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Is it just us or does perfume shopping have this way of feeling… high stakes? Like, Belly-choosing-between-Conrad-and-Jeremiah level high stakes. (Yes, TSITP still has us in a chokehold.)

That’s the thing about perfume: it’s not just about smelling good. It’s like an invisible accessory you carry everywhere. And with too many options and too many “notes,” it can feel like too much pressure. 

So we called our TikTok faves, Alicia and Alexa Montes (@themontestwins). They’re twins, yes, but what makes them so fun to watch is how their styles overlap and diverge. They love a lot of the same things, but their differences shine through in everything from outfits to beauty choices, and fragrance is no exception.

Plus, we broke down all those confusing perfume terms (hi, gourmand) so you can start with the scent types that feel the most like you and go from there.

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Our mom has actually been wearing the same fragrance since we were kids! It’s Heavenly by Victoria’s Secret, and every time we smell it, we instantly think of her. It’s a feeling that gives us nostalgia and comfort, so I would definitely say her signature scent reminds us of our childhood!

Start with the vibe you want—fresh, floral, cozy, or bold—and try a few samples on your skin. The one you can’t stop smelling and get enough of is usually the winner! You can test and shop tons of options, so don’t feel pressured to stick to just one. Having a couple of go-to scents for different moods is totally normal!

✦ Test on skin, not strips: “We always test them on our skin instead of just a paper strip, because the scent changes as it mixes with your body chemistry.”

✦ Spray perfume on your hair: “We have a few fragrances that are hair and body mists, so when people come to hug you, it’s the first thing they smell. It also leaves a trace behind, and we feel like it’s that extra place you can put perfume you don’t usually think of.”

✦ Layer day-to-night: “We like to mix our nighttime scent on top of our daytime scent to help transition the vibes and create our own little fragrance mix that feels personal to us.”