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Perfumery is well and truly an art form. In order to have a comprehensive evaluation system of a variety of fragrances, it requires a lot of thinking and effort from a person, because despite of the modern technology available to us, it is impossible for a machine to give justice to the quality of the scent of a perfume. Thus, perfumery is the field that requires more human output than tech.

This is the reason why the media often uses the influence of the celebrities when it comes to perfume advertisements, because it tries to appeal to the masses that if a celebrity favors one perfume, then it must be of high quality. However, when I read other people’s evaluation of different fragrances, I give little merit to celebrity endorsement and I focus more in the way the scents are described, its impact spell out in words, and this is how I do my own reviews.

As much as possible, I try to avoid highlighting the celebrities endorsing a certain perfume, instead, I aim to write about the different aspects of a fragrance that makes it so amazing, a part that makes me sub-standard, or just fair and leaves room for improvement, because this kind of information is more useful to my readers, trying to mesh my pragmatic perspective of a perfume and my view of a fragrance as an art.

At the end of the day, however, one’s tastes are highly personal, so it probably doesn’t matter what I or anyone else believes about a fragrance. If a scent appeals to you, no one can say otherwise. Still, I would like share with you a listing of criteria which are usually employed by perfume reviewers, including 1) quality, 2) creativity, 3) projection, 4) endurance, 5) comfort, 6) worth, 7) match frequency, 8) packaging, in addition to an 9) overall score and 10) recommendations.

I primarily take into consideration the first four when I am about to buy a perfume to become part of my private collection, but to begin with, you should know a little background about the rating scales.

 

Rating Scales

With regards to art, entertainment, and even in university set-up of the Western civilization, the 10 point scale is commonly used for evaluation of the quality of a goods, and within this scale almost any number below 7 factors is regarded as a bad score. However, I still prefer using the 5-star system, because it seemed more suitable for perfumery, although 0.5 stars are generally given, only because it seems cleaner, easier, and is often utilized by many reviewers. Moreover, the midway rating of 3 stars is regarded as a favorable review, whereas 6 or 6.5 on the 10 point scale process is considered as unwanted. As a side note, though I expect the majority of my subscribers are knowledgeable about Western rating scale, many might not understand that other cultures rate very differently. In Japan, for an instance, scales are usually in inverse sequence; over a 4 point scale, 1 is the highest and 4 is the lowest.

 

Side  Notes

The typical rating for nearly all scents in the market is 2.5 and 3.5 stars. Fragrance with a 4-star rating are uncommon and often only given for a high-class type of perfume, with unique essential oils. As for the coveted 5-star rating, it is incredibly rare and finding one with such rating is like finding a diamond. Most 5-star fragrance would also have an eye-bugging price tag, limited availability, and can only be afforded by the elite class in the society.

It is difficult not to be biased in testimonials, as everybody is swayed toward something or another. I have a tendency to favor the pleasantly clean scents of oriental-type of fragrance, with a musky and spicy undertone, so it is difficult to be honest when it comes to florals. Even so, I would attempt to be objective while also voicing out something I personally love.

 

Criteria for Judging a Fragrance

 1. Quality

The quality of a fragrance is the most essential but subjective of standards in perfumery. The class of the ingredients used is usually the top consideration, so colognes are sometimes shunned in the perfumery world because it has a really low concentration of essential oils.

But of course, critics are different from ordinary people who just wanted to find a scent that makes them feel good. So the greatest consideration you must have is how the smell of a certain fragrance makes you feel.

What mood does this fragrance communicate and what memories, if any, does it  evoke? to surface?

Trying to rate the quality of an odor is quite complex, because the subjective and objective aspect must perfectly be in tune with each other. The complexity comes when you try to judge a scent by how well the various tones and undertones mix and how it speaks to you as an individual—if the scent reflects your personality.

