Repeated exposure can make a familiar smell less prominent to the person wearing it. This is one reason frequent sniffing of the same wrist is not always a reliable performance test.

Changes in temperature, movement and surrounding aromas can also affect what you notice. A fragrance that seems subdued indoors may become clearer when you step outside.

Check the scent at intervals rather than continuously. Give your nose a break, and avoid adding more simply because the fragrance has become familiar to you.

Treat a fragrance guide as a useful starting point. The experience of a finished product, your own preferences and its label information remain more important than broad descriptions. XASIS currently presents its Signature Five as fragrance design concepts in development; final notes, formula details and availability are confirmed only for finished products.