Perfume is a blend of fragrant essential oils, solvents (usually alcohol and water), fixatives, and other ingredients.
The concentration of perfume refers to the proportion of fragrance essential oils in the solvent, which determines the intensity of the scent.
Concentration can range from 1% to 40%.
Eau de Toilette (EDT) and Eau de Parfum (EDP) are terms used to describe the concentrations of perfumes.
There are five levels of perfume concentration, each with varying effects on the fragrance’s longevity.
Generally speaking, perfumes with higher concentrations tend to last longer on the skin.
Listed these five levels in order of concentration, from highest to lowest:
In terms of popularity, the ranking is as follows: Eau de Parfum (EDP), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Cologne (EDC), Eau Fraîche, and lastly, Perfum.
This is because of the high concentration of fragrance essential oils in perfume, which results in a scent that is too strong and overpowering for most people’s senses. Thus, it is less well-received.
Even if Eau de Toilette (EDT) and Eau de Parfum (EDP) use the same fragrance notes, they will still smell differently. At most, they are very similar.
This is because the same fragrance, but with different levels of essential, can affect the scent’s obviousness and the performance of other fragrances.
For example, a higher dose of patchouli can make its scent more prominent, but it can also make the scent of orange blossom relatively weaker.
Fragrance notes reveal the ingredients used in perfume and are categorized into top, middle, and base notes.
These notes differ in terms of when they appear and how long they last, and they typically use distinct ingredients.
Top notes are the initial scents people detect when they apply perfume.
Top notes dissipate quickly, lasting for about 5-15 minutes.
Like the opening of a musical piece, they create the first impression and establish the groundwork for the subsequent changes in scent.
Top notes frequently use citrus fragrances such as lemon and orange, or light floral fragrances like lavender and rose.
Middle notes constitute 70% of the fragrance and appear after the top notes fade, lasting approximately 20-60 minutes.
They serve as a bridge connecting the top and base notes, not only giving the perfume life but enriching the overall fragrance experience.
Middle notes use richer ingredients like jasmine, cinnamon, and lemongrass.
Base notes create the foundation of the perfume and emerge about 30 minutes after application, lasting the longest for several hours.
They are employed to amplify the intensity of perfume and usually have a heavier and richer scent.
Base notes frequently use woody ingredients such as vanilla, musk, and sandalwood.
Longevity, projection, and sillage are terms used to describe the performance of a perfume.
Longevity refers to how long the scent of perfume can still be detected on the skin after application.
The longer the scent lasts, the higher the perfume’s longevity. However, many factors can influence longevity, including:
In addition to concentration and longevity, we also use “projection” and “sillage” to describe perfumes.
These two characteristics are often confused with each other.
Projection refers to how far a fragrance diffuses from the wearer when they are stationary.
Sillage is the scent trail left by the wearer as they are moving, such as when they leave an elevator or walk down a hallway.
High projection often correlates with high sillage, but there are exceptions.
Following is an example of high projection, but low sillage:
Some fragrances for men with citrus or marine notes may be easily detectable from a distance, but may not leave a strong scent trail after the wearer has moved away.
When choosing a perfume, there are several factors you can consider to determine if it’s the right fit for you:
It’s always a good idea to try a perfume in person before buying it or read reviews from perfume experts to ensure that the scent matches your expectations.
The typical fragrance notes in perfume are floral, oriental, woody, and fresh notes, etc.
Floral notes can evoke the aroma of blooming flowers.
Some of these scents are directly extracted from flowers, such as rose and jasmine.
Others are synthesized in a lab because they are challenging to obtain, such as violet and lotus.
There are subtle differences within this category.
From the banana-like top notes of ylang-ylang, the subtle wine scent in fresh roses, the almond scent of heliotrope, to the camphor-like aroma of freshly picked tuberose, and the apricot scent of osmanthus, etc.
Other common floral ingredients include jasmine, lavender, and chamomile.
Oriental notes, also known as amber notes, have exotic and warm spicy aromas and are traditionally crafted by Arabian perfumers.
They can evoke a sense of seduction and desire.
Common fragrance ingredients include amber, benzoin, labdanum, cinnamon, and musk.
Woody notes are thought to be steady and gentle and are often used as the base note of perfume to enhance the fragrance of other elements.
However, a few woody notes can also be used as top notes or middle notes, such as rosewood.
Some have smoky aromas, like guaiac wood, while others have a simple and nostalgic feeling, like the scent of a new pencil, such as cedarwood.
In addition, this category includes subcategories such as mossy woods, dry woods, aromatic, etc.
Common fragrance ingredients include sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli.
Fresh notes give people a refreshing and bright impression, which makes them feel refreshed.
Thus, fresh notes are often used in the top notes.
This fragrance family includes citrus, fruity, green, and water.
In addition to the above fragrance notes, there are also gourmand notes that are sweet and dessert-like, with scents that remind you of chocolate, vanilla, and candy.
Metallic notes give off a clean and unique scent.
Leather notes have smoky, woody, or tobacco scents.