The long-lasting smell of a perfume also speaks of its quality. When you first open a bottle, the scent would be potent and overpowering, but does it lasts for a long time? If you use the perfume and go about your day, would it keep you fresh until your day ends?

So if a fragrance lose its odor in a short amount of time, its score would naturally go down, because it is evidence of the low quality ingredients used. But then, there are some scents that are known to be linear, which means that it smells exactly the same from when you apply it, until the end of the day; while there are some scents that changes its tone, shifting from one scent to another, depending on environment and physical activity of the person.

How to Rate the Quality of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — Get it off my skin!
2 out of 5 — The odor is OK; generic and might be off-putting for many.
3 out of 5 — It smells great, but does not make an enduring impression.
4 out of 5 — It has an excellent odor that lasts all day.
5 out of 5 — It is a rare masterpiece — LOVE IT!

 

2. Originality

Does this odor smell like the abundance of average fragrances in the marketplace or does it stand out and surprise you in its own uniqueness?

Does this push the limits, setting new criteria, or can it be terribly ordinary and uninspiring?

Just because the odor breaks fresh ground and unique for you, doesn’t mean that it has heavenly scent for many, but this where the subjective aspect comes in. If it smells like paradise for you, then it must click well with your personality. Originality is variable that is so prized by many in the industry because countless aromas come into the market, yet majority of them are a mere replica of one another.

There are times, however, where classic is improved upon by modern perfumers. Traditional scents are being given a modern twist, making it more trendy and creating a flattering mix as a result. Despite the improvements on classic edition, I personally turn down this type of perfume, because I believe that imitations, in any form, is underserving of praise and money.

How to Rate the Originality of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — There is absolutely nothing unique about this odor.
2 out of 5 — You can easily find a scent similar to this fragrance.

3 out of 5 — Quite unique, but with some effort you might find something similar.
4 out of 5 — A first for me; might have trace similarities with other high-end odor.
5 out of 5 — There is nothing else like this—a true first!

 

3. Projection (Sillage)

A scent should be in position to work for more than one hour. Generally you need other people to smell you. However, everyone has a different skin type. I always try to put perfume on different parts of my body, usually on my pulse points, to make it lasts longer.

Of course, more projection is not always better, because it can become too overpowering. But if other people could not smell the perfume on you, what’s the point of using one? Hence, it is important to observe the projection of the perfume you are using and see if it is worthy to be part of your private collection.

How to Rate the Projection of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — faint; Others need to be real close on your skin to perceive your odor.
2 out of 5 — gentle; People intimately near you can smell your odor.
3 out of 5 — medium potency; People on your immediate area can smell your odor.
4 out of 5 — large coverage area; People will definitely smell you coming.
5 out of 5 — huge projection area; People can smell you from afar.

 

4. Longevity

This is a simple standard. How long can the odor continue on skin (or hair or clothes) after you first applied it? The fantastic thing about this is that in case a odor performs badly concerning longevity, you could always spray a few more!

How to Rate the Longevity of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — bad; two hours or less
2 out of 5 — 5 feeble; 3~4 hours
3 out of 5 — 5 average; 5~6 hours
4 out of 5 — 5 durable; 7~8 hours
5 out of 5 — quite durable; occasionally 12 hours or longer

 

5. Versatility

Winter, spring, summer or fall?

Day or night? Formal or casual?

Mature or young? Safe or daring?

Versatility in perfumery is a phrase that’s typically utilized in the context of becoming secure (not overly offensive). This often conflicts with creativity, but scents which are equally special and secure are a great way to choose a fragrance.

A versatile odor is one you may use for work, for some classy occasion, when going out of town, and also for casual events. It will not offend a lot of people and different genders and ages call pull off it in almost any season.

Fantastic luck finding only one which can do all that! Highly versatile aromas do exist, but they are not easy to find.

How to Rate the Versatility of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — It’s quite tricky to find an event to wear this fragrance

2 out of 5 — You can wear this fragrance seasonally and occasionally. Also calls for

gender and age consideration.

