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Nose Training

post #1 of 5
4/14/12 at 5:44am
Thread Starter 
Hi all, let me start off by saying I am very new to this wonderful world of fragrances, but am thoroughly enjoying it.

In identifying notes though, one thing has me puzzled, and that is how I am supposed to learn how to identify and enjoy individual notes. I am reminded of a quote about music literature: "writing about music is like dancing about architecture", and I kind of feel like this at the moment, having no reference point.

I know most of the common household smells, some of the floral notes, tobacco, basic spices because I have experience around them at home. What I don't know however, is how to learn how more obscure scents such as tonka bean, sandalwood, patchouli etc. I'm after some advice from someone more experienced on how you learn how to identify these notes, or how you first learn to smell these notes.

Looking forward to your responses

Stratos
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post #2 of 5
4/14/12 at 6:49am
Welcome! I am still learning, but the way I introduced myself to some of the more exotic smells years ago was to go into a shop in my area that sold exotic and oriental oils and incense and smell them first hand.
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post #3 of 5
4/14/12 at 7:29am
Some suggestions:

1. Sniff fragrances in your collection, and fragrance samples, and then read descriptive reviews. Match what you're smelling to the descriptions.

2. Go to local DIY fragrance shops and sniff various essential oils and stripped-down fragrance elements.

3. I saw a nose training kit at the Le Labo boutique in Barneys NYC, where the charming and helpful SA hit me with one of the all-time great come on lines: "Wanna have a party with your nose?" Why yes, I do. Didn't buy the kit - as I recall, it was over $100 - but I often wish I had. I'll probably spring for it one of these days.
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post #4 of 5
4/14/12 at 8:14am
I found sampling niche that are supposed to exemplify the use of a particular note helped a lot.

For example search the BN form for best patchouli, make a list of the top 5 recommendations and get some samples. You can then tell from the prominent note that's consistent in all of them what patchouli smells like and it slight variations in use.
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post #5 of 5
4/14/12 at 9:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by laph View Post

I found sampling niche that are supposed to exemplify the use of a particular note helped a lot.

For example search the BN form for best patchouli, make a list of the top 5 recommendations and get some samples. You can then tell from the prominent note that's consistent in all of them what patchouli smells like and it slight variations in use.

Good advice.
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