when you try it

Separate the scents and revisit your impressions after some time If you cannot sample, ask about sweetness, presence and the direction of the scent Personal instinct also matters in Jo Malone London's approach to choosing fragrance A popular ranking can introduce ideas, but your wish to smell it again is a better reason to keep it on your shortlist