There’s little more indulgent than a pure perfume. It’s considered the most precious form of fragrance, thanks to its high concentration of perfume oil (the precious ingredients making up the scent itself). While an eau de parfum may contain 15 to 20 per cent, pure parfum typically contains up to 60 per cent, with some rare finds composed of 100 per cent. The higher the oil content, the longer the perfume will last on your skin.

If you’re wondering where other perfume formulations fit in, an eau de toilette contains around 10 per cent perfume oil and ‘eau de cologne’ clocks in at 5 per cent on average. ‘Eau fraiche’ is typically composed of 3%, although this can go as low as 1%. A more dilute scent formulation can have its place, as Initio Parfums Privés fragrance expert, Julian Musette, explains that these perfume options “allow you to layer fragrance differently all over the body.” For long-lasting, powerful, emotion-stirring scent, however, pure perfume is the crème de la crème.

A new signature may seem like an oxymoron but experimenting with novel fragrances or fresh ways to wear scent can help you to truly establish your own unique fragrance fingerprint.Guerlain Master Perfumer, Thierry Wasser, advises “keeping your ears and eyes closed when smelling fragrance. This helps you to trust yourself and get close to your own emotions.” Not feeling it? Wassersays that “too often people overthink it –you need to travel on the scent. My motto is ‘don’t think, just smell!’”

Musette recommends letting a signature perfume contender really settle in, as “you need to live in a perfume for a good four to six hours before you know it’s the one for you.”Don’t be swayed by labels either.Parfums de Marly fragrance expert, Thibaut Desbazeille, explains that “all fragrances ought to be considered unisex and should transcend the seasons. Above all, your signature fragrance is an expression of your personality.” Superior quality, multi-generational appeal and a smell that’s utterly timeless are the priorities to consider when seeking out a new classic.

If you’ve got more than one signature on your wishlist, artful fragrance layering could allow you to create a distinctive scent that’s all your own. Consider a hair mist that harmonises with a lavishly scented body lotion or fragrant beard oil worn with a piquant eau de cologne. You’re the expert now.

It’s no secret that perfume can transport us back to memories gone by. “Because the area of the brain that recognises smell is in very close proximity to our memory bank as soon as you smell a scent, it will trigger a memory of when you first experienced it —or a particular ingredient within that perfume —or a significant time in your life when it acted as a marker,” agrees Carlo. “For this very simple reason perfume has the power to be incredibly nostalgic.”

Samer Zakharia, founder of Maison Douze,agrees. “Perfume is expressed through the sense of smell, which is our most instinctive and mysterious sense.” Whether it’s the rediscovery of a treasure like Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle or the iconic Marc Jacobs Daisy eau de toilette, some nostalgic juices can last a lifetime. As to how to find thesignature scent you’ll never forget? “I would say: pick a scent that reminds you of your favorite parent or grandparent with strong basenotes that linger long after you wash your clothes,” says Zakharia.

Finally, it’s not just the blends but how you wear them, adds Dove. “The best place to wear perfume is wherever blood is closest to the surface of the skin (such as the inside of the wrists and elbows) so that, as you move your arms past your face, you can easily smell the scent,” he shares. “Never spray scent directly onto the neck as this area is very sensitive and fragrance has alcohol in it, which will dry out and age the skin.” Contrary to popular belief, he also advises against rubbing your wrists together after spraying scent.“The friction creates heat, which distorts the scent. Simply press your wrists together instead.”