Fragrance Discovery Worksheet: A Companion for Exploring Scent
Perfume is fleeting. It whispers, it transforms, it vanishes. Yet each fragrance tells a story—one that unfolds across skin, time, memory, and mood.
Most of us sniff once, think “Nice!” (or “Nope.”), and move on. But slowing down—really noticing the shifts from top notes to dry-down—reveals new chapters you might otherwise miss. That’s why we created a printable Fragrance Discovery Worksheet: to guide you through every phase of a scent’s life and help you build your own fragrance journal.
Why Slow Smelling Matters
The classic perfume pyramid happens in three acts:
- Top Notes (0–5 min) – bright, volatile, first impressions.
- Heart Notes (~15 min → 1 hr) – the core identity.
- Base Notes (1–4 hrs+) – the lingering echo.
Tracking each checkpoint trains your nose, reduces blind-buy regret, and weaves scent memories you can revisit later.
Free Download: Fragrance Discovery Worksheet (PDF)
The worksheet walks you through four timed check-ins:
- First Impression (0–5 min)
- Early Heart (~15 min)
- Core Character (1 hr)
- Dry-Down (3–4 hrs)
Plus space for projection, longevity, and final thoughts.
Perfume Vocabulary Cheat-Sheet
Not sure how to put a scent into words? The table below (excerpted from the worksheet) offers families, examples, and texture cues to spark your imagination.
| Family | Sample Notes | Texture Cues |
|---|---|---|
| Floral | Rose, jasmine, violet | Silky, petal-soft |
| Resinous / Balsamic | Frankincense, benzoin | Glowing, syrupy |
| Woody | Sandalwood, cedar, vetiver | Dry, velvety |
| Gourmand | Vanilla, cocoa, caramel | Creamy, edible |
| Smoky | Campfire, incense | Hazy, charred |
How to Use the Worksheet
- Spritz on clean, moisturised skin (wrist or inner forearm).
- Set phone reminders for each time mark so you don’t miss a stage.
- Note projection (how far the scent travels) and longevity (total wear time).
- Compare impressions the next day—memory can play tricks.
