Why you shouldn't judge a perfume by its first spray

Have you ever tried a perfume, smelled it for a few seconds, and immediately thought: 'No, I don't like it'?

I often see this reaction in perfume shops. I have someone try a fragrance, the first spray hits, and I immediately see a somewhat doubtful expression. And very often I say: wait. Don't judge it yet. Because a perfume needs time.

The first spray is only the beginning. In the first few seconds, you only smell the top notes, but they are just the opening. As the minutes pass, the heart notes arrive, and then the base notes. What seemed too strong at first can become soft and enveloping. Sometimes it changes so much that I hear: 'Is this the same perfume as before?' Yes, it is. We just gave it time to tell its story.

On the skin, it’s a whole different story. A scent strip can help, but on the skin, a perfume meets something unique: us. This is why the same fragrance can have different nuances from person to person. When a fragrance intrigues me, I wear it and live with it for a few hours. Because for me, choosing a perfume isn’t about deciding if a smell is good or not. It’s about finding something that speaks to you, that makes you feel good, and that you want to smell again on your skin.

My advice? Don't be in a hurry. Spray it on your skin, wait, and smell it again after a while. Sometimes, it’s exactly the perfume you said 'I don't like' to that becomes the one you keep smelling on your wrist. And that is why I created the VG Charme Discovery Set: to give you the time and peace of mind to really try it. You can choose four fragrances to discover, and if you don't know which ones to pick, you can write to me: I’ll be happy to help you. Because the right perfume isn't always the one that wins you over at the first spray.