3 out of 5 — This fragrance can be worn for daytime or nighttime, for any seasons,

occasions, gender, and age groups.

4 out of 5 — Highly versatile; it functions nicely for night or day AND/OR multiple

seasons AND/OR several events, AND/OR functions for both woman and men of several ages.

5 out of 5 — Completely versatile; Fragrance can fit flawlessly for anyone, anyplace,

and anytime.

 

6. Value

 This criterion, such as strength, projection and flexibility, is much more utilitarian. Yes, the cost of the perfume will finally decide whether I make a purchase or not, but it does not determine if I like the way that it smells or how it fare when I wear it, but I concede it’s an element that readily represents an important standard for a lot of individuals, so when I sense an odor is “too expensive” or a “real steal,” I immediately say so.

I intentionally avoid the words cost or price from the title of the criterion, like if I’m in love with a stunning, expensive perfume which has excellent sillage and durability, I will be more inclined to invest in it than waste money on something relatively cheaper, but does not deliver what I needed from a perfume.

If minimalism in possessions is not your thing and a thin pocket is not your problem, then this variable won’t ever be a standard. However, for most of us it has to be money is often the make or break and even if we love to add to our perfume collection, it is still always dependent on our budget. Niche fragrances might be rated more harshly than designer perfumes because of this, since they might be absolutely otherworldly and different from the rest, but maybe not worth the cost.

How to Rate the Value of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — OMG, my car cost over that!
2 out of 5 — This is a massive splurge for me personally.
3 out of 5 — normal perfume costs less than 100 USD for 100 ml
4 out of 5 — significantly less than 50 USD for a 100 ml bottle OR Oh, it is available?

Great!

5 out of 5 — Rather than catching a fast food meal, then I will get me a jar of the

stuff!

 

7. Compliment Frequency

 For a lot of people, a perfume is worn to impress others than just to pleasure themselves. Not that getting complements is disagreeable, but I confess to wearing a fragrance for myself over the opinion of other people (and I guess at the end of the day, once I buy a perfume for my significant other, it is more for myself than for him haha!). For people who wish to smell great for many others, note that a high number of compliments can be an indication that your perfume is good.

Generally speaking, I prefer a more unique and elaborate niche aromas rather than designer perfumes, but the latter often create additional compliments since they’re just pleasant rather than “odd” in any manner.

How to Rate the Complimentary Frequency of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — People move away from you.
2 out of 5 — You never receive compliments on the scent you’re wearing.
3 out of 5 — Compliments about the scent you’re wearing are less frequent, but you

received praises occasionally.

4 out of 5 — You frequently receive complements about the scent you’re wearing.
5 out of 5 — You receive compliments all the time, frequently with people dying to

know what it is that you are wearing.

 

8. Packaging (Bottling)

 It is stressed time and time again that you should never judge a book by its cover, however, in the perfumery world, most fragrance are judged based on their packaging. People who are hardcore perfume collectors gives a lot of weight to the bottling of a perfume.

In the modern world, however, aesthetic has become a very important criterion in almost everything. So if collecting elite fragrance is what you are after, you must take the bottling into consideration. Truly, I admit to getting pleasure at only taking a look at the perfume bottles in my collection in addition to using them.

To be certain, whether one enjoys the jar is totally subjective. I much prefer the contemporary Gucci Rush plastic container into the old-fashioned bottles out of Annick Goutal. In addition, I believe many delightful Middle Eastern bottles are hideously gaudy, but lots of these designs will delight others.

In packaging, nevertheless, you will find utilitarian elements to consider. Does the spray atomizer operate nicely? It the jar so fragile that it breaks easily when you accidentally lets go of it? Does it flow nicely? Does the heavy weight communicate luxury for you? Is it mild enough to pack for traveling if you choose to take the entire thing?

No, packaging isn’t the top element when deciding on a fragrance, but it cannot be ignored.

