Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesian consumers are increasingly evaluating perfumes based on how they perform throughout the day rather than how they smell immediately after the first spray, reflecting a shift in buying behavior as awareness of fragrance performance grows.
Industry observers say the change is especially relevant in tropical countries such as Indonesia, where heat, humidity, and frequent transitions between outdoor temperatures and air-conditioned spaces can significantly alter how a fragrance develops on the skin.
Instead of making purchasing decisions solely on a perfume’s opening notes, more consumers now pay attention to how long a fragrance lasts, how its scent evolves over time, and whether it remains pleasant after hours of daily activities.
Josh Frost, founder and perfumer at Best Perfume Store, said many customers initially judge a fragrance too quickly.
“Many people tell us they loved a perfume when they first tried it in the store, but later felt it did not last as expected. The opening spray only reveals a small part of a perfume’s character,” Frost said.
He explained that a perfume’s true quality becomes more apparent after 8 to 10 hours of wear, particularly in tropical climates.
According to Frost, that stage allows consumers to evaluate the fragrance formulation, concentration, ingredient quality, and overall scent consistency.
Perfumers refer to this stage as the dry-down, when the top notes gradually fade and the fragrance’s core character fully develops on the skin.
Although the dry-down lasts the longest during everyday wear, many shoppers decide whether to purchase a fragrance before reaching that stage.
Growing consumer awareness has also encouraged buyers to consider fragrance concentration, formulation quality, and suitability for local weather alongside personal scent preferences.
In response, Best Perfume Store has developed perfume collections tailored for Southeast Asia’s tropical climate. Founded in Singapore, the company now operates in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The company says its fragrances contain concentrations of up to 50% fragrance oil, aiming to deliver richer scent profiles, stronger projection, and longer-lasting performance.
However, Frost believes longevity alone does not define a high-quality perfume.
“The best perfume is not always the most expensive or the most popular. It is the one that still feels like you when the day is almost over,” he said.
To help customers choose fragrances that fit their daily routines, Best Perfume Store offers a guided fragrance discovery approach that considers scent preferences, lifestyle, and intended occasions instead of relying only on current trends.
Indonesia has become one of the company’s key Southeast Asian markets. Alongside products designed for tropical conditions, Best Perfume Store also provides local customer support from Bekasi and a Lifetime Guarantee program that includes eligible product exchanges for damaged items or fragrances that do not match customer preferences.
The changing preferences suggest Indonesian consumers are placing greater value on how a fragrance performs over an entire day rather than judging it solely by its first impression.
