French perfumery expert Clémence Pels shared tips with the BBC on how to buy perfume the French way.
French Style
A true Parisian avoids heavy and complex scents, preferring the principle of "less is more".
Today, "clean" scents are trending: the smell of fresh laundry, slightly soapy notes, or those reminiscent of baby powder and natural skin scent.
Perfume should create an atmosphere of effortlessness, not announce itself from a mile away.
The Art of Application: Where and How
French women apply fragrance only to pulse points so that body heat helps it unfold.
Coco Chanel advised applying perfume where you expect a kiss, so the main place is behind the ears (that's where the gaze and nose of the interlocutor fall during a traditional French greeting).
At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to rub wrists together — it is believed that this spoils the structure of the scent.
The Culture of Choosing
A Parisian perfume shop is a place for dialogue. Don't rush to the bottles and touch everything in sight — it's better to start a conversation with a salesperson who will act as your curator.
The expert advises testing no more than 3-5 fragrances per visit to avoid overwhelming your sense of smell, and definitely waiting about 20 minutes for the scent to settle on the skin.
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