Top 5 Perfumes for Different College Scenarios
We all know that the way you dress can show off who you are, but far too often, the way you smell is only an afterthought.
But think about this: smell is the strongest sense tied to memory! The way you smell can say just as much about you as the way you dress, and you should pay just as much attention to it as you do your wardrobe.
So, play around with fragrance–find your signature scent!
I realize perfume can get pretty pricey, and all of these perfumes may not fit into your college budget, but there are always lots inexpensive alternatives at stores like Victoria’s Secret or Bath & Body Works. You can also invest in a sample size, body mist, or lotion of your favorite scent to save money! If all else fails, save a place for perfume on your holiday wish list!
These are my top 5 fragrance picks for some of the fun scenarios you’ll encounter on campus.
Scenario 1: Big Presentation
Desire: Confidence, intelligence, and some good luck!
Scent: Sophisticated.
Try: Ralph Lauren Romance.
Ralph Lauren Romance is the ultimate in sophistication and class. The scent is clean, timeless, and beautiful.
If you’re trying to project a stylish, refined vibe, go for Romance. It’s a floral fragrance that features rose, white violet, day lilly, patchouli, and ginger, just to name a few notes. Liquid classiness, Romance will give you all the confidence you desire.
Get Yours: Ralph Lauren Romance is available at Nordstrom.
Scenario 2: Date
Desire: Attractive, confident, sweet.
Scent: Confectionery.
Try: Aquolina Pink Sugar.
Studies show that guys love the scent of vanilla. My studies show that college guys love the smell of Pink Sugar.
If you haven’t tried Aquolina Pink Sugar, now is the time! It’s a sultry-sweet scent that smells just like fresh-spun cotton candy and vanilla. I use Pink Sugar hair perfume, and have recommended the fragrance to friends, and we’ve all gotten rave reviews from the boys. They love it.
Pink Sugar is definitely sweet, (and because of this, probably not something you’ll want to wear every day) but it’s perfect for that fraternity formal or hot date with your special someone!
Get Yours: Aquolina Pink Sugar is available at Sephora.
Scenario 3: Finals Week
Desire: Knowledge, memory, calm.
Scent: Fresh, but subtle.
Try: Zents Petal Eau De Toilette.
Zents fragrances are special, but subtle. They use natural ingredients like shea butter and essential oils to create a thereputic experience through their scents, all of which can be layered for unique “custom blends.”
Zents are perfect for those of you who usually don’t wear perfume, or are sensitive to scent–they were created to be gentle, and are loved by those who are usually very sensitive to fragrance! I know this to be true–my dad is extremely scent-sensitive, and my mom and I both wear Zents’ Sun perfume without complaint from him!
I picked Petal for finals, but Zents Eau De Toilettes come in ten different fragrances, all of which would be perfect alone or in combination for a spritz on the wrist before that final exam.
Get Yours: Zents Petal Eau De Toilette is available at Zents.com.
Scenario 4: House Party
Desire: Casual, cute, fun.
Scent: Fruity.
Try: Live Luxe Jennifer Lopez.
I know what you’re thinking: Celebrity perfume? Psh! No way. I thought the same thing, until a friend gave me a bottle of Live Luxe by J.Lo for Christmas last year.
Not only is the bottle totally adorable on my desk, this perfume actually smells great. It’s the definition of flirty and fruity with notes such as pear, melon, honeysuckle, peach, and freesia, but it doesn’t smell juvenile, or overly-sweet. Live Luxe is a perfect, light scent for any casual occasion where you just want to have fun and smell good! Great for party nights.
Get Yours: Live Luxe by J.Lo is available on Amazon.
Scenario 5: Lazy Sunday
Desire: Relax, chill, lounge.
Scent: Soft floral.
Try: Philosophy Pure Grace.
Pure Grace is actually the softer little sister of Philosophy’s best-selling Amazing Grace fragrance. A subtle, calming scent, Pure Grace is great for those lazy, lounging, homework Sundays when you’ve got nothing major going on.
The notes of the fragrance, bergamot, water lily, lavender, jasmine, cool greens, and musk, mix seamlessly together to create a scent that’s comforting and fresh. It’s hard to pick out any of the notes specifically, because Pure Grace is such a nice, soft blend. If you want something pure and simple, pick Pure Grace for those Sunday afternoons.
Get Yours: Philosophy Pure Grace is available at Sephora.
What are your thoughts about scent?
Do you girls have a signature perfume that you ALWAYS wear, or do you like to switch it up? What’s your favorite scent? When do you wear perfume? Let us know in the comments!
