Choosing a new fragrance, or even finding your very first fragrance, may seem a bit daunting. All those different kinds of perfume, candles, Febreze spray bottles, et cetera, from feminine peony or honeysuckle to warm amber or masculine woodsy tones; from women's to men's to unisex fragrances and home fragrances alike, there's certainly no shortage to choose from. Strolling into Sephora, Anthropologie, Macy's, or where have you, the sheer quantity of fragrances is astounding. So where do you start?

Or, quite possibly, you've never given it much thought. You go out, buy perfume, a scented candle, maybe a reed diffuser, and voila. Everything smells better. It's easy, right? And yet, just in the last few sentences, you started thinking, 'Holy heck! Is it really that complicated?' Well, yes and no. It is a lot to take in, literally. But that doesn't mean it has to be complicated. That's why, when shopping for fragrances, there are a few steps that we recommend to make things a bit easier. So let's take a look, shall we?

1. Discover Your Preferred Style

Are you a fresh, clean sort of fragrance person? Do you like the warmer, honeyed tones? Maybe you're attracted to spicy or floral scents? Or are you one of those people (like Yours Truly) who exclusively wears the woody, aromatic scents belonging to the realm of men's cologne? Maybe you're not sure, but you'd like to find out. That's what we're here to talk about.

The first thing we recommend, particularly when looking body fragrances is to try out a bunch of scents directly on the skin. Why? Because every body specifically is different. The hormones and the overall makeup, it's all combined in a unique human cocktail that's entirely its own. As such, when combining new fragrances to that human cocktail, certain aromas become more prominent than others, making one perfume or cologne more attractive when worn than another. That's why it's good to test out new fragrances on the skin. We suggest giving it the four-step spray, rub, wait, & smell routine. Spray it on your skin. Rub it in. Wait a few minutes. Then give it a whiff. Sometimes, it may even take longer to really get the juices flowing, which is why it can be beneficial to let the new fragrance sit on the skin for several hours. Over time, certain notes like lavender, geranium, bergamot, or sandalwood, will present themselves. At this point, you'll either like the way that fragrance smells on you, or you won't.

Try this method with lots of different fragrances, from the very cool, fresh, powdery, to the floral, sweet, honeyed scents; from the spicy, leathery and earthy scents, to the warm, woodsy scents. Walk on over to the men's side as well. Test out their selection and see if anything works for you. By testing out literally everything, you have a better idea of what type of scent works well with your makeup. Sometimes, the results will surprise you!

The sweet, exotic aromas of Capri Blue offer a great start to your fragrance quest. This lightweight and easy-to-travel-with perfume pen is the ideal companion. Stuff it in your purse or take it with you on your travels. It's sure to keep you smelling fabulous all day long. In addition, it's vegan formula is cruelty-free and formulated without gluten, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and it contains no synthetic coloring.

At Kariella, we offer two signature scents from Capri Blue: Volcano and Aloha Orchid. Two very different scents, yet both feminine in their own way. Whether you're a feminine scent kind of person, or maybe you're not sure, we recommend these travel-size spray bottles to give you a little taste of what each one has to offer.

Parfum Spray Pen, €18

Shop Here

2. Still Not Sure? Start Small

Have you ever purchased a fragrance of some sort in the jumbo-sized bottle, only to find a few squirts later that the scent just isn't right for you? It's okay, we've all been there. That's why we recommend starting small. Even if you love the fragrance at first smell, it's always good to get a sample, or at the very least, the smaller size, when first starting out. Think of it as a test run. Wear it for a few days, a few weeks. Let yourself grow more accustomed to it. Then go back and buy it in bulk, if that's what you decide. Or keep on looking if you're not 100% sold.

The above roll-on body oil from Birdbath is a delicious blend of coconut oil infused with your choice of signature Birdbath scents. All-natural, vegan, paraben and phthalate-free, cruelty-free, and offered in six fragrances, from warm to cool and everything in-between, there's a little something for everyone. Carry one in your purse, gift one to a friend, keep one at the office, you name it. They're terribly handy to have, and their compact size at an affordable price means you can try them all and narrow down your favorites.

Body Oil Roller, €16

Shop Here

3. Same Goes For Home Fragrances

For most of us, it's the initial aesthetic that attracts us to a fragrance. Even before we smell whatever it is – be it cologne, a body roller, a fabric softener, or, in this case, a scented candle. We see it, it glows with some delightful presence, and thus, we are drawn to walk on over, pick it up, lift the lid, and give it a whiff.

Take Craft + Foster's candles, for example. Note the difference between the picture above and the one below. Between their white label and black label candles, we can see a definite shift in aesthetic, and it's not too hard to tell that white label deals more with the lighter, fresher, floral scents indicative of the feminine Spring and Summer seasons. Meanwhile their black label counterparts hand out warmer, more masculine scents that fit into the Fall and Winter category.

These Craft + Foster tin candles are made from natural soy wax with premium fragrance oils, and are poured with love in sunny San Diego, California.

Both the black label and white label candles each come in two sizes, making them the perfect home accessory for you, and the ideal gift for your friends.Check out our website, www.lebarredesign.com, for the full selection.

White Label Jar, €22

Shop Here

Black Label Tin, €16

Shop Here

Once the aesthetic is found, then there's the issue of your overall surroundings that the scent you choose will fit into. For example, a living room chock full of windows and bright colors would do well with a floral-scented candle or diffuser to illuminate the room, whereas a warm and woodsy lodge-type room might benefit from the brown sugary and pine-like scents instead. For whatever your aesthetic, be it warm, cool, modern, classic, urban, or outdoorsy, there's a fragrance fit for all of them. It's your job to find it and exploit it for the best possible ambience.

The White Opal Gilded Reed Diffuser from Capri Blue is filled with Volcano’s popular tropical fruit and sugared citrus fragrance, and is modern elegance and mid-century modern at their finest.

Gilded Muse Reed Diffuser, €46

Shop Here

 Now that we've given you a hint of what it means to search for the right fragrance for you and you home, now's the time to start shopping! At Kariella, we have an eclectic mix of perfumes and body oils, candles and diffusers, for all styles and aesthetic leanings. Log onto www.lebarredesign.com to view the our full selection!

Until next time, happy shopping, Bellas!