The work of perfume evaluator, also know as, fragrance development manager appeared in the 70s to accompany the perfumer through the creation process. It aims at evaluating perfumers’ proposals and select the one (s) that meet specific requirements in terms of:

• Intensity, remanence and sillage*
• Concept and market suitability
• Legislation
  

Some tips to evaluate fragrances in good conditions:

• Give time to the perfume to age, at least 2 days after application
• Smell different fragrances in blind to avoid bias
• Consider a perfume from the top to the base and under real conditions given the final application (shower gel, candle,…)
• Rest your nose regularly and smell something neutral between 2 perfumes(e.g. Interior of the elbow)
• Compare a fragrance with a benchmark if needed for market suitability for example
  

Some fragrance features to know

• Intensity

Notion to characterize how a fragrance is able to diffuse in the air at a given time. Note that a fragrance may be perceived as weak or intense from a market to another given it’s features (culture, habits,....).

• Long-lasting/Remanence

Capacity of a perfume to keep a certain level of intensity throughout the time.

• Sillage

The scent left behind by somebody wearing a fragrance. Thus it is intimately linked with the perfume’s signature and the personal personal perception one might have of it.