Natural Fragrance Shopping Tips

Forget what you know. Approach natural perfumes with an open mind, recommends Ayala Sender, founder of Ayala Moriel Parfums. You may loathe the scent of synthetic tuberose but find you love its natural essence.

Prepare for sticker shock. Keep in mind that price reflects ingredient quality and rarity, says Mandy Aftel, founder of Aftelier Perfumes. Natural essences often require large quantities of expensive raw materials for production. Certified organic products, such as rose and jasmine, can be pricey commodities.

Sample and sample again. Look for brands that offer sample vials of perfume (and ask if you don’t see them advertised) so you can try a broad spectrum of scents. Always try them on your skin before buying, because natural perfumes have unique effects on every skin type, says Persephenie, founder of the eponymous natural fragrance collection. “What smells sweet in the bottle could smell musky on skin, or vice versa,” she adds.

Rethink spray bottles. Given the concentrated and expensive materials used in natural perfumes, you won’t find many sprays. Experiment with roll-on oils, solids, or perfume droppers to see which formula works best on your skin, recommends Sender.

Apply, apply again. Naturals don’t have synthetics’ staying power, so you often have to touch up your scent throughout the day. Travel-size vials, roll-on oils, and solids let natural perfumes travel beyond your bedroom.


For more about natural fragrance, read “Make Sense of Scents.”