Case study
Choosing a scent you cannot smell.
Context
Independent perfumeries rely on in-store advice: the seller asks what you like and hands you a blotter. Online, that conversation disappears.
The problem
Product pages list notes like “vetiver” or “tonka” that most people cannot picture. Without guidance, visitors fall back on brands they already know, or leave.
Design choices
- Plain-language families (fresh, floral, woody, warm amber, gourmand) instead of perfumer vocabulary.
- Mood and intensity, the two things people can describe even when they cannot name notes.
- Budget per 50 ml, so prices are comparable.
- Notes shown with every match, plus the reason it was picked, to teach the visitor a little each time.
What the demo shows
A four-step finder with up to two families, ranked matches with notes and reasons, and an honest message when nothing fits the budget.
What a real version needs
Your fragrances and their notes, a classification agreed with your team, sample or discovery-set offers, and testing with real customer questions.