How to Rate the Bottling of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — The bottle appears cheap, trashy, does not spray nicely, and scent

escapes out of it, even when closed

2 out of 5 — The bottle has only 1 or two of the above mentioned attributes.
3 out of 5 — Everything is functional, but nothing particularly exceptional about it.
4 out of 5 — Stunning packaging; it is appealing and extremely functional.
5 out of 5 — The bottle is an absolute work of art that probably cost the same way as

the content that it contains; everything is perfectly functional.

 

9. Total Evaluation

After considering all of the above criteria, a fragrance may be awarded an overall score. That is generally NOT a mathematical average of all of the variables at hand, nevertheless; it is more of a general, general belief, where specific standards might be ignored. It’s plausible that odor quality and creativity would weigh the deepest for many raters.

How to Give Total Evaluation of a Fragrance:

1 out of 5 — Bad; Many perfumes really are not this bad, as well as any odor is going

to have a couple lovers, this is a very rare score.
2 out of 5 — Mediocre; Fragrance getting this score are not bad, but aren’t inspiring.

It’s more likely getting a terrible score because of a combination of being overpriced and unoriginal, and lacking in flexibility, projection, and endurance. Fragrances with this score can easily be worn by men and women without discriminating tastes, however, fragrance collectors will probably avoid them.

3 out of 5 — Great; The advantages outweigh the negatives, but there continue to

be far better fragrances on the market. This odor will interest people who enjoy a specific odor sufficient to tolerate its defects. Too little creativity, projection, and sillage are probably the key motives perfumes with this evaluation do not justify a rating of 4.

4 out of 5 — Recommended; This odor does just about everything you might ever

desire from a fragrance of its kind (meaning it is good enough to get a lack of flexibility to dismiss). There are not any substantial difficulties with the odor, but you aren’t left in complete amazement either.

5 out of 5 — Highly recommended; This odor isn’t just flaw free, it is

a genuine masterpiece, either a timeless type from ages ago that’s continued throughout the years or a revolutionary odor which will shape the business. It surpasses expectations and could be regarded as a staple for most collectors.

 

10. Recommendations

This is not put on a scale, but fragrance reviewers will frequently suggest actions in the conclusion of the testimonials as an inventory, examples:

Do not buy!
Sample this because [provide reasoning], but I do not suggest it.
Try before you purchase.
So good it is worth blind purchasing!

Perfumes have a glorious and sweet-smelling past that can be traced back to the ancient times, with books written solely for its manufacture and production. The word perfume is derived from the Latin phrase per fumus, which means thorough smoke and later on, the French used the word parfum to describe the smell produced by burning of incense.

Originally, perfumes emulate the pleasant scents of nature. Natural oils were extracted from flowers and plants and became the main components of the perfumes of the ancient world. The oils were extracted, pressed, steamed and then burned as a way to envelope the surroundings.

At present, years after the first whiff of a crafted odor wafted beyond the nose of a human, the art of perfumery is now a multi-billion dollar industry, and the scientific process of making perfume hasn’t only evolved, but has been refined and improved as much as any other industry and practice.

This article delves into the rich history of perfume creation and gives the ultimate industry guide to mastering the art of perfume production, from the process of extraction, aging, and all of the ins and outs of developing a marketable, timeless scent.

 

Perfume from the ancient world

The Catholic faith, the biggest religion in the world, has their sacred books filled with different narrations of the use of perfumes during the time of Jesus Christ and his followers and even before him. It is even mentioned in the Christian bible that the Three Wise Men has carried gifts of myrrh (an embalming oil) and frankincense (incense) to bestow upon the infant Jesus.

Furthermore, the ancient Egyptian civilization is rife with references to the use of scented oils and perfumes, especially by the elite class and pharaohs, as evidenced in hieroglyphics and written papyrus records. Even the Ancient Chinese and Indian civilization had written records detailing the importance of fragrances in their societies, with heavenly scents associated with richness and favor from Gods.

