Fragrance begins with a feeling: how to choose a signature scent

Ask Sevin customers what they love most, and 70% say the same thing first: the fragrance. Before Sevin had a name, it had a fragrance, and scent is still where every product begins. If you're wondering how to choose a signature scent, for yourself or your home, start where Sevin did: with a feeling, not a list of notes.

Distinctive, but never overpowering

Our founder, Sevin Ersin, started with memories of Cyprus, of family and of travel, and worked alongside a fragrance house's R&D team to turn them into four fragrances made exclusively for Sevin. All four share one philosophy: balance. Florals that never tip into overwhelming, vanilla that never turns sugary, and oud with real richness that never fills a room.

Porcelain White: white jasmine, ylang-ylang, nutmeg

The scent of clean linen, summer air and jasmine after sunset, inspired by the jasmine tiaras Sevin sewed as a child. Fresh without being clinical, floral without being overtly so. Choose it if you love clean, softly feminine scents. Wear it as a Roll On Perfume Oil and wash with it in our Hand & Body Wash.

Marble Black: oud, bergamot, black pepper, clove

The feeling of walking into a beautiful hotel lobby. Woody and rich without feeling heavy, with a masculine character that many women love too, which makes it a natural choice if you're looking for oud for women that isn't overpowering. Choose it if you want quiet sophistication. The Marble Black Scented Candle comes in three sizes, up to a 1.5kg statement candle.

Fresh Clay: vanilla, amber

The warmth and noise of a family home in Cyprus, with something baking in the background. Soft vanilla sweetness and amber warmth, never sugary. Choose it if you want a scent that feels like home. Try the Fresh Clay Scented Candle in a living room or kitchen.

Coral Clay: soft powdery notes, hint of rose

Inspired by the talcum powder Sevin's grandmother dusted on after her shower, reimagined with a hint of rose. Soft, nostalgic and unapologetically feminine, it's Sevin's answer to powdery perfumes for women. Choose it if you love comforting florals. Find it in the Coral Clay Scented Candle, Natural Soap Bar and Face, Body & Hair Oil.

Which Sevin are you?

• Want to feel fresh and restored? Porcelain White

• Want to feel polished and confident? Marble Black

• Want to feel warm and at home? Fresh Clay

• Want to feel soft and cared for? Coral Clay

Make your home smell like a beautiful hotel

Luxury hotels don't just smell good, they smell the same everywhere you go: the same scent in the lobby, the corridors and the bathroom. You can do the same at home. Choose one fragrance and use it in layers: a Scented Candle in the main living space, a few drops of Scented Oil in a burner or diffuser in the hallway, and the matching Hand & Body Wash by every sink. Marble Black was created with exactly that hotel-lobby feeling in mind.

Your questions, answered

How do I choose a signature scent for myself? Start with how you want to feel, not with notes. Think of a place or memory you'd like to return to, then test scents on your skin rather than on paper, and live with each one for a day. A signature scent should feel easy to wear every day, not just on special occasions. We can add scent finder here

How do I make my home smell like a luxury hotel? Pick one signature fragrance and use it consistently across rooms. Layer a scented candle in living spaces, scented oil in a diffuser for hallways, and a matching hand wash in bathrooms. Keep it balanced rather than strong: guests should notice it when they walk in, not all evening.

What does oud smell like? Oud smells deep, woody and slightly smoky, with a warm, resinous richness. Traditional oud can be very strong. In Sevin's Marble Black it's balanced with fresh bergamot and a gentle spice of black pepper and clove, so it feels sophisticated rather than heavy.

How do I layer fragrance with lotion? Use a body wash and lotion in the same scent, then apply your fragrance on top. Moisturised skin holds fragrance better than dry skin, so the scent lasts longer and stays closer to the skin. Apply lotion while skin is still slightly damp, then add perfume oil to your pulse points.

How do I make perfume last longer on skin? Moisturise first, ideally with an unscented or matching-scent lotion or body oil, then apply fragrance to pulse points such as wrists, neck and behind the ears. Don't rub your wrists together. Perfume oils, like Sevin's alcohol-free Roll On Perfume Oil, tend to sit closer to the skin and last well.