Your signature scent should fit the way you spend your day. Start with an occasion, a style you already enjoy and a budget. That gives you a smaller, more useful shortlist than choosing a bottle because it is popular.
Start with where you will wear it
Write down your main use: work, everyday errands, evenings or special occasions. In the UAE, your day might include both outdoor time and air-conditioned rooms. Try a shortlisted fragrance in the settings where you expect to wear it, rather than judging it only in a shop.
For a shared office, decide how noticeable you want your fragrance to be. For an evening out, you might prefer a different character. These are personal preferences; there is no single perfume that suits everyone in a particular season.
Use a fragrance you know as your starting point
If you already own a perfume you enjoy, note its full name and concentration. Describe what you like about it in your own words: fresh, floral, woody, sweet or spicy. Then compare the brand's descriptions of other fragrances with those preferences.
A list of notes is a useful shopping clue. It cannot tell you exactly how the whole composition will smell to you. Shortlist two or three options instead of buying several bottles based on a single ingredient.
Compare the exact version
Eau de toilette, eau de parfum and parfum can be separate versions within a fragrance range. Check the complete product title before ordering. Our EDT and EDP buying guide explains what to compare.
Record the bottle size alongside the version. A 50 ml eau de parfum and a 100 ml eau de toilette are different purchases, even when the main fragrance name is the same.
Set a budget before browsing
Compare the price per millilitre only between the same fragrance and concentration. Divide the bottle price by its size in millilitres. A larger bottle may offer better value, but a smaller size can be a more manageable first purchase when you are still deciding.
Check availability and the delivery information at checkout. A sold-out listing can help you research a scent, but choose an available product when you need it soon.
Test before committing when possible
If you can try a sample or tester, wear it through an ordinary day. Jo Malone London also recommends trying a fragrance in person before buying online. Keep a short note of how much you enjoy it after the first impression has passed. Read Jo Malone London's fragrance advice.
Choose the option you look forward to wearing again. Once your shortlist is ready, explore men's perfumes, women's perfumes and unisex perfumes at LipErla. Check each listing for the exact version, size and current stock.