Do you keep fragrance notes?

[jakespoppy]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but as I'm enjoying going through several different sample sets of EdT's and EdC's, I'm trying to keep written notes of impressions to help in future acquisition decisions, and it occurred to me that there must be several of you out there with great note keeping systems. Would some of you please share what type of notes you write down to help you remember what you like or dislike about scents?

Thanks!

 

[Austin]

If you want to record your impressions, I would do the following:

Initial impression: What do you think after you have applied it?

One hour later: Record your impression if the scent has evolved.

Spouse/Significant other impression: Self-emplanatory.

Four hours later: Is it still there? Does it still have kick?

End of the day: Still there?

You can keep your impressions on a notebook or file card. Good luck.

 

[Austin]

I forgot to add that you could grade the experience at the end of the day.

 

[adonnellyr]

Yep, I keep notes on various scents I've tried out. I usually write a brief explanation of how it lasts on me, and then note the top, heart and base notes (ones listed and perhaps I just add things I smell so the scent makes sense to me, even if the note is unlisted...), highlighting the ones I notice the most strongly through each transition. Then I write some comments on the smell, stealing phrases I liked from reviews on this site and basenotes as well as adding some of my own. I also take some notes on general facts about the the edt. For example:

Creed Bois du Portugal: (1987)
Top Notes – Bergamot, Lavender
Heart Notes – Cedarwood
Base Notes – Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber, Musk, Powder
Staying Power – One Spray 5 Hours. Quite good Silage.
*** Worn by Frank Sinatra. Very woody and sweet, with a touch of a bar-like atmosphere: smoky/ashey/tobaccoy and boozey, while the dry down is a dark powder with slight spice. This scent is aristocratic and formal. Strong and assertive, it conjures images of high-powered ad men on Wall Street (Don Draper-esque). Smells of good breeding (haha, whatever that is) and class, perhaps hinting at a certain arrogance—filled with fire and masculinity. Commanding and powerful, this scent is warm, thick, creamy, rich, sweet…almost damp, like a sauna…but also quiet and dangerous, like a beast you’re aware is lurking in the peripheries, everywhere and nowhere at once. Makes me think of sitting in a fancy leather chair with a leather bound book open on my lap and a pipe lit with scotch to the side.
Use: All Year [Preference in Order: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer]

 

[jakespoppy]

Thanks Austin and Anthony, both of your suggestions are helpful. I like your idea of making notes several times throughout the day, as well as getting a 2nd opinion and applying a grade, Austin. And I like the detail you keep, Anthony, especially recording the scent makers description and notes along with your own. Seems like this would also be helpful in identifying new scents that might be interesting before you have a chance to actually try them.

 

[Emmett]

I do! I don't know how good they are. My impressions are very subjective, and are all aimed towards answering the question, "Do I like this enough to buy a whole bottle?"

I take my impressions and any fragrance notes I find a couple times a day. I also take an initial and day's end impression. Then I wait at least a few days and do it again. I note any changes from my first notes, and make a decision (yes, no, or into the "maybe, try again later" pile).

 

[The Knize]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but as I'm enjoying going through several different sample sets of EdT's and EdC's, I'm trying to keep written notes of impressions to help in future acquisition decisions, and it occurred to me that there must be several of you out there with great note keeping systems. Would some of you please share what type of notes you write down to help you remember what you like or dislike about scents?

Thanks!

Good post. I should keep notes. I don't. On the other hand I find those 1 ml samples a little hard to tell much from anyway. If you have a few mls you can always save a little, too, to remind yourself in the future.

 

[jakespoppy]

I do! I don't know how good they are. My impressions are very subjective, and are all aimed towards answering the question, "Do I like this enough to buy a whole bottle?"

I take my impressions and any fragrance notes I find a couple times a day. I also take an initial and day's end impression. Then I wait at least a few days and do it again. I note any changes from my first notes, and make a decision (yes, no, or into the "maybe, try again later" pile).

I hadn't thought of coming back after a few days and evaluating a scent a second time, although it makes perfect sense, as I've seen so many comments like "I didn't like it the first time, but later it seemed completely different....". I even kind of said that myself about Knize Ten.

Thanks, Emmett!

 

[jakespoppy]

Good post. I should keep notes. I don't. On the other hand I find those 1 ml samples a little hard to tell much from anyway. If you have a few mls you can always save a little, too, to remind yourself in the future.

I've actually been thinking about keeping some of the sample vials that I'm accumulating, especially those that have the sprayer, but hadn't decided how to use them. Good idea!