Perfumes definitely has diverse uses—from religious rituals to warring tactics and to romantic adventures. A variety of religions had burnt an alcoholic substance called kypi, which was comprised of henna, myrrh, cinnamon, and juniper, allowing its scent to cover the environment in order to please a certain God. Aromatic body lotions had been created from the liquid resulting from soaking aromatic timber, gum, and resin in water and oil.

Indeed, fragrances were even an integral aspect of the embalming procedure. People who were worshipped as deities became associated with specific scents, which gave birth to the phrase “odor of the Gods,” to imply that a certain scent is associated with the divinity.

 

Perfume reaching the early Greeks, Romans, and early Europeans

The art of making perfume spread from the ancient Greece to Rome and with the building of the Silk Road, there has been exchange of perfumery ingredients and techniques from Asia and far East with the West. Europeans first used fragrances due to its perceived healing properties.

The empires of Middle East, with the great Persian empire, commissioned many huge gardens in the palaces and around the country, and has given attention to flower plantations, using the fragrances for luxurious baths and as gift for favorite ladies in the sultan’s harem. The scents permeated the palaces were musky, woody, and spicy, while the Chinese and other Asian dynasties often favored a much cleaner and light scent, more on floral and fruit-like fragrances.

Medical practitioners of the 17^th century even treated plague victims by covering their mouths and noses with leather parts containing plump cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. They believed this action would shield the sick from further infection.

King Louis XIV of France was rumored to use too much perfume that those close to him dubbed him “the perfume king.” He used it on himself, to his court and palaces, even creating a floral pavilion in the main imperial palace, where decorative bowls filled with dried flowers and fragrances freshened the air.

Perfume permeated clothes, furniture, walls, as well as cutlery. The Grasse area in southern France became a major producer of perfume, as it had been a place where many flowering plant varieties flourished. Fragrances in England were often concealed within jewelry, particularly locket pendants, as well as the hollow heads of canes for private ‘sniff’ moments.

 

19th century marketing and production of perfume

With the industrial revolution brought about by Britain, perfumes have become more accessible to the masses and not only exclusive to the elite class in the society. There had been mass production and mass marketing of perfume starting from mid-18^th century and even become more diverse with the introduction of artificial chemicals.

The very first synthetic perfume was created from nitric acid and benzene, and was called nitrobenzene. This mixture had aromatic top notes of almond and has been often used in the favorite scented soaps of today.

Other improvements included synthetic violet and vanilla developed by Ferdinand Tiemann at the University of Berlin, in Germany, and an alcohol-based perfume called citronellol, which was produced by an American, Francis Despard Dodge. This synthetic compound was made from citronella oil and contained aromatic notes of sweet pea, lily of the valley, narcissus, and hyacinth.

How are oils extracted from plants?

It is the oils derived from nature’s plant and flower materials that are used to make perfumes. There are six methods by which oils are extracted from plants. First is the boiling process, oils can be extracted by boiling flower petals in water, which will produce aqueous extracts. Then, it will be followed by solvent extraction, where flowers are placed in large rotating tanks and benzene or petroleum ether is poured over them, which extracts the essential oils. This causes the parts of the flower to dissolve and leave in their wake a waxy material, which contains the oil, that is then placed in ethyl alcohol. This leaves high concentration of perfume oil on the bottom of the tanks.

 

The effleurage method, the French way of circular stroke massaging, of extracting essential oils is both costly and labor-intensive. It involves spreading flowers out on grease-coated glass sheets and then carefully placing them in tiers involving frames. The glass sheets are covered with highly purified and odorless vegetable or animal fat. The petals of the blossoms that are being extracted are spread all over the plates of glass and pressed in. This process is usually repeated several times before complete saturation of the sample can happen.