Perfumes are gendered into women, men, and unisex fragrances according to their aroma, concentration, and longevity of perfumes.
The scents of perfume for women tend to be fragrant and sweet, like charming peony, sweet peach, or delicate citrus.
There are also natural and elegant scents of jasmine or rose.
Perfume for women often evokes a sense of sweetness, sex appeal, nobility, or elegance.
The concentration is usually higher, like Eau de Parfum (EDP) or Eau de Toilette (EDT).
Some classic perfumes for women include the iconic N°5 by Chanel and Hypnotic Poison by Dior.
Perfume for men typically gives off a masculine and steady scent, to showcase the manly and steady characteristics of a man.
The common fragrance ingredients are musk, leather, tobacco, oud, and vetiver.
These steady fragrance notes are usually placed in the base notes to give a lasting impression.
The concentration is usually lower, such as Eau de Toilette (EDT) or Eau de Cologne (EDC).
Some classic perfumes for men include Kouros (EDT) by YSL and Baccarat Rouge 540 (EDP) by MFK.
Unisex perfumes have a scent that is not overly sweet or masculine.
They aim to create gender-neutral fragrances that combine and balance both feminine and manly characters.
They may blend citrus and floral scents with amber and musk, or natural woody notes.
These fragrances showcase the complexity and richness of a person’s character, regardless of gender.
To provide more opportunities for people to choose a scent that suits them.
One iconic unisex fragrance is CK One by Calvin Klein.
Choosing the right perfume for different seasons, occasions, and timings can enhance the charm of fragrance, showcase one’s taste, and create a more pleasant and welcoming atmosphere for oneself and others.
Here are some guidelines to follow:
Perfumes can be categorized into designer perfumes and niche perfumes based on brand positioning.
Designer perfumes are produced by well-known designer brands.
These brands often offer a variety of products such as fashion accessories, cosmetics, and more, with perfume being just one of them.
Designer perfumes tend to follow current trends and cater to popular tastes.
These perfumes are mass-produced and often more affordable and popular. Moreover, they are easier to buy for consumers.
Popular examples of designer perfume brands include Christian Dior, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent (YSL).
Niche Perfumes are produced by brands that solely focus on creating fragrances.
These perfumes are often unique and emphasize individual characteristics.
Their perfumers have more creative freedom to develop distinct scents, so sometimes there are artistic elements included.
However, since these fragrances are not mainstream and may have more unconventional notes, they may not appeal to everyone’s taste.
Niche perfumes are typically more expensive than designer perfumes due to their specialized production process and unique ingredients.
Some well-known niche perfume brands include Diptyque, Amouage, Creed, Maison Francis Kurkdjian (MFK), and others.
You can buy perfumes at department store counters, specialty perfume shops, physical stores, or online retailers according to your preferences or convenience.
Regardless of where you choose to buy from, it’s highly recommended that you smell the perfume before buying. You can either visit a physical store or buy a small sample size.
Since fragrance preferences are subjective, it’s essential to smell the scent in person to determine whether it suits you.
To maximize the effectiveness and longevity of your perfume, it’s important to apply it to the appropriate body parts:
It’s important to find the right balance between showcasing the fragrance and overwhelming those around you. Here are some guidelines:
For high-concentration perfumes such as Parfum and Eau de Parfum (EDP), start with 1-2 sprays.
For Eau de Toilette (EDT) or Eau de Cologne (EDC), you can spray about 3-4 times.
Keep in mind that if the EDT has a stronger scent, you may want to start with fewer sprays to avoid an overpowering fragrance.
If you accidentally apply too much, you can remove the excess perfume using a makeup remover pad or alcohol wipe, and then reapply as needed.
Mixing perfumes is a great way to create a unique and personalized fragrance. When blending perfumes, it is important to keep in mind the following tips:
The best way is to keep the perfume in a cool, dry, and dark place.
You can put the perfume back into its original packaging and store it at room temperature in a dark place.
Heat, light, and humidity are the enemies of perfume, so never store perfume in direct sunlight (e.g. window side) or in a humid place (e.g. bathroom).
Heat and light can cause the ingredients in perfume to start oxidizing or chemically degrading.
UV rays from sunlight can change the color of perfume. For example, amber can turn green.
Humidity and heat can cause natural essential oils and fragrances of perfume to degrade, causing the perfume to lose its original scent or go bad.
For example, the scent of patchouli can change from woody to citrusy in a hot and steamy shower.
Yes, perfume does have an expiration date, even if it’s unopened.
This date is typically affected by the factors such as quality, storage conditions, and concentration of the perfume.
High-quality perfumes can last for more than 5 years, whereas cheaper ones may last for less than 1 year. On average, most perfumes have a lifespan of 2 to 5 years.
To determine if a perfume has expired, you can check the expiration date on the bottle or estimate the time since you first opened it.
If the perfume has an odd color, odor, or sediment, or if it causes skin irritation after use, then it has expired.
However, if the perfume has been stored properly and shows no abnormal signs after its expiration date, then it can still be used.
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