2025-08-07
Findingthe right scent for youstarts with accepting that no single aroma is 'the best' for everyone. The same scent feels different from one person to the next, depending on your genetics, your memories, your culture, and your physical state. So the right scent is the one your body and mind respond to positively — not the one other people tell you is good.
Have you noticed that a scent a friend adores leaves you cold, or that a scent you love makes someone close to you uncomfortable? That isn't strange at all. It's a natural phenomenon that reflects how individual each of us is. This article walks you through the science behind how we perceive aroma, and how to find your scent step by step, following AROMAYU's 'Where East Meets World' approach.
5 factors that make everyone perceive scent differently
Before you can choose the right scent, it helps to understand what shapes your preferences in the first place. There are five main factors, set out in the table below.
| Factor | How it affects the way you perceive scent |
|---|---|
| Genetics | More than 400 olfactory receptor genes mean you perceive the same aroma differently from everyone else |
| Memory | Aroma connects directly to the emotional brain, so it awakens memories that are uniquely yours |
| Culture | You tend to prefer the aromas that were familiar in the culture you grew up in |
| Physiology | Age, sex, hormones, and health all shift how sensitive you are to aroma |
| Environment | Temperature, humidity, and the time of day all affect the aroma you perceive |
1. Genetic Differences
Humans have more than 400 genes controlling the olfactory receptors in the nose, and these genes vary enormously between individuals. Research published in PLOS ONE found that a mutation in a single gene, OR7D4, is enough to make one person perceive the compound androstenone as an unpleasant, sweat-like odour, while another perceives it as sweet and floral — and some people barely perceive it at all (read the full study on PLOS ONE). This is exactly why finding the right scent has to start with you, not with someone else's review.
2. Experience and Memory
Your olfactory system connects directly to the limbic system, the part of the brain tied to emotion and memory. Cinnamon might take you back to your grandmother's house as a child and make you feel warm, while for someone else it recalls a bad experience and feels uncomfortable. Read more about this in our article on scent and memory . Your personal memories are therefore an important compass when you're choosing the right scent.
3. Cultural Factors
Culture has a powerful influence on how you perceive aroma. You tend to like what was familiar in the culture you grew up in — the aroma of fish sauce or shrimp paste, which Thai people find appetising, may be unfamiliar to a Western nose. AROMAYU's 'Where East Meets World' approach blends Thai herbs such as rice paddy herb (Limnophila aromatica), Wan Sao Long, and makhwaen (Zanthoxylum limonella) with aromas loved worldwide, to create a scent experience that feels harmonious to you.
4. Physiology and Health
Your physical state affects how you perceive aroma significantly — from hormones that shift with age and sex through to your general health. On average, women tend to be more sensitive to aroma than men, and that sensitivity changes across the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and through menopause. A scent you love today may feel quite different at another stage of life.
5. Environment and Time
Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and the time of day all affect the aroma you perceive. Some aromas work beautifully to make you feel refreshed in the morning but aren't right for setting a wind-down atmosphere at night. So choosing the right scent means thinking about when and where you'll be using it.
How to find the right scent for you, in 5 steps
- Notice how your body and mind react — when you come across a new aroma, notice whether you like it or not, whether your heart speeds up or slows down, whether you feel refreshed or relaxed, and what memories it brings back.
- Experiment across the day — try the Focus & Energy range in the morning, Relax & Balance when you want calm, and Uplift & Renew when you feel emotionally drained.
- Keep a record of your responses — note which aromas you liked at which times of day, so you can spot the patterns in your own preferences.
- Group them by scent family — notice whether you lean towards floral, woody, herbaceous, or citrus aromas.
- Choose 1–2 signature scents — once you find the aroma your body and mind respond to best, start there, then build out your collection from it.
Choosing a scent for what you need, moment to moment
| Time / what you need | The range that suits you | Example scent |
|---|---|---|
| Morning, when you want to feel fresh and focused | Focus & Energy | Siam Energy (makhwaen + orange) |
| Midday, when you want calm in the middle of the rush | Relax & Balance | Thai Serenity (bergamot + cypress) |
| Before bed, when you want a relaxing atmosphere | Relax & Balance | Midnight Calm (lavender) |
| Emotionally tiring days, when you want positive energy | Uplift & Renew | Citrus aromas + Rose Absolute |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I love a scent my friend doesn't?
Because everyone's perception of aroma is shaped by different olfactory receptor genes, as well as different memories and cultures. The very same aroma can feel completely different from one person to the next — which is why choosing the right scent should be guided by how it makes you feel.
How do I start finding the right scent for me?
Start by noticing how your body and mind react when you come across a new aroma. Note down which aromas you like at which times of day, then pick 1–2 signature scents to begin with, and expand from there as you need to.
Should one scent work for the whole day?
Not necessarily. The scent that suits you changes with the time of day and what you need — something refreshing in the morning, something that helps create a relaxing atmosphere at night. So you can absolutely keep several scents for different situations.
Why has my sensitivity to aroma changed?
Sensitivity to aroma shifts with hormones, age, and health. Women often perceive aroma more or less keenly across the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or through menopause. It's completely normal for a familiar aroma to feel different at different stages.
How many scent ranges does AROMAYU offer?
AROMAYU groups its scents into three ranges based on what you need: Focus & Energy for freshness and concentration, Relax & Balance for calm, and Uplift & Renew for positive energy — so you can find the right scent for you.
Conclusion
Finding the right scent for you is a journey that belongs to you alone, because your preferences come from a combination of genetics, memory, culture, and physiology that nobody else shares. Once you understand these factors and work through the five steps above, you'll find the aroma your body and mind respond to best. If you'd like to understand scent more deeply, try reading The Secret of Lavender's Scent or, for a mid-day reset technique, a 5-minute way to release built-up stress for more.
At AROMAYU we develop high-quality essential oils around our 'Where East Meets World' approach, bringing together science, the craft of scent design, and Thai herbs. Whether you're looking for freshness, calm, or positive energy, we believe there's a scent waiting for you in the Focus & Energy, Relax & Balance, and Uplift & Renew ranges.
