Lesson 1 of 2 in this stage
Record development without copying the notes list
Create a time record separating scent character, intensity and liking.
Separate three judgments
'It disappeared' might mean less sweetness, lower intensity or reduced attention. Record character, then intensity, then liking. For example: 'soft wood — faint nearby — I like it'. This prevents lower intensity from automatically becoming a claimed note change or dislike.
Use repeatable observation points
Choose checkpoints such as the start, thirty minutes and two hours as your test schedule, not universal scientific boundaries for top, heart and base. Record application time, surface and sprays. Use brief observations with breaks; continuous smelling can make comparison harder through adaptation and sensory fatigue.
Use words that mean something to you
If you cannot distinguish bergamot from lemon, write 'citrus peel' rather than guess. Record associations such as soap, paper or pencil wood as comparisons. Experience gradually builds a smell vocabulary. Advertising can shape expectations, so try recording your first impression before reading the list, then compare without forcing agreement.
Keep a log without copying the brand's notes
Sample two finished fragrances on separate blotters. Before reading the marketing description, record at opening and later: character (fruity, floral, woody), intensity from 1 to 5 and liking from 1 to 5. The loudest fragrance is not necessarily the one you prefer, and a gentle dry-down can outperform its own opening in your preference.
Interpret the pattern
If intensity falls from 5 to 2 while liking rises from 3 to 5, the perfume became softer but more appealing to you. That does not mean “every note disappeared.” A first-hand sensory descriptor is more defensible than copying material names you cannot verify by smell alone.
Your turn
Use what you learned
Turn 'It became nicer' into an interpretable description.
See the answer and why
Example: 'The sharp citrus eased, soft sweetness emerged and intensity became quieter; I prefer this phase.' Change and preference are separated.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions, then review the reason for each answer. You can retry.
Practical sensory workshop
Write three scent descriptors at 1, 30 and 120 minutes, recording what faded and what emerged. Keep the brand's note pyramid hidden until after the blind observation.
SESH exercise: choose two scents and record results before viewing their marketing descriptions.