Maceration extracts essential oils in a process that is extremely similar to effleurage, except that warmed fats are utilized to soak up the fragrance of the flower petals. The essential oils are derived from the grease and fats that are dissolved in alcohol.

The simplest and earliest method of oil extraction is expression. This process for collecting essential oils would be the most economically feasible and it is accomplished by pressing, squeezing, or compressing peels of citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons. Due to the large amount of oil contained within citrus peels and the fact they can be grown and harvested rather cheaply, fruit oils cost significantly less than other essential oils.

 

Developing a scent

The laborious process of perfume creation has barely begun after the critical oils are extracted and collected, since they must still be masterfully blended according to a specific formula. It may take years to develop a special recipe and as many as 800 varied ingredients.

The majority of perfumes are comprised of 10% to 20% perfume oils that are dissolved in alcohol and little amount of water. The quantity of alcohol is the deciding factor as to whether the mixed liquid is going to be a parfum, eau de parfum, or eau de toilette. Perfume, which has the strongest scent contains up to 40% essential oils; eau de toilette around 15% and eau de cologne with some 10% oil content.

Maturing a fragrance occurs immediately after the cologne concentration has fully been diluted in alcohol, a process which may take up to a month. Aging happens for a period of several months to a year. It is a time in which the perfume is stored undisturbed in a cool, dark location. This allows for the permanent bonding of the alcohol and the essential oils.

At the conclusion of the allotted time, an expert is called in to test the odor, which will pass if it is now stronger than it was prior to the aging process started. It is at this time that adjustments, such as additional blending, can be produced. The end result for a nice perfume must be a scent that contains three distinct notes; a high note; central or heart note and a base note.

An aged perfume mixture is usually filtered and cooled before it is filled into flasks or bottles. By not exposing the fragrance to oxygen and keeping it in the dark at low temperatures, the damaging effects of time are greatly reduced. Today, chemists add antioxidants to each fragrance, most commonly, butylated hydroxytoluene, which aids in the scent’s longevity.

 

Perfume Manufacture

The collection and transport of the initial ingredients to the manufacture center is the first step in the production process. Plant substances are often handpicked because of their particular aroma. Animal products are fatty substances that have to be extracted directly from the animal. Aromatic compounds used in synthetic perfumes are created in the lab by perfume chemists.

Only about 2,000 of the 250,000 known flowering plant species in the world comprise the essential oils needed for the production of perfume. Natural ingredients such as flowers, grasses, spices, fruit, wood, roots, resins, balsams, leaves, gums, and animal secretions, like musk and ambergris, in addition to sources such as, alcohol, petrochemicals, coal, and coal tars are often employed in the manufacture of perfumes. Due to the fact that many plants, such as the lily-of-the-valley, do not produce oils naturally, synthetic chemicals recreate natural scents and create original fragrances not found in nature.

 

The reason animal substances like castor oil from beavers, musk from male deer, and ambergris from the sperm whale are often utilized in the making of perfumes is because they function as a type of glue that helps the fragrance to evaporate slowly and emit its odor for a longer time period. Other similar substances are mosses, resins, coal tar, and synthetic fragrances.

 

The risky nature of perfumery

Thousands of flowers are necessary to obtain only one pound of essential oils and the yearly yield is wholly determined by plentiful of harvests. If the season’s harvest is destroyed by pests, it may affect perfume production. There are also problems associated with collecting natural animal oils. Animals once killed for the value of their oils are now endangered, such as the sperm whale. In addition, animal oils are both costly and difficult to extract.

More and more, perfume manufacturers are favoring synthetic chemicals over natural oils, though natural ingredients are still more desirable in the finest perfumes. Tastes, too, have changed, and the modern consumer appears to prefer less concentrated forms of perfume. Both of these factors have brought the price of perfume down and encouraged more frequent use of scents in everyday life.

