Tips and Ideas on Writing a Fragrance Review

Hey there! It's me (27F), once again sharing my internal monologue. This time, I wanted to delve a bit further into the subject of writing reviews about fragrances. I've been practicing my writing skills by redacting reviews ever since I've started my journey in this hobby. It helps me keep track of my impressions of all the perfumes I have tried. It also allows me to hone and keep up with my english (since it's not my first langage). I've spent countless hours on Parfumo, Fragrantica and brand websites reading about fragrances, gathering information. Perfume reviews are often like book summaries: they'll influence (whether you like it or not) your interest in a fragrance and your decision on trying it out or not (and for some: on blind-buying it or not). 

Just like anything, you can sense a person's writing style when reading a review which often develops over time with experience. I've read a few stunning and thoughtful reviews that have altered my initial perception of a fragrance (and has sometimes lead me to buying a sample). Here are three types of fragrance reviews I've seen:

• Vivid Images and Memories: For those writers who can pull it off, these are some of the best types of reviews I've seen and love to read. You've certainly stumbled upon a few of them, a popular one being «She smells like that kind of girl walking down the street: stunning and full of confidence...». These reviews are often two to three paragraphs long and are akin to a short story. They often use metaphors and comparisons to evoke a vivid picture in your mind. Reviewers compare the fragrance to an archetype (model, businesswoman, mother, introvert and shy girl, clean girl, etc.) showing their readers to whom the fragrance may apply. They're fun little snippets of stories with insight on how the reviewer loves the fragrance or not. Some people also love to associate the scent of a perfume to a memory they've lived. The sense of smell is strongly associated with memory so it goes without saying that this type of review has a personal note to it. Some souvenirs might be sweet, others might be bitter, but the review will often guide the reader on what occasion this perfume may be worn. 
• Logical From Top to Bottom: This is the type of review I use when evaluating perfumes. Reviewers who write this type of review will often take the reader on a trip through the top, middle and bottom notes of a perfume. Even though perfume reviews are subjective, the person will often try to objectively point out the notes and accords that come through on their skin. These type of reviews will guide you into which notes seem to appear (even though a website might be saying otherwise). Comparing those type of reviews may help you in determining how different a perfume acts on your own skin since chemistry can alter a perfume's note.
• Opinion: These are the type of reviews I see the most. A person will either state they love or hate and why it's the case. These type of reviews are often short (no more than a paragraph) and concise (minimal adjectives and use of figure of speech).

There are also many things one can review about a perfume. The scent (notes and accord) is the first thing that comes to mind, but there's also the longevity of the perfume, the sillage, the bottle and the value for money. Some people value a few of these things higher than others. For example, I don't really care if other people smell me as long as I can smell the perfume on myself during the day. I find that the packaging and bottle of a perfume often accentuate the luxurious aspect of the experience which is why I often use that when rating a perfume. What I love with Parfumo it's that you're allowed to write one-sentence reviews, but also longer reviews. Your statement and review also come with the score you gave for rating the longevity, sillage, bottle and value for money. You're thus able to choose how you want people to read you and how much time you want to dedicate to writing reviews. I love checking out both types as some statements often summarize quite well the feeling a person has of a perfume and longer reviews often feel like reading a short story.

A few things I feel people should remember when writing reviews:

• Take Your Time: This comes from personal experience. I love writing my first impressions on a perfume and going back to see what has changed since then. I'll often write a first draft and then sneakily go back and edit it once I've tried out the perfume another time. Some fragrances do take time to develop which is why you have to let it sit on your skin a little bit longer than an hour to experience the top, middle and bottom notes. Some juices also go through a change on a chemistry (molecular) level as time passes. I've seen people rating a perfume poorly then come back later and retcon completely what they've said. Don't forget that as you venture ever so forward on your journey, the perfume you loved at the beginning may no longer be your love as your nose has developped and your taste have changed. It's perfectly normal. For example, I used to love Cloud by Ariana Grande, unfortunately it's not a favorite anymore since I've tried more mature and complex gourmand perfumes since then. It's also not a race for whom can write the most reviews. Take your time and don't forget to enjoy and indulge in the perfume you're trying. 
• Remember That Scent is Subjective: Maybe you hate a perfume with a hatred that runs so deep that ALL CAPS is necessary to express your feelings. That's okay, but remember that one man's trash is another person's treasure. I think we can all be respectful of other people's taste. Remember that there were people behind the perfume that created the juice, the bottle, the packaging and the marketing. 
• Your Review Is Just As Insightful As Someone Else's: I've seen people who abstain from writing reviews because they feel like their opinion doesn't matter or that their writing is bad. Look, you might have insight on a perfume I haven't read elsewhere that could change how I perceive a fragrance. All opinions matter and I love reading how different people experience a fragrance. I live for the day when the english website of Parfumo will have just as much nice and insightful reviews as other well-known fragrance database websites. As for your writing skills: like just about anything else, it takes practice. I spend about 30 to 45 minutes on writing and proof-reading my fragrance reviews before publishing them (and some still have overlooked mistakes). People don't really get a sense of how long you've spent on a review before publishing it, but trust me, some have dedicated their time to writing a nice one. Hone your skill and with time you'll have developed your own unique style of writing!

Anyhow, this has been one of my longest article on here. I hope my internal musings have helped you or that you've liked what I wrote. Drop a comment if you've got any tips and tricks or if you'd like to add something to the conversation. Don't forget to like, subscribe and I'll be reading your reviews on Parfumo! Thanks for reading this article!

*** Cover from Jan Kahanek