Posted on on September 10, 2009 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: Beauty, Fragrance, Perfume, Scent, Top 5
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Cara
Great post! I am one of those girls who buys body sprays and perfume and then forgets to wear them because I’m in a rush or lazy. Probably half the time I wear Bath and Body Works delightfully inexpensive Honeysuckle body splash, though I smelled my friend’s Magnolia Blossom and am craving it, even though it’s seasonal so I have to wait until at least Christmas :(. Also dying to try the Ralph Lauren perfume you posted…I only have a fruity perfume (Escada Rockin’ Rio), and have never been able to decide on my favorite of the more sophisticated scents.
Dawn
I love wearing Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP to college as it smells slightly spicy and youthful but sophisticated.
myvogue
I love the Romance by Ralph Lauren and also another favorite of mine is the Tropical Punch by Escada, but is so hard to find it lately.
Melanie
I have honestly never thought much about my perfume choices, but maybe I should. Although it is kind of sad that my english comp professor has banned all perfumes because she’s allergic.
Jessica
Oh my goodness this post is brilliant! I love everything you thought about for this post (the desires, scents, and recommendations). I’ll have to look into some of these. Lazy Sunday one catches my eye.
Callie
Live Luxe is really good! :) Some of my favorite perfumes are celebrity perfumes..With Love by Hilary Duff, Fantasy by Britney Spears (which Taylor Swift said is a favorite, too), and Paris Hilton’s original scent are all great.
Samantha
I always wear Burberry London for important things that I need to feel classy for (like finals and presentations and interviews) and Clinique Happy for anything outdoorsy. I’m also a fan of the above-mentioned Bath and Body Works Honeysuckle! I used to wear perfume every day, but I feel like since I’ve started college I’ve gotten way too lazy about it. Maybe I just need to pick up something cheap and pretty-smelling to get back on track.
Varsha
Daisy by Marc Jacobs and Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture are staples in my book.
charlotte
I have amazing grace and I love it. I wear it everyday almost and even though I wear it to school it’s just something that smells nice but is so subtle. You can layer other philosophy products over it too and it’s not overbearing:)
Liz
My fave is Pure Grace – it’s floral yet clean and soapy without making you smell like a detergent. Remember, though, that each perfume smells differently on different people! Don’t give up if you don’t find your fave right away.
Carly
I cannot live without my Burberry Summer, even though it’ll be winter soon.
Catherine
When I wear perfume, I almost always wear Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. It’s my favorite scent and I find it wearable for day and night. It isn’t too strong but I know people can smell it because whenever I wear it, people tell me I smell good. I definitely prefer having a signature scent than switching it up all the time.
Luinae
My fave one for day is the Body Shop Perfume Oil in Cassis Rose- widely compared to the first one you put up! I love the crisp, fresh, and romantic/polished smell. It’s perfect for me.
When, I go out- I am in LOVE with vanilla. It’s so warm and lovely and smells delightful.
Sadie
It’s so true what you say about smell and memory, I change of perfume everytime I move on in my life, like in Jr High I used to wear halloween by J. del Pozo in High school i wore Boss Woman, in College I started with Rockin’ Rio from Escada, but when I went to USA for an internship I didn’t brought a perfume because you know how is people in the border and in the airports, and there I discovered it… Victoria’s Secret bodys!! I brought home lots of them and I discovered where to buy them buy here are kind of pricey…. So I wear body on a daily basis (Love vanilla lace and appletini rush) and on special occassions I wear a perfume…
Paula
So glad you did a post on perfume, I’ve been waiting for one!
Nat
I love Aquolina Pink Sugar. It reminds me of sweet things. :D
M
Thank you for this post! I’ve been thinking about ways to dress up my style a bit, and since I’m not a dresses/skirts kind of girl (but more of a girl who tends to live in her jeans), I’ve been thinking that perfume might be a good way to get me more motivated to try different styles. I used to wear Victoria Secret’s PINK body lotion (not really a perfume, I know, but I used to use it for its scent just like it was a perfume) back during freshman year but haven’t used anything in awhile.
I like all of your choices and descriptions, so I’m going to try these out! Especially appreciate the recommendation for Zents because I am sensitive to perfume and want something gentle and light.
Elle
Personally I feel that all scents should be banned from campus. University is a work environment, and as such we should be considerate to those around us. Many people have adverse reactions to scented products and should be granted respect by those around them. I’ve unfortunately had the occasional headache from classmates who seemingly bathed in a bottle of eau de toilet, it can really ruin the rest of your day. Please save the perfumes for after class!
