Should I change my fragrance day to night?
September 2020
The art of wearing fragrance can be a tricky task to master. The scent you choose and when to apply it should be given just as much thought as the clothes you wear. Think of it as an accessory to suit the occasion. Whether it is necessary to change your fragrance from day to night can be dependent on a number of factors; it can be influenced by the season, the occasion and your personal style. If you need some pointers, we have come up with a number of questions to ask yourself before choosing the right perfume to wear:
What is the difference between day and night perfume?
A good place to start is to look at it quite simply. Generally, lighter, fresher perfumes such as citrus, florals and oceanics work better in the day and richer, dark fragrances with a heavy base such as woods and orientals are more suited to night. When asking yourself which fragrance should I wear, if you compare it to the way you might dress casually or work appropriate during the day vs more elaborate and perhaps a little sexy by night, then these combinations make perfect sense. This thought process applies equally to fragrance for men and fragrance for women.
How do you know when perfume is day or night?
What is a day time fragrance?
A daytime fragrance is a scent that is light, breezy and energising, something that is more subtle to avoid being overpowering and distracting in public spaces and work environments. Citrus notes such as orange, lemon and bergamot are a great choice for their ultra clean and refreshing scent, as well as light florals such as neroli, geranium, rose and jasmine or herbal smells.
What is a night time fragrance?
A night time fragrance contains a higher concentration of aromatic compounds, as well as using richer fragrance notes in the oriental and woody realm, offering a scent that is darker and more intense. Irresistible notes such as musks, patchouli, sandalwood, oud, vanilla and spices make good night time perfumes that will last into the night.
What is the occasion?
Whether you need to change your fragrance from day to night links quite closely to what you choose to wear for the occasion. As you would put together an outfit, you should consider if the perfume complements the chosen colours, fabrics, accessories and the mood you feel and want to express – this might not always be reflective of the time of day.
Work appropriate perfume
A work appropriate perfume is important to get right. When working in an open plan office environment, or if working with the public, you need your fragrance to be more transparent, so that it does not distract or overpower those around you, as well as holding a professional tone.
Best work appropriate perfume from Czech & Speake: Neroli Eau de Parfum
Our timeless Neroli Cologne is a beautifully simple scent in three parts; neroli, orange and ylang-ylang. The citrus-floral blend makes a perfect day fragrance for work, as it is clean, fresh and inconspicuous.
Perfume for day events
It is assumed that most of the time you will look more dressy by night than day, but there are times when your evening plan is casual and the daytime event is formal. For formal day events such as weddings, you might choose a more special, richer fragrance to compliment your dressy attire and the social occasion.
Best perfume for day events Czech & Speake: Dark Rose Eau de Parfum
Dark Rose is an ideal fragrance for a formal day event. Day events are often held in warmer seasons, therefore a floral perfume is great for mimicking nature on a warm summer’s day. Our Dark interpretation of rose adds rich, oriental notes of oud and saffron to the flower to create an indulgent perfume, which make this floral more special for a celebratory event.
Fragrance of the night
A nocturnal fragrance to be worn with evening wear can be as bold as you like. When dressing up to attend an evening event or night life, you want a dark night scent that compliments your bolder style and grabs attention. Woody oriental notes tend to be used in these fragrances for their exotic, sensual fragrance and ability to last and see you through the night.
Best evening wear fragrance from Czech & Speake: No.88 Eau de Parfum
No.88 is our iconic woody fragrance with a complex blend of citrus, floral and woody notes. This is our best scent to pair with night wear, as its unique scent will make a statement in any room, with a rich, mysterious aroma that is highly sophisticated. Opt for the newer Eau de Parfum for an even bolder version of No.88.
Scent best for sleep
Some people like to wear fragrance to help them wind down before bedtime. Look for scents that are calm and soothing; herbal or delicate floral notes tend to be the most relaxing such as lavender, chamomile and jasmine.
Best bedtime fragrance from Czech & Speake: Oxford & Cambridge Cologne
For a scent best for bedtime, our Oxford & Cambridge Cologne is a lavender scented fragrance, combined with herbaceous notes of mint and rosemary on a grounding mossy base.
How often should I change my fragrance?
How often you should change your perfume is quite heavily influenced by the season.
Summer night cologne
In summer, fresher fragrance notes work better. When considering whether to change your fragrance from daytime to evening, if the temperature is still warm, it could be that a woody or spicy scent will be too insipid, and your lighter floral–citrus fragrance is enough. You could simply top your perfume up. Our Neroli Cologne is a great summer fragrance that can be worn from day to night.
Winter daytime fragrance
In winter, richer fragrance ingredients are necessary to last in the cooler temperatures. This means a fragrance with richer notes in the woody and oriental family could work in the daytime. A good balance would be to choose a perfume with citrus top notes that are energising for day wear, but with a richer, woody base to help the fragrance to last longer during the cooler days. Our Perfecto Fino fragrance has bright lemon and bergamot in the top note, with tobacco and woods in the body.
Will changing your perfume suit your personal style?
As mentioned, fragrance is as much a part of your wardrobe as your clothes, and is a great way to express yourself. If you ask yourself, what fragrance am I? You might find that you are drawn to multiple scents to suit your different moods and styles, which can help you determine which of your collection is better for day and night.
Alternatively you may have one signature scent that you swear by and wish to wear whatever the occasion. If this is the case for you and you wish to wear your fragrance day into night, there are ways to make perfume last longer. Your fragrance should be applied to pulse points, such as the wrists, behind the ears and the inner elbows as these are the warmest part of the skin, which helps the scent to lift. Other methods include application straight after the shower while your pores are open, and dab, don’t rub, as this can break down the scent.
