Baddie perfume: how to find your signature scent

a baddie leaves a room and people can still tell she was there. that's not magic, that's a signature scent worn properly.

you don't need a shelf of bottles. you need one you're known for, maybe one for nights, and to stop spraying a cloud and walking through it 💋

the scent families

every perfume sits mostly in one family. know which one you like and shopping gets so much easier.

family	smells like	the vibe
gourmand	vanilla, caramel, tonka, praline	warm, sweet, the classic baddie scent
amber	resins, vanilla, spice, warm woods	rich, evening, mob wife
musk	clean skin, soft, close	clean girl, "you smell so good" up close
floral	rose, jasmine, peony, tuberose	soft baddie, old money
woody	sandalwood, cedar, vetiver	streetwear, alt, unisex
fresh	citrus, aquatic, green	daytime, gym baddie

most baddie favourites are gourmand or amber with musk underneath. warm, a little sweet, lasts forever.

what the labels mean

the difference is how much perfume oil is in the bottle.

• parfum or extrait: the strongest. lasts longest, sits closest to your skin.
• eau de parfum (EDP): strong, lasts most of the day. the one to buy.
• eau de toilette (EDT): lighter, fades faster. good for daytime.
• body mist: very light, an hour or two. for layering, not a signature.

exact strengths vary by brand, so try the actual bottle instead of trusting the label.

how to test properly

1. test on skin, not paper. perfume changes on skin.
2. wear it a full day before you buy. the first spray is the top notes, gone in minutes. what you'll actually smell like is the base, an hour or more later.
3. three at a time, max. after that your nose gives up.
4. smell it again in the evening. still obsessed? that's yours.

where to spray

• pulse points: wrists, sides of the neck, behind the ears, inner elbows. they're warm, so the scent travels.
• through your hair ends, from a distance. hair holds scent for hours. not on your scalp.
• on clothes, a little, for longevity. test an inside seam first, some perfumes stain silk.
• don't rub your wrists together. it just smears it and makes it fade faster.
• two to four sprays is plenty. if people can smell you before they see you, it's too much lol.

make it last

• spray onto moisturised skin. scent lasts longer on skin that isn't dry. unscented lotion works, or one in the same scent.
• layer. a matching body wash, then lotion, then perfume. or a vanilla or musk body oil under a warmer perfume.
• keep it out of the bathroom. heat, light and steam break perfume down. a drawer beats the counter.
• a travel atomiser for nights. top up once, halfway through.

one for day, one for night

if you want two: something fresher or a skin musk for daytime, and a warm gourmand or amber for nights. that's the whole perfume wardrobe.

FAQ

what perfume do baddies wear?

usually warm, long-lasting scents: vanilla gourmands, ambers and musks, sometimes layered with a matching body oil or lotion. the point is a signature scent people associate with you.

how do i make my perfume last longer?

spray onto moisturised skin, use pulse points and your hair ends, layer with a matching or unscented lotion, and keep the bottle somewhere cool and dark.

what's the difference between EDP and EDT?

eau de parfum (EDP) has more perfume oil and lasts longer. eau de toilette (EDT) is lighter and fades faster, better for daytime.

should you rub perfume into your wrists?

spray your wrists, but don't rub them together. rubbing smears the perfume and makes the lighter notes fade faster.