How to Know If It’s Your Signature Scent, According to Perfumers

You can love a perfume and still not have it feel like you. Three certified perfumers explain what makes it the one.

By Biel Arevalo July 03, 2025

Not Every Spritz is a Signature

“To be honest, choosing a signature scent can feel harder than choosing the next show to binge-watch,” So laughs. “But I like to think that it’s part identity crisis and part science experiment on your own skin.”

So, is there really such a thing as a “signature scent?”

^{A signature scent is your invisible outfit—worn daily, remembered always}

“Absolutely,” says Albao, perfumer and founder of TADHANA. “It’s when someone walks into a room and instantly knows you’re there, even before you speak.” Yet, as BC Fragrance co-founder Lim says, signature does not mean singular. “I like calling it an ‘olfactory handshake,’ because yes, signature scents exist, but don’t let that stop you from having a wardrobe of them.”

Unlike the icons, your scent doesn’t have to last forever. But when it feels like you, you’ll know. And if you’re not sure where to begin, well, that’s where the experts come in.

Science of the Signature

One thing: just because it smells good doesn’t automatically mean it’s for you. There’s a certain science to it, and much is owed to skin chemistry.

“How a scent smells on your friend might be different on you because of your skin’s pH, moisture level, and body temperature,” Albao shares. “That’s why a scent you tried at the mall when you bought it might smell different when you wear it at home, the gym, or the office,” Lim adds.

So let it settle. Smell it right after the alcohol evaporates, then after 15 minutes, and again after 2 hours. It should evolve beautifully throughout the day, not on the tester, but on your skin.

^{As per the pros, these are the factors to consider when landing a signature}

Lifestyle also matters. “Are you always on the go, working long hours, or often outdoors?” So asks. “As your wardrobe develops to suit your day-to-day activities, so can your scent.”

A key factor in the tropics is climate, so your signature scent should adapt to it. Heat and humidity, according to So, can amplify certain notes. “In the Philippines’ tropical heat, fresh and airy fragrances like citruses, greens, ozonics work best outdoors,” Albao says. For indoors: “Cozier notes like vanilla, woods, or amber can feel comforting.”

But we argue it all boils down to personality. “It’s not just about smelling good or getting compliments,” Lim says. “It’s about you. How you feel, how you want to show up, and what part of your personality you’re leaning into today.”

Even Perfumers Have a Type

If anyone knows how to bottle identity, it’s them—so what do they wear?

“That’s a particularly hard question for a perfumer and evaluator. My nose is always chasing the next story,” admits So. “However, I do have a soft spot for Carolina Herrera’s Very Good Girl and Infiniment Coty Les Mots Doux.”

Albao, on the other hand, doesn’t name a single favorite. “I wear perfumes that shift with me,” she says. “On regular days, I gravitate towards clean, crisp scents like greens, soft musks, a bit of citrus. But on days I need to feel bolder, I reach for spices, woods, and a hint of leather.”

Lim shares the same thoughts. “I don’t have one specific signature scent—and honestly, I don’t think I ever will,” she admits. She chooses her scent based on her emotions, energy, and sometimes, what she needs to test for her projects. “But I find myself gravitating towards iris and lily of the valley, no matter the season or brand.”

Jessy So — ^{Jessy so, isipca-trained, apf-certified perfumer and fragrance evaluator}

^{Shale Albao, isipca-trained perfumer and tadhana founder}

Given the complexity of scents, maybe you won’t find the one right away. But if your perfume can turn heads, hold memories, and make you feel a little more like yourself, that’s signature enough.

Photos: JESSY SO, SHALE ALBAO, and BERNADETTE LIM (via Instagram)