 

Perfume appreciation and the new consumers

There’s a plethora of reasons why people wear perfumes. For some, it helps with their sense of self-esteem and makes them feel more desirable; for others, it is regarded as a badge of identity that sets them apart from other people. Perfume can alter moods and evoke pleasant memories.

It can only be hoped that for whatever reason, anyone who knows how perfume is made, may come to love that special bottle of fragrance that fills the atmosphere and remember how it used to alter the course of history, and how a single spray of perfume still alter the course of lives, especially dating culture, today.

For any modern consumer, safety is the initial and primary concern regarding any cosmetic or personal care product and people carefully do research before applying a product on their hair, skin, and especially their faces.

This is why celebrity endorsements are the go-to in the cosmetic industry, because it builds the brand by fostering trust among consumers. Usually though, packaging is regarded as the number one attraction, followed by the odor, since it is very essential in creating a positive or negative opinion about a cosmetic or personal care product.

As the old saying goes: One size never fits all. So every item in the same production company/line that works well with a specific range of scents might not work with another product in the market. However, the following personal care and cosmetic products usually works well in tandem with a variety of fragrances.

1. Soaps

Creating wonderfully fragrant soaps comes from a tasteful mixing of essential oils. The choices are as numerous and it is easy to get overwhelmed, so making a selection requires both mindfulness and a lot of time.

The reason essential oils work so well in the making of soap is because they emit distinctive aromas and contain therapeutic aspects, which means they contain chemical compounds that is similar with the compounds found in soaps. A number of these benefits are targeting the olfactory aspect, because just like in soap production, emission of aroma must be independent of the topical application. In a way, it must emit a smell, with or without skin contact.

2. Deodorants

In the modern world, body odor is a no-no and it is actually deemed rude and unprofessional to show up at a place, or to socialize if you are smelling badly, not to mention unhygienic. Hence, deodorants have become a normal part of everyone’s daily hygiene routine, right after taking a shower. Hence, deodorants are often sporting a variety of fragrances from musky to floral to a simple, clean scent.

Botanicals and herbs are frequently used in deodorants because they appeal to customers who want more natural products, because underarm allergies are really common with more synthetic-based products. Fragrance’s ingredients include: aloe, cucumber, green tea, or lemongrass, which are refreshing and naturally bad odor-fighting. Botanical ingredients leave authentic scents of the earth, all musky and warm. Organic and all-natural formulations are also getting popular.

3. Facial creams and lotions

Firms manufacturing facial creams and lotions often focus on the fragrance aspect as much as they care about the skin benefits of their products, because this requires topical application, scent is given a lot of importance by the consumers.

Floral scents, such as essential rose oil or rose water, are extremely popular in creams and lotions because they truly capture the flower’s delicate odor. Another fragrance worthy of mention is manuka honey, which stems in the blossoms of a bush that can only be found in New Zealand, which even contain antibacterial compounds. This expensive honey also have skin anti-fungal and antiseptic properties that can help to give skin a youthful appearance.

4. Lipsticks

The power of lipstick, both the visual and fragrance aspect, is no secret to the cosmetic manufacturers. Today, there are lots of color and scent alternatives, but there does appear to be a developing trend towards darker, more dramatic lip colors, while some popular aromas are floral and fruity.

Warm, heavy, and aromatic vera is frequently used as a high note in lipsticks because of its own unique and sharp odor tone. Neroli lends a light, somewhat orange, and intimate floral middle odor note to some lipstick scent. Sweet, powerful, wealthy, foliage floral, and green, narcissus works well in many lipsticks. Musk and vanilla function are also used as lovely base notes.

Many fragrance mixes have become more and more popular including the the musky, metallic and earthy mix, the vanilla sweet, cozy, reassuring tone, and the more floral, clean, and innocent scent note (but maybe not so innocent if mixed with a dark lipstick, but that’s okay too!).

5. Shampoos

Creators of shampoos are well aware that chosen essential oils should both appeal to the sense of smell and meet the requirements of specific hair types. They are most effective when they operate in tandem with specific hair categories. If the hair is dry, chamomile, rosewood, and palmarosa function as moisturizing agents.

