The Best Spring-Inspired Scents - What to Look For

It’s hard not to love the springtime. It’s that time of the year when you can finally dare to put away your winter coat and embrace some sunshine.

It’s also the time when the pretty dresses and flowing skirts come out of the wardrobe; which means a change of fragrance to reflect this feminine, nature-inspired vibe. Looking for the perfect spring perfume? Here’s a handy guide.

Finding the best spring scents

·       Work out your complimentary fragrance. Take a look at your clothes and make-up. If you’re into shimmering eyeshadows and sophisticated dresses, you’ll need a scent that enhances this. Alternatively, lots of pastels and floral prints might need a more ‘girly’ fragrance.

·       Know your ingredients. Wandering into your local department store and grabbing loads of fragrance samples isn’t the most effective way to find the right one. Instead, do a bit of research. Find out what ingredients are in the popular designer scents. To use a famous example, Aventus Creed is dominated by bergamot (a bittersweet citrus smell) and oakmoss. This is ideal if you like bold, lively, masculine fragrances – but not so good if you’re looking for something sweet and delicate!

·       Spring doesn’t always mean flowery. A bit of pink is no bad thing, particularly at this time of year. However, roses and daisies aren’t the only defining scents of the season. While many of the best designer fragrances feature flowers, they’re also packed full of other fresh, invigorating ingredients, like mandarin, lemon, jasmine and apple.

·       Find out what’s in. Get online and start finding out what the celebrities are wearing. All good A-listers keep their fingers firmly on the pulse when it comes to showcasing the latest fragrances; and if they’re raving about it, chances are that it’s worth considering for your next spring scent.

·       Know where to shop. As you probably already know, some of those designer perfumes can get pretty expensive. Remember that you don’t have to spend a fortune to smell great. Some ‘copycat’ versions are incredibly convincing, though make sure you don’t go for the really cheap scents, as they’re often full of chemicals, which are no good for your skin.

Classic spring scents

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are a few well-known perfume ingredients that are suitable for the springtime:

-        Lemon

-        Lime

-        Mandarin

-        Bergamot

-        Jasmine blossom

-        Lavender

-        Apple

-        Pineapple

If you’re planning on wearing it in the evening, look for a fragrance that has top notes of fruit or citrus, combined with more sensual notes of sandalwood or oud oil (for example). Alternatively, if you want something a bit more ‘natural’ and outdoors-inspired, then a perfume with ambergris or vetiver will do the job nicely.

Test them out – to the max

Once you’ve got a good idea of what spring scent you’re interested in, it’s time to test it out. Most department stores will happily provide you with a piece of cardboard, complete with a spritz of your chosen fragrance on it. They’ll also spray some on your wrist if you ask.

This is a good chance to see how the perfume shifts throughout the day. However, if you are able to obtain a small sample bottle, go for it. This enables you to trial it on a number of different occasions, which gives you the real picture on whether it’s right for you or not. For example, it might perfectly complement that cute dress at your friend’s wedding, but clash horribly with your blouse and skirt when you’re in the office!

*This post contains guest content and is sponsored*

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