Vivi
I have the Pink Sugar perfume and I absolutely love it! It is really sweet though so I can’t put on more than a dab. How do I get my perfume scent to stay on me? I smell the perfume some girls have on when they are just passing by me, but my friends don’t always smell my perfume. How do I make it last? Please do another post on perfume? :)
Jen
I agree with comment #19. Please don’t wear perfume to class. I dread going to my first class of the day because the second I walk in, I instantly become the gross sneezy girl. My allergies immediately act up due to the fact that everyone’s freshly perfumed and ready for the day..so while those girls get to smell nice, I end up getting watery eyes and a bright red nose. So not fair!
to
I’m kind of over pink sugar everyone wears it. Anyway my favs are vera wang princess, dior miss cherie and joe malone. All amazzzzing
Rhodes
For a clean, classic scent my signature scent is Clinique happy. Its so crisp! My more fun perfume for parties and dates is Burberry the Beat. its hip and fun!
elle
Hmm! I have that Ralph Lauren Romance perfume and your suggestions are perfect!! :)
I can’t live without Clean Eau de Parfum. I think a lot of people don’t like it but I think it smells heavenly! Like Japanese ramune soda! haha. Oh well at least no one else will be wearing it.
Other scents I have: Victoria’s Secret PINK, Burberry Beat (for winter), D&G Light Blue
Maria
I’m really picky when it comes to perfumes. Some don’t smell that awesome after a couple of hours, but some smell really good throughout the day (totally click with my natural body scent). That’s why I’m the kind of girl who ALWAYS use the same kind of perfume everyday, on almost every occasion till the perfume runs out (I change scent when the bottle is empty, lol), because I feel like I’ll smell good till the end of the day with that perfume.
I only have two perfumes: Angie ou Demon by Givenchy (it’s eau de perfume = pretty expensive so I’m only using it on very special occasion or whenever I need that extra boost of confidence, definitely the top of my fav list) and Quatre Love by Kathy. I also love Truth by Calvin Klein, Aqva by Bvlgari, and Flight of Fancy by Anna Sui.
I’m running out of my daily perfume now, so I’ll be hunting for a new eau de toilette. This post totally gives me inspiration (and right on time!). I’ll try that Ralph Lauren Romance and Zents Petal. Thanks! :D
Suzi
Great article! I like trying different perfumes and so I really appreciate other people’s opinions on which scents are appropriate for different things.
I do think however, that it’s an omission in this article that perfume ettiquette isn’t mentioned, especially these days when there are so many places that need to be scent-free. That fabulous scent could ruin someone’s day!
Enjoy nice perfume strategically. As a starting point, make sure you check with your school and/or workplace to see if there’s a policy on scents. Even if there isn’t, please be considerate to others! Wearing perfume in a small seminar of 8 people might not be so bad, but don’t wear it to a crowded lecture or especially not to a big exam where people will find scents distracting. (so I would personally choose to omit finals week from the list)
But lazy sunday? House party? Big date? Most likely fair game! Thanks, Liza!
kim
Great article. I’ve tried the Pink Sugar. Overpowering, but I really liked the sweet smell! Will try your other recommendations soon.
Lulu
Okay, I have a question: you know how sometimes you see those really fancy apparatuses that look like a long cord with an air-filled little sack at the end? The thing is attached to the top of a perfume bottle and squeezing the air bubble spritzes the perfume. What is that called, and why is it used; is it supposed to diffuse the scent better than spritzing directly from the bottle? I’ve always wondered!
Liza - University of Minnesota
Suzi: You’re definitely right on with the suggestion about perfume etiquette–thanks so much! I know that scent sensitivity is a huge issue for some people, so it’s best to be considerate when you’re in a class or a workplace. I’ve never been the type to douse myself in perfume (and actually find that most perfume is very subtle/doesn’t last long on me,) so I accidentally forgot to address this! Thanks so much for catching it, girl!
Lulu: It’s called an atomizer! They’re fun, right? Now they’re mostly used for decoration, but originally you could buy the atomizer, bottle, top, and bottom and then refill the bottle with whatever scent you wanted. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to diffuse the scent better, but they’re pretty cute if you ask me! :)
Julie
I love Ralph Lauren Romance, Vera Wang Princess, A&F Rush and SJP Lovely. I like to use them for different occasions just like you described. I’m on the look out for a new scent so this post was really exciting for me :)
I’m kind of surpised that a bunch of the posters find it offensive when someone wears perfume to class. I understand its gross when someone has bathed in it but I feel like if you do a small spritz on the inside of your wrist or your neck than it shouldn’t cause a commotion.
