Apps like Perfumance, iPerfumer and Sephora’s Scentsa Fragrance Finder introduce a more personal fragrance-finding experience. The apps use personality tests to determine one’s “signature scent.”
Personality perfume apps have been available since 2008 but gained popularity last year. The apps are meant to give users practical advice on buying perfume, without the nuisance of a sales representative.
Sephora has seen great success with its in-store perfume app, the Scentsa Fragrance Finder. Skin care lead at the Fashion Place Sephora store, Jessica Hewett, said she introduces the Scentsa to every customer. It gives her a good idea of the customer’s preferences so she has an accurate starting point with each client.
“It has a quiz on it that tells us your impression so we know what kind of perfume best fits you,” Hewett said. “It also tells the history of every perfume and links you to other perfumes like it. Almost any question you have about a scent the Scentsa can answer.”
Hewett said their store has seen an influx of customers since the introduction of this in-store fragrance finder. It helps new customers get an idea for which scents they prefer.
“Scents that are nostalgic for people seem to be popular,” said Cassandra Clermot, a psychology major from Temecula, California. “I like lots of the scents my mom likes, so the personality test would help solidify that.”
Sephora is the most well known for using technology to select a customer’s “signature scent.” Employees of other fragrance stores, such as ULTA Beauty in Sandy, feel that their store could benefit from similar tools.
“We have customers who have worn the same fragrance for years and some who don’t know what they want,” said Ashley St. Clair, prestige manager at ULTA Beauty in Sandy. “It would be nice to have this resource in our store.”
St. Clair likes this idea and feels that department stores could benefit from tools like the Scentsa. It gives customers a more effective way of shopping for fragrance.
Scentsa is currently available for use in the Fashion Place and City Creek Sephora stores in Murray and Salt Lake City.
