Why the same perfume smells different on everyone

The same perfume changes from one person's skin to another because everyone's skin is different: drier or oilier, warmer or cooler, with its own scent. On dry skin, the perfume evaporates sooner and the top notes disappear quickly; on oily skin, it lasts longer and the base notes are more noticeable. The nose of the person smelling it also matters.

"It smelled beautiful on my friend, not on me": we hear this often, and it's normal.

What changes the perfume

• Skin type. Hydrated skin holds the perfume longer.
• Body heat. Warmer skin makes the perfume evaporate faster and makes it more noticeable.
• Skin scent. Everyone has their own, and it mixes with the perfume.
• The moment. In the heat, after sports, or in the evening, the same perfume can seem different.

The extreme case

Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules is built on a single molecule, and it sounds different on everyone: some people smell it strongly while others barely smell it. It's the best way to understand how much skin matters.

How to try it the right way

1. Always on the skin, not just on paper.
2. At most two perfumes at a time, one on each wrist.
3. Wait at least an hour: the base is what you will wear.
4. Even better, a sample to carry for a whole day.

How to make it last longer on your skin is explained in how to wear a perfume; how it changes over the hours, in top, heart, and base notes.

Frequently asked questions

Why does perfume not last long on me?

Often because the skin is dry. An unscented cream before spraying it makes it last longer.

Does diet change the perfume?

It can slightly change the scent of the skin, and therefore how the perfume mixes. But skin type matters much more.