LE CHERCHEUR DE PARFUM / PERFUME TESTS
- Get to know perfume.Find more to love.
- Perfume Tests
- Three steps, from beginner to advanced.
- Learn today, or put yourself to the test?
- Let your last result guide your next step.
- Go a little further than the answer.
- Looking for a Perfume That Suits You?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- A starting point for discovering fragrance.
Get to know perfume.Find more to love.
Choosing, trying and comfortably wearing perfume—and discovering the language of fragrance and the stories behind its ingredients. Working through the questions can give you a fresh perspective on a familiar bottle.
LCP’s perfume tests are free knowledge quizzes that expand your world of fragrance through explanations. If you are new to perfume, start with the 20-question beginner quiz on the basics of enjoying fragrance.
The quizzes themselves are currently available in Japanese.
- 20 questions
- About 8 minutes
- Free; no registration required
CHOOSE YOUR TEST
Perfume Tests
Start with the beginner quiz for everyday practical knowledge, then move on to intermediate tests exploring perfume’s background and language, or advanced tests delving into ingredients. Choose a subject that interests you or work through them in order.
LEVEL 01 / BEGINNER
Beginner Perfume Quiz
Choosing and trying perfume, fragrance families and comfortable ways to wear it. These 20 questions cover the basics of enjoying perfume before you get into specialist terminology.
- 20 questions; about 8 minutes
- True/false and multiple choice
- Explanations and saved results
Alongside explanations of the answers, you will find short features drawn from LCP articles. Recommended both for those discovering perfume for the first time and for those who have been using it without thinking much about it.
LEVEL 02 / INTERMEDIATE
Intermediate
Discover the background to perfume and the language for talking about scent.
Basics
Brands, perfumers, natural and synthetic ingredients, testing, storage and understanding fragrance. Twenty questions that look at perfume from different angles.
Take the basics testTerminology
Notes, accords, sillage and fragrance concentration. Explore the meaning and background of words used to describe perfume.
Take the terminology testLEVEL 03 / ADVANCED
Advanced
Delve deeper into fragrance ingredients through materials, extraction methods and history.
Ingredients 1
Fragrance families and the methods used to extract scent from materials. Explore the ingredients that give perfume its shape.
Take Ingredients 1Ingredients 2
Rose, jasmine, lavender, musk and sandalwood. A closer look at familiar ingredients.
Take Ingredients 2Ingredients 3
Patchouli, neroli, tuberose, iris, vetiver and vanilla. Explore the character and history of these materials.
Take Ingredients 3LEARNING PATH
Three steps, from beginner to advanced.
Begin with ways to enjoy perfume, explore its language and background, then enter the world of ingredients. Choose the doorway that interests you now, rather than worrying about how much you already know.
- BeginnerChoosing, trying, fragrance families and wearing perfume. Start with practical basics you can use straight away.
- IntermediateBrands, perfumers and the rules and terminology surrounding perfume. Build the knowledge to explain a scent and read its background.
- AdvancedNatural and synthetic ingredients, extraction methods, and the scents and histories of individual materials. Explore the ingredients that make up a perfume.
Here are some of the questions that open up the world of fragrance.
- What should you do when you have tried so many fragrances that you can no longer tell them apart?
- What is the difference between a note and an accord?
- How can different extraction methods change the scent of the same flower?
TWO WAYS TO LEARN
Learn today, or put yourself to the test?
Every test offers two ways to work through the same questions.
LEARN
Learn as you read
In learning mode, you read the answer and its background after each question. Use it when you want to understand “why” straight away. Even an unfamiliar question becomes a doorway into the explanation.
CHALLENGE
Test yourself first
Answer all the questions, then review your score and the explanations together. Trying without looking things up can reveal both the subjects you know well and those you would like to read more about.
In both modes, you can read the explanations and related LCP articles at the end. For questions with multiple correct answers, you must select all the correct options and no incorrect ones.
YOUR TEST RECORDS
Let your last result guide your next step.
Review each completed test in “Your Test Records.” Bookmark the records page to make it easy to check your results or try again next time.
- Your previous score and a detailed review of the results
- Records and attempt history for each test
- Return to explanations of questions that interest you
Records are saved on the device and browser you are using. They are not shared with other devices, and clearing site data will delete them.
READ BEYOND THE ANSWER
Go a little further than the answer.
A question you missed can point you toward your next article. Follow an ingredient, person or brand that interests you a little deeper into the world of fragrance.
MATERIALSIngredient DictionaryStart with the materials that create fragrance, their sources and how they smell.Explore ingredients →
PERFUMERSPerfumer DirectoryStart with the people behind the creations, their ideas and their journeys.Meet the perfumers →
BRANDSPerfume Brand DirectoryExplore the worlds behind the names and the background to their creations.Explore brands →
To look up a word, visit the Perfume Glossary. Everyday questions about wearing and storing perfume are collected in our Fragrance Q&A.
Looking for a Perfume That Suits You?
The “perfume tests” on this page are quizzes that test your knowledge of perfume. To find fragrances based on your preferences or the impression you have in mind, try the Perfume Finder.
Time spent learning about perfume and time spent understanding your own preferences can both make choosing your next bottle a little more enjoyable.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the perfume tests free? Do I need to register?
All tests are free. No membership, login or email registration is required.
Can beginners take the tests?
Of course. If you are new to perfume, we recommend the beginner quiz in learning mode. Even if you do not know the answers, you can work through the explanations and short LCP features.
Can I use a smartphone? How long does a test take?
You can use a smartphone, tablet or computer. Each test has 20 questions. Allow about 8 minutes for the beginner quiz and around 10 minutes for the others. Take your time if you would like to read the explanations closely.
Can I retake a test as often as I like?
Yes. You can test yourself first, read explanations and related articles for questions that interest you, then try again. The records distinguish between learning and challenge modes.
Can I resume if I stop partway through?
Your progress is temporarily saved on the same device and browser. The next time you open the test, you can choose to resume. You cannot resume if you have cleared site data or if the questions have been revised, among other circumstances.
Where can I see my previous results?
You can view saved results in Your Test Records. They are not automatically synchronized with other devices or browsers. Clearing site data also deletes the records saved on this device.
Will I receive a perfume qualification or certificate?
These are not qualification examinations, so no qualification or certificate is issued. Scores help you review your understanding of the questions asked. They do not measure the sharpness of your sense of smell or your sensitivity to the pleasures of perfume.
ABOUT THIS TEST
A starting point for discovering fragrance.
These tests are created by Le Chercheur de Parfum (LCP), a place to learn about fragrance. Alongside our ingredient dictionary, profiles of perfumers and brands, and Q&A on everyday questions, they offer a way into the world of perfume.
The questions and explanations in each test are put together with reference to information from brands and industry organizations, relevant materials and LCP articles. We value understanding the reasons and background behind answers, rather than simply memorizing them.
If you notice anything in a question or explanation that concerns you, please let us know through the contact form. You can read about LCP’s approach on our About page, and find resources for further learning on the Reference Websites & Books page.
Begin exploring an unfamiliar world of fragrance with your first 20 questions.
Start the beginner quiz