How to Find Your Signature Scent (and Be Remembered for It)

You probably can't remember what your grandmother said to you when you were six.

You can remember exactly how her house smelled.

Smell is wired closely to memory. So the perfume you wear is, quite literally, how people will remember you.

Most people leave that to chance. A gift. A sale. Whatever was on the counter. Here is how to choose it on purpose, in five steps.

What is a signature scent?

A signature scent is the one fragrance people come to associate with you. It suits your skin, your style and your daily life well enough that you reach for it without thinking. It does not have to be your only perfume, but it is the one that smells like you.

Step 1: Start with smells you already love

Forget perfume for a moment. Think about the smells that make you stop.

• Clean washing, sea air, cut citrus: you lean fresh.
• A florist, jasmine at night, a rose garden: you lean floral.
• Pencil shavings, a campfire, a leather jacket: you lean woody.
• Vanilla, warm spice, incense, a bakery: you lean amber.

That one answer narrows a wall of perfume down to a shelf.

Step 2: Learn the four fragrance families

Most perfumes blend two families, which is why you see names like fresh woody or amber floral. In our perfume range you can filter by fragrance family and by scent mood.

Step 3: Choose for the trail, not the opening

Every perfume moves through three stages.

• The Opening: the first few minutes. Bright, and gone quickly.
• The Heart: the character of the perfume, once it settles.
• The Trail: what stays on your skin for hours, and what other people remember.

Most perfume is bought on the opening and lived with on the trail. Flip that. Every LeScent perfume page lists all three, so read the Trail first.

Step 4: Pick your strength

For a signature scent, Eau de Parfum is the sensible middle. It has enough presence to be noticed and enough staying power for a working day. Every LeScent perfume is a 50ml Eau de Parfum, made with French fragrance concentrates from Grasse and blended in Sydney.

Step 5: Wear it before you decide

1. Test on skin. Paper tells you what a perfume smells like. Skin tells you what it smells like on you.
2. One scent at a time. Your nose gets confused after two or three.
3. Wait. Give it at least half an hour to reach the Trail.
4. Wear it for a full day. Notice whether you keep smelling your wrist or forget it is there.
5. Ask one person you trust. One honest opinion beats ten polite ones.

The right one is easy to spot. You stop noticing you are wearing it, and other people start.

How to buy perfume online without smelling it first

1. Use a perfume you know as your map. Each LeScent perfume names the well-known fragrance it is inspired by, so a scent you already love tells you where to look. Read inspired perfume, explained for how that works.
2. Read the notes and the mood. The family, the three stages and the Feels Like line on each page tell you more than a name does.
3. Start small. Try the scent as a 10ml roll-on perfume oil first. If you love it after a week, buy the bottle.
4. Read the reviews. Look for people describing how it wears, not only whether they like it.

One signature, or a wardrobe?

You don't have to choose one for life. Many people settle on two or three: one for every day, one for evenings, and a lighter one for summer. Heat makes any perfume louder, so a scent that feels perfect in July can feel heavy in January.

Shop by style: feminine, masculine and unisex perfumes.

Make it yours

A signature scent is more convincing when it is everywhere you are. Wear it on skin, carry it in your hair, and bring it into your space. To help it last, start with a perfume primer and read how to make perfume last longer.

Want something few people will ever smell on anyone else? Magique and Batches are our limited releases. When they are gone, they are gone.

Signature scent FAQs

How do I know if a perfume suits me?

You still like it at the end of the day, it feels natural on you, and people mention it without being asked.

Why does perfume smell different on me than on someone else?

Skin differs from person to person. Your skin's moisture, warmth and natural chemistry change how a perfume opens and how long it stays.

What is the difference between eau de parfum and eau de toilette?

Eau de parfum carries more fragrance oil, so it is richer and lasts longer. Eau de toilette is lighter and fades sooner.

How many sprays of perfume should I wear?

Two to four sprays of an eau de parfum is enough: the neck, the chest and one wrist. Use fewer at work.

How long does eau de parfum last?

On most skin, a working day, and longer on fabric. It varies with your skin and the weather.

Is there a real difference between men's and women's perfume?

It is mostly marketing. Wear what you like. Many of the most loved scents are unisex.

What perfume gets the most compliments?

The one that suits you and is not over-applied. A scent with a clear trail gets noticed more than a loud opening.

Can I have more than one signature scent?

Yes. A small wardrobe of two or three scents you love is still a signature.

Find yours

Explore the LeScent perfume range, or start with the bestsellers. Adding a matching roll-on or hair mist? Build your set in the bundle builder so the bundle saving applies.