India, July 17 -- The fragrance industry is smellmaxxing. Shelves no longer hold just marquee brands and duty-free favourites. There are homegrown brands in the mix, plus scents from the Middle-East, South Korea and Japan. Signature scents are for old ladies. Complicated layering is for Millennials. But sleep perfumes and hair mists and scent jelly balms are going viral. Spray and sniff will only take you so far. Here's what to know before you buy your next little bottle.

Don't rush it. And not just because perfumes are expensive. "Most communication in the field is designed to create desire, not to explain how a fragrance will actually behave on skin, in heat, over time, or in daily use," says perfumer Rajiv Sheth. So, spray something o...