Lulu
Ah, thank you, Liza! Now that I know what it’s called, it can go on the Christmas wish list. ^_^
Steph
I love love love, that you showed Philosophy’s Amazing Grace.. I also love the whole grace collection (amazing, pure, baby, etc.) I am glad to see I am not the only college girl who wears grace. also pink sugar is a to die for smell.
Alaina W
My FAVORITE is Vera Wang Bouquet…ohh!! Never could get into princess or anything else. One day i went in a scent store and smelled EVERYTHING. The only one i remembered was Vera Wang princess. I got a sample and waited a few months to make the investment. Then about a week ago my dad bought it for me for my birthday! AND ITS SO GREAT!
Question.
What is the technically “correct” way to wear perfume? How many sprays? Where do you spray? And are people only suppose to be able to smell it when they are really close like giving a hug?
HELP! :)
felicia
my favorite perfumes of all time: armani code for women, chancel chance, kenzo flower, and body by victoria’s secret. i have all of them and use them for different occasions. i get compliments most of the time!
Vanessa
Amazon is a really great place to get perfume at a cheaper price or find ones that have been discontinued. I usually buy my Eclat D’arpege by Lanvin 3.4 ounces for between 30-35 bucks brand-new, and I’ve seen it at perfumeries for upwards of 60-100 dollars for the same size. I also think that for girls on the go, solid perfume is a great alternative because they usually come in a tiny balm like tin and can be easily thrown in a purse or pocket. I use Lush’s Flying Fox temple balm as a solid perfume, and pretty much all of my friends can distinguish that that’s my scent.
I think it’s really important to smell perfume and have it on you for a while before you choose to get it. There have been occasions where I tried something for two minutes in a department store, decided to buy it, then it gave me consistent headaches later in the day. Perfume that gives you headaches=no good.
Deanne
I agree with Elle in that many people, including me, have reactions to perfumes and fragrances. It’s impossible and unfair to forbid perfume-lovers from using them, but everyone should be courteous with them as well. Refrain from it in situations where you’re among the same people for a period of time, such as lectures, seminars, or taking public transportation. When you wear them, remember that subtle is much better than smelling like you’ve drowned in perfume! :)
Ruth
I always wear Daisy by Marc Jacobs – I just love the floral scent and the bottle is divine!
Julie
Thanks for the great post! I used to be really allergic to scents (and everything) when I was younger, so I never really got on the perfume bandwagon, but I’m going to try a couple of these out. I always wanted to try pink sugar because I really love vanilla-y scents but I never have.
One I like to wear is Strawberry Flowers by Fresh – it’s really light and smells citrus-y and sweet, like strawberries and champagne.
Lauren
I wear Ralph Hot. Its in the purple bottle. I think it is more of a preppy scent to start then on my skin it mellows to a vanilla type scent later in the day. Look at Marshals for really cheap scents.
Zoe
I love Burberry Brit! It’s both a comforting scent and a sexy one. Vanilla-y smells are my thing, but there’s so many Britney Fantasy wearers on campus, it gets a bit boring. For me, pink sugar is a little too sweet. I also like Miss Dior Cherie.
Can anyone suggest other less common scents along those lines? (sweet vanilla, slightly nutty and classy) I really dislike rose, grass and wood scents. Citrus is nice too, but I prefer spices.
Shawn
My Staples:
Sophisticated & Youthful (Fresh & Floral): Chanel Chance
Mysterious & Sexy (Sweet & Exotic): Lancome Hypnose
Daily Use (Fruity): Victoria’s Secret Love Spell
Relaxed & Calm (Very Light Floral): Marc Jacobs Daisy
Flirty (Confectionery): Paris Hilton Can Can
Julie
Great post! I absolutely adore Miss Dior Cherie and the Original Juicy Couture. Pink Sugar also smells amazing. For Oriental scents I love Dior’s Hypnotic Poison. The packaging is also super cute…it’s quite strong though. :)
Nina (Top 10 Perfumes) Ferragamo
I just am FOND of “Ralph Lauren Romance”!!!
That is wonderful!
I am glad to see it in Your list!!! :)
Maxine
I already smell like vanilla:) and I also have a spray that makes me smell like green tea:)
Ellie
Pink Sugar is the bomb! My mom gave me some, and it’s really yummy. But my favorite perfume of all time is Beach. It’s a really unique smell, and it reminds me of summer every time I wear it. My bf likes it too. :)
Mandyusc
As a poster above mentioned, Burberry Brit smells amazing! It’s a cozy, sweet (but not sickeningly candy sweet) vanilla scent that has the best staying power ever!