How do you learn about perfume?

[GoodbyeToAllOfThat]

I'm pretty obsessed with it, but I can't work out which notes I like. Google has its limitations. What can I do to become more perfume-savvy?

Ive just done the diagnosis on nose.fr, it was good, it told me what I didn't know that I know, if that makes sense! However the five recommended perfumes are each over €200! Is that normal? What do you actually get in the €10 box?

You get your five perfumes in samples sizes, so 1.5ml or similar. Plus they usually throw in two or three extra.

More votes here for Turin and Sanchez's A-Z Guide (especially if you tend to like a cerebral take on things), for Nose, and for Basenotes and Fragrantica forums. Good when used in combination - generate lists of contenders and then whittle down through further research/by tracking down samples.

Sounds like a good deal, but I'm scared to try them in case I fall in love and end up spending hundreds on these crazily indulgent perfumes!
Is this actual proof that I have expensive taste?!

Then you need to track down decants or bigger samples of the perfumes - much cheaper!

Can someone recommend a site I can keep notes on about what I like?

I have a crap memory and I'm trying so many samples, I'd like to keep a list somewhere....

I am a perfume addict. I joined fragrantica and have done lots of perfume buying shares with people. They have often sent samples and we have swaped small samples of perfumes we think the other would like.
I do know that I like top end Guerlain. There's nothing I love more than spending hours in Selfridges trying stuff out. It's great to spray something on and see how it wears on your skin. Keep an open mind. You might not like the initial blast but the dry down will be wonderful. The reverse is also true.
I Remember trying a tom ford in spake nk and hating it so much I wanted to scrub it. I thought it was absolutely vile. I couldn't find a toilet so was forced to keep it on. By the time I finaly got home I was in love and bought a full bottle!
I have different perfumes for different moods and seasons.
My faves are guerlain, Tauer, serge lutens, Caron and creed. Sadly I have very expensive tastes

Fragrantica is great for keeping records of what you like.

Bigbuttons I also love Guerlain, Caron and Creed. Have not got on to Lutens yet and prob a good thing

Thank you, I'll have a look

One of my dd's has gone ( very nervously) on a school trip to France. She choose one of my perfumes to spay on a scarf that she will sleep with. I then wrote her a little letter for everyday that she is away and sprayed each one with a differnt perfume. There doesn't have to be such a thing as a signature scent. My dad associates many perfumes with me. At school the children love to come and ask me what I am wearing.
Bizarrely the perfume which always gets comments wherever I go ' without fail, is something called chocomusk. It is an oil which smells absolutely bloody amazing. It costs next to nothing too. I can go into a shop wearing it and people will start talking to each other " what's that smell, it's like chocolate , no caramel, no,biscuits, where is it coming from?" I keep quiet

Meant my dd not my dad!
Hello kundry ( waves) I have just finished a couple of sampls of Lutens Jeux de peau. I really miss having it now . It's a very strange smell. It's like apricot, milky bread. I need a full bottle come the autumn!

Can I join in? I struggle with perfume too - can't find one I like for very long. I used to have no sense of smell and a couple of years ago it came back and I am loving being able to smell perfume, so want to make the most of it.

I tend to like tending towards sweet perfumes, I've tried chocolate, vanilla, coconut, but they all seem too sweet. I'm currently wearing my daughter's Blissful Mistful body mist from Zoella ! I love it, but it fades immediately. I'd love to find something that smells like it,but will last longer, slightly more intense. It's quite fresh and a bit fruity, it's lovely. I've had Nina Ricci apple, but that is far too appley.

I tend to buy sample bottles on Ebay before buying a big bottle.

Cats, welcome. I bought Zoella bath gel recently and quite like it, sometimes it smells like grapefruit but other times it smells more complex (again, can't name the note which is frustrating) but more heady?

Yes, there is a hint of something citrussy in there, not sure if it's grapefruit, but I really like it, it's fresh and summery, but it just fades after about 15 minutes! Even if I spray lots and lots on. I wish I could find the same as a perfume.

I love perfumes too but I'm not very good at recognising certain notes - I think my smell sense is a little dull! A perfume workshop sounds like fun though will put that on my wishlist :)

Will have a look through the sample sites as I get bored of perfumes very easily, maybe this is a good way to use perfumes. Thanks for the links