The Fragrance Guide - Facts for Finding your Fragrance
Finding Your Fragrance: What to Know About Selecting a Scent
The sense of smell is the strongest of all senses and is the greatest mood enhancer. Choosing your signature scent should be exciting and invigorating.
Here are a few things to consider when finding your fragrance. There are scents, notes, and concentrations. There is proper use, reaction to body chemistry, and fragrance preservation. Familiarity with these topics will help you choose a fragrance you can live with for a lifetime or just for an evening out.
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Fragrance Families: Making Sense of Scents
Scents are grouped into fragrance families. There are typically seven families: Floral, Citrus, Aromatic, Fresh Water, Green, Woody, and Oriental. Familiarizing yourself with each family will help you fall in love with your fragrance. For more information about fragrance families, go to Shop by Scent Type section.
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Knowing your Notes: Leaving a Lasting Impression
The impression your fragrance leaves varies from initial application. These impressions are referred to as notes. The process of evaporation or "dry-down" leads to note progression. The notes are known as Top, Middle, and Base.
Top Notes Also known as "head notes" are perceived as soon as a fragrance is applied. This is the first impression and lasts only a few minutes due to evaporation. Citrus scents are among common top notes.
Middle Notes Also known as "heart notes", are less dramatic; but, they are deeper and last longer than top notes. This impression usually appears ten to forty-five minutes after application. Floral scents are common middle notes.
Base Notes Help to slow evaporation and give weight and depth to your fragrance. They are not usually apparent until thirty minutes or more after application. Musk and patchouli are common bases notes.
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Fragrance Concentration: Parfum, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Cologne
Fragrances are sold in four different forms: Perfume, Eau De Parfum, Eau De Toilet, and Eau De Cologne. These forms are described as oil concentrations or aromatic compounds. The higher the percentage of aromatic compounds, the more intense the fragrance is and the longer the scent lasts. The concentration or strength of the fragrance also determines the price of your selection.
Parfum / Perfume is the most intense and enduring fragrance form. It usually comes in a dab on bottle. Perfume usually lasts 8-12 hours on the skin. This fragrance compound is comprised of a 20%-40% oil concentration and is the most expensive form of fragrance.
Eau De Parfum (EDP) is the most common form of fragrance. It is usually sold in a spray bottle. Eau De Parfum lasts 6 - 8 hours on the skin. This fragrance compound is comprised of a 10-30% oil concentration.
Eau De Toilet (EDT) is usually less concentrated than Eau de Parfum and is always sold in a spray bottle. Eau De Toilet lasts 4 - 6 hours on the skin. This fragrance compound is comprised of a 5-20% oil concentration.
Eau De Cologne (EDC) is the least concentrated form of fragrance. It is generally sold in large bottles and applied liberally. This is also the least expensive form fragrance. It does not last very long on the skin (up to 3 hours). This fragrance compound is comprised of a 2-3% oil concentration.
Each perfume house assigns a different oil concentration to each form of fragrance. Therefore, an Eau De Cologne of one house may be stronger than the Eau De Toilet of another. Keep this information in mind when selecting the form of fragrance you prefer.
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The Art of Application: Proper Fragrance Use
Proper use of fragrance should intrigue and entice those around you. Your fragrance should be respectful of others sensitivities while expressing your personality in a subtle manner. As you become accustomed to your scent, the intensity wanes for you; however, the people around you experience your fragrance as though it was freshly applied. Consider that some individuals may be prone to headaches or nausea when in close proximity to some fragrances.
Applying fragrance appropriately is an art. As the artist, be sure to consider these things when creating your fragrance masterpiece:
How to know the amount of perfume to apply and wear
Perfume being the most intense and enduring fragrance form requires only a few drops. It should be applied, dabbed, at the pulse points: behind your ears, at the nape of your neck, at the base of your throat, between your breasts or under your bosom, inside your wrists, inside the bend of your elbows, and behind your knees. Your body heat will ensure effective disbursement of your scent.
Eau De Parfum, Eau De Toilet, and Eau De Cologne are usually sold in spray bottles and can be applied using more than one method. You can spray in the air and walk through for a light, all over application. You can spray directly on the body before dressing so that it melds with your body chemistry; or, you can spray on your hair for a scent that is truer to the original fragrance.
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Fragrance Reaction: Why Do Fragrances React Differently on Different People
Each person's body chemistry is different and your fragrance will react with your body based on genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. These factors determine how your favorite scent presents itself to you and the people around you. In addition, the scent is received differently by others based on their olfactory senses. Depending on how and where you apply your fragrance, it will mix with your perspiration and musk to create your unique scent
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The Right Fragrance for the Right Occasion: An Informed Decision
The right fragrance not only must fit the occasion, but it must fit your intent. Your sense of smell is the greatest determiner of your mood. You should decide what you want to convey with your fragrance, whether at work or out on the town, and select accordingly.
Some fragrances are versatile and can be worn from morning to night and from meetings to social events. However, there are very few fragrances that can create the impact you desire in all situations. When choosing a fragrance for your occasion, you should consider your surroundings, the purpose of the event, the duration of the event, and the company you will keep. These considerations will help you determine the appropriate fragrance family, fragrance concentration, and proper application.
While fragrances and responses to fragrances are subjective, here are a few recommendations for some occasions:
Floral: casual, day or evening
Citrus, Fresh Water: causal, office, day or evening
Woody: casual, romantic, cool evenings, outdoor events
Oriental: evening, romantic, fall, winter
For more information about fragrance families, go to Shop by Scent Type section.
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Preserving Your Fragrance/Perfume:
Storing your fragrance appropriately will extend its life and maintain its integrity. Be sure to keep your fragrance in a cool, dark, dry place. Spray bottles or original containers are best because they limit oxygen exposure which alters the fragrance's character. If unopened and properly stored, a fragrance can remain intact indefinitely. Once your fragrance is open, it can remain intact for at least a year; however, as the level of fragrance in the bottle decreases significantly, the scent will begin to distort. Tucking your fragrance away to avoid light, heat, oxygen, dust, and skin will maintain the quality of your favorite scent
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