Fresh, fun or feminine, the fragrance you choose to wear when you walk down the aisle will forever capture the mood of your special day.

Choosing the right bridal fragrance is as important as choosing the right wedding photographer because a fragrance holds the same sentimental value as a photograph. Research shows that the part of your brain that recognises smell is connected to you limbic system, where your deepest memories emotions and desires are stored. When you look back at a photograph, the visual will help you conjure up memories of that special moment; a sniff you your bridal fragrance can also evoke those same vivid memories.

Fragrances are categorised according to their fragrance family. It’s an interesting fact that most of us tend to like fragrances from the same fragrance family, usually because we associate their scent with positive memories from our past. There are five basic fragrance families – Oriental, citrus, floral, green and woody.

Oriental fragrances are described as hypnotic and enchanting, usually containing ingredients such as vanilla, musk, spices and exotic flowers.

Citrus fragrances are clean, tangy and refreshing, like the smell of fresh citrus fruits.

Floral fragrances are described as soft and fresh.

Green fragrances are sharp and can be compared with the smell of freshly cut grass or the scent of crushed leaves.

Woody fragrances are deep and hearty like an old forest, enriched with the aroma of wood, oak, moss or sandalwood.

However, no matter which fragrance family you favour, there’s no such thing as a right or wrong one, just the one that vest reflects you and your occasion. Your bridal fragrance plays a significant role on your wedding day. It’s not just something that you can smell, it’s also an emotion and a state of mind. The fragrance you wear has a great capacity to evoke your most intense feeling and memories, so choose carefully.

But for many of us, shopping for the perfect fragrance can be an overwhelming experience. With such a magnitude of fragrances to choose from, it’s hard to know just where to start.

Here are some tips to help you with selecting your bridal fragrance.

photo credit: Bloomacious

Shopping for you bridal fragrance

• Always shop for your fragrance weeks ahead of the wedding. This allows you to get used to the fragrance so you do not feel uncomfortable or conscious of the way you smell on the day.
• Your sense of smell is usually sharper at the beginning of the day, so try to shop for your fragrance in the morning.
• Make sure that your skin is clean and scent-free before you start shopping. This means no perfume, scented body lotions, perfumed deodorant or soaps.
• To ensure that you have selected a fragrance objectively, never try more than three fragrances on your skin at once. Apply the first fragrance to your wrist, wait a while, then apply the second fragrance to your other wrist and the third fragrance to the inside of your elbow. Now ‘live’ with the fragrances for a day. This way, you will be able to test them individually and get a better idea of how each fragrance develops with time. By wearing a fragrance home, you are also able to get a second opinion form your fiancé or best friend.
• Never buy a fragrance without testing it first. Fragrances will smell different on different people. Just because it smell good on your friend doesn’t mean that it will smell the same on you.
• Once you have decided on a fragrance, why not splash out on the complete range of products? Many fragrances are also available as body lotions, scented powder, body sprays, shower gels, hair sprays and deodorants.

Wearing your bridal fragrance

• You can make your fragrances last longer by layering different products of the same fragrance.
• Instead of spraying half the bottle of perfume on to make it last the whole day, you can start by using a scented body lotion, followed by scented oils and then a spray of your perfume. By using different products, you will enhance the staying power of your fragrance.
• Apply fragrances to your pulse points – your wrists, the hollow in your collarbone and behind your knees. These are the heat centres of your body and will allow the fragrance to defuse throughout the day.
• Always let your fragrance dry first before you get into your wedding dress. Although fragrances don’t usually stain, you should never take that chance!