Marie Claire Fragrance Finder Q & A

“Discover your scent… reveal your signature fragrance.”

I was on Michael Edwards site, Fragrances of the World, checking out the Discover 3 Ways To Find A New Fragrance You’ll Love! application, which translates to: “if you like ________, then you might also like ________.” Kinda neat, but not super useful. For one, I don’t have one favorite fragrance, and liking something (for me) doesn’t indicate that I’ll like something similar. Even liking or disliking a particular family doesn’t tell me whether I’ll like individual perfumes in said families. I wish I knew why this was so, but I really can’t say.

While on Edwards’ site, I clicked on the Marie Claire link from the “Explore our showcase” column. It lead me to the Fragrance Finder.

What fun!

I took the test, and then I took it again.

I suppose that the Fragrance Finder (FF) would be useful to someone less obsessed with fragrance than I am.
“I liked Tommy Girl when I was in high-school, so now that I’m graduated from college I’ll wear J’Adore.” Both by Calice Becker, right? Seems reasonable.

You might like Oriental Fragrances
Fearless and slightly mysterious, you’re drawn to things that are unique, luxurious, and sexy. You like to be in the know when it comes to trends, and you’re always up for trying something new. This means you need a statement-making fragrance that is rich and instantly recognizable. The sensual notes in oriental scents like amber, patchouli, musk, and vanilla stand out because they’re warm and rich. These fragrances are often mixed with bold flower scents like tuberose and jasmine, and can be enhanced with spices or sweetened with sugary notes.

My recommended fragrances? Burberry Brit, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, and, Armani Code for Women.

You might also like Woody Fragrances
You seem like the calm, nurturing type who makes others feel at ease. You have a self-confidence that’s extremely attractive. Your boho-chic aesthetic is more glam than granola, and you always look great in an effortless way. This indicates that you might like a scent that’s sexy yet earthy and unconventional. Classic woody fragrances are dominated by notes of cedar, patchouli, pine, sandalwood, and vetiver. Some newer versions are blended with exotic oriental notes, fresh citrus and lush green leaves, or feminine flowers.

My recommended fragrances in this category: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist, Clinique Aromatics Elixir, Estée Lauder Sensuous.

Of the fragrances that ought to become my “signature” scent, I’ve only tried Cashmere Mist—which to my nose smells like Motel 6 bar soap. Ick.

After taking the quiz again, with somewhat different responses, I found that:

You might like Floral Fragrances
Fragrances that I might like are:
Stella by Stella McCartney (which I do like, and own), J’Adore by Christian Dior, and Romance by Ralph Lauren.

I used to really like J’Adore, but I’m guessing that there has been some serious tinkering, since the last time I smelled it, it was unappealing at best.
Someone I knew wore Romance, and it smelled great on them. I haven’t tried it on skin.

Does the Fragrance Finder actually work, or just randomly assign a fragrance family to test-takers? Hard to say. Yes, I like oriental perfumes. I like woody perfumes, and floral perfumes, and leathers, and chypre’s too. I guess the FF quiz is at least as good as the one’s found on Facebook (which Joss Whedon character are you?)

The same quiz is also available at Realbeauty.