The battle for your nose (and wallet): getting your fragrance game on point for work and beyond!

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟯𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆?

For a frag head like me, that stat never fails to surprise. Whether we’re closing deals in the boardroom, working hard on a construction site, or enjoying a weekend getaway, how we smell speaks volumes about who we are. 

From my childhood, fragrances have always been such a personal, powerful and important form of expression. I started with Davidoff Cool Water entering high school and over the years built up a respectable collection of designer and clone fragrances. I'm not joking, if I leave home without wearing perfume I feel like I went out wearing one sock!

Anyway, I digress. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲. It's not just about smelling good to others—more importantly, it's about how the scent makes 𝘺𝘰𝘶 feel. The right fragrance can boost your confidence and add to your personality, literally a breath of fresh air.

But how do you navigate the world of fragrance, especially when the options seem endless? 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝘀. 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝘀. 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲—the options can feel overwhelming. 

Here's my guide to help you find what fragrances works best for 𝘺𝘰𝘶, no matter your budget or style.

1️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹

The most important rule: 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. While some scents are crowd-pleasers, it’s essential to choose what resonates with 𝘺𝘰𝘶 first and foremost. 

There are four major classes of fragrances (floral, woody, amber and fresh), and they can be further divided into sub-types (for example, fruity fragrances fall under floral). Many fragrances have overlapping characteristics and cannot be put in just one box. For example, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝘀 (for men) is a legendary, popular choice, with its bold pineapple and smoky birch notes that feel powerful and sophisticated. 

Creed Aventus 

(While I'm not one to throw shade on any fragrance, I have to say Aventus is a victim of its success. It has been copied so often that to people like me there is nothing especially interesting about it, especially because the maker has reformulated it. It is also extremely expensive, which to me is an important consideration. End of rant.) 

Fragrances come in different concentrations of perfume oils, from highest to lowest, with the higher concentrations performing longest, and the lowest concentrations often projecting more but fading away more quickly (these are not hard and fast rules, just a generalization):

• Parfum – 20-40%
• Eau de Parfum – 15-20%
• Eau de Toilette – 5-15%
• Eau de Cologne – 2-5%
• Eau Fraîche – 1-3%

So where to apply your fragrance? On skin pulse points are best because the heat there gently activates most fragrances to perform better. Think in the crooks of your arms, on the neck, behind the ears, on your wrists and behind the knees. Do not spray in the air and walk through it, that's just a waste of perfectly good perfume. (Read this indepth article on Yahoo to learn more about how much perfume to apply.)

To make your fragrance last much longer, consider spraying on clothes, but be careful of staining. To check if your perfume could leave stains, simply spray a white paper towel with your fragrance and observe if there is any apparent color left behind.

If you feel unsure about what concentration of perfume to get, the best thing you can do is visit a fragrance boutique and talk to the people there about what you like and try on fragrances. If you don't know what you like, they will be glad to help you find something, as well as suggest how much to spray and where you should do it. 

Remember, you shouldn't necessarily buy at retail stores. More on that later.

2️⃣ 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

Gourmand fragrances with their dessert-like scents, have become incredibly popular in the last two

Lattafa Khamra

years. They are not always trying to smell like food, but definitely they take inspiration from edibles. Think sweet, comforting fragrances like 𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 (for men), 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻 (for men), 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗵 (unisex), or 𝗫𝗲𝗿𝗷𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶 (for women). These are perfect for colder months when you want something cozy and warm, but these are not necessarily the best in a conservative office environment. But if you can rock it, then you do you.

Balance is key, in warmer weather you will want to wear lighter scents. For example 𝗝𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲 & 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 (unisex), 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 (unisex), or 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) which work better for professional settings. Fruity fragrances are very popular now, and anything with citrus notes of lemon, bergamot or grapefruit is probably going to work. 

3️⃣ 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀?

Middle Eastern and Asian fragrances have been sought after and prized by collectors for thousands of years, not least because of oud, which has gone from once being an ingredient in oriental fragrances only to now being a centrepiece in fragrances produced around the world. Once a challenging scent that was an acquired taste for those unaccustomed to it, oud has a strong animalic quality that is useful in making fragrances last longer and perform more loudly. Real oud is fantastically expensive and rich, as much for its rarity as it's incredibly complex extraction process. Synthetic oud materials are common enough that you can enjoy without breaking the bank, although for those who know, synthetics pale in comparison to the real thing.

(Interested in knowing more about oud? Watch this documentary all about it.)

But there is something else now happening that has completely turned the fragrance community upside down. 

What is it? Clones.

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Parfum, one of the most hyped clones of Creed Aventus 

Why? Right now 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 such as 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 and 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 are all the rage, even though you're not likely to see them in traditional big brick and mortar stores. They offer fragrances that mimic luxury designer scents, often at a fraction of the price. Are they the same level quality as the originals? Not usually, although it can happen that some are even better than the original! However, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝟴𝟬-𝟵𝟬% 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Not only that, but the clone brands are rapidly improving with each new fragrance they release. In some cases they are cloning once-loved, now discontinued or reformulated fragrances.

I can easily recommend clones as a great option if you’re looking to try something before wearing the original, especially if it is expensive. Anything with a luxury price tag can be a big decision, I get that. Personally, I think most people will simply not be able to smell the difference between many originals and their clones. 

Keep in mind that not all Middle Eastern brands are trying to make copycat fragrances. If you have the cash, on the luxury side, 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 and 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 (varied options) offer high-end and unique fragrances that are rich, complex, and perfect for special occasions, and they will definitely get you noticed for all the right reasons, including at work, but here's a piece of advice: don't use heavy oud scents, those are still divisive with many people.

You want to wear your fragrance, not have the fragrance wear you. 

4️⃣ 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸

Luxury doesn’t always have to be out of reach. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 (for men) or 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 (for women) are classics that offer great value for their quality. They fall within the $100–$150 range, making them attainable for many. If you’re looking for something on the higher end, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) or 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 (unisex) are timeless choices with prices starting around $250 and going up. Don’t forget: sometimes fragrance pricing is tied to branding rather than the actual ingredients.

5️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲

Fragrance deals don’t have to be elusive. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗫, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗡𝗲𝘁, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 are great places to score discounts on both designer and dupe fragrances. You can find high-quality fragrances of every type from France and Dubai, usually at a fraction of what you would pay at retail. I say usually because there are boutiques who might give you a better deal. Remember to factor amount of perfume, shipping and taxes when comparing prices.

6️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 

Influencers I like, including 𝗕𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗚𝘂𝘆, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗿. 𝗦𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, often share detailed fragrance reviews. They can offer interesting info about new perfumes that have not yet hit stores or the online 

Bow Tie Fragrance Guy on YouTube 

discounters. Keep in mind that some influencers may have brand partnerships or at least certain biases; these are subjective analyses after all, so consider cross-referencing reviews. Websites like 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮 and 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝗼 can provide extensive user reviews, giving you a broader perspective on the longevity and performance of different fragrances.

7️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

Fragrance is about the right fit for the moment. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 scents like 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀 (the original, Ice or Black, all for men) work well in warmer weather or professional settings, while 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 fragrances like 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 (for men) or 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺 (for women) are suited for cooler months or evening events. Start by building a versatile collection and then adding more specialized fragrances after. Remember, you don't need to break the bank to smell good!

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. Whether you’re looking for something unique or sticking to a more widely-loved scent, the right fragrance can boost your confidence and make a lasting impression. Take your time exploring and experimenting until you find the scent that speaks to you.

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