Essential oils also help cure problems such as thinning hair or an itchy scalp plus they add shine to the hair along with a fresh scent into the shampoo. Other essential oils include: thyme, birch, sandalwood and parsley for fragile hair types, and yarrow, lemon, while Roman chamomile and rose oils encourage hair growth and minimize hair loss.

The word perfume is from a Latin phrase per fumus, which means through smoke and has been presumed to have been invented by the ancient Egyptians who burnt fragrant wood barks and plants to obtain a pleasant smell that could envelope the surroundings.

Over the years perfume was used, refined and enhanced by every significant culture, and has now been transformed as an everyday part of people’s hygiene, it certainly does hold a high significance in modern society.

 

3 Main Components of Perfume

1. Fragrance

Virtually anything artificial or natural that emits a scent may be used in the making of perfume, however, certain plants and flowers have been favored over time such as citrus fruits, jasmine, and roses. During the modern era, where discoveries have been at its peak, synthetic chemicals have been developed in the laboratories to produce amazingly pleasant scents, not emitted by nature.

Without fragrances, one that can be perceived by the nose, there won’t be any perfumes in the market. Fragrance is definitely the heart of perfumery.

2. Fixative

In the making of perfumes, several methods have been developed and perfected in the perfumery industry. One of the most important aspect is including the use of fixatives, which are the ingredients that act as stabilizing agents to the aromatic compounds.

Fragrances from nature and from artificial synthesis contain aromatic components crucial for its scent emission, so binding these would help ensure that the scent lasts for a longer period of time.

3. Solvent

Fragrances does not make up the perfume alone. A bottle of your favorite scent are a bottle of time and effort and a lot thinking from the perfumers. Without other components bound to the fragrance, it would lose its freshness and might even expire.

Hence, a solvent system is often added, but usually alcohols are the primary choice, since it keeps the bacteria from forming in your perfume and also helps in the preservation of the even consistency in the perfume bottle, you can easily spritz in on yourself.

 

 

4 Categories of Fragrances

The category by which a fragrance belongs to is defined by how much of the fragrance is used in the product. Simply, categories are based upon the purity of the essential oils of the fragrance used; the higher the concentration, the greater the purity of the perfume. Essential oils are the compound responsible for the scent emitted by flowers and plants.

Moreover, this allows the perfumers and the market to in setting the price of a perfume. The greater the concentration, the more expensive a fragrance would be.

1. Eau de Cologne

The least concentrated type of fragrance, a cologne is often light and employed for everyday use, as well as favored by parents for their babies and toddlers, since it is not overpowering and avoid any allergic reaction in young children, while keeping them smelling fresh all day long. Cologne products normally contain only around 2% to 3% of essential oils.

2. Eau de Toilettes

This type of fragrance only have between 5% to 20% of essential oils and mostly used for casual events and are most suited to teenagers, especially those who are in adolescence as they have really sensitive skin at this age, in order to lessen allergies. Toilettes are also quite cheap, but has enough fragrance to be caught by other people.

3. Eau de Parfums

This is the usual type of perfumes used by people, mostly from young adults and up, as it most suitable for use in offices, universities, parties, and other formal or informal affairs such as dating. It contains around 10% to 30% of essential oils and emits really strong scent, it can be perceived by people even at a distance. These are usually costly, but the scent almost always lasts for a day, so there is no need to reapply  every hour (no need spritz again and again!).

4. Perfume Extract or Parfum

Probably already too expensive for majority of people, parfums are the purest type of fragrance with a concentration between 20% to 40% of essential oils. It also commonly used by the elite class, since it is most suited for attending events of high importance such as gala, gathering, conferences, and even dates.

Parfums are already considered a luxury, though, but it comes in designer bottles and boxes. The scent of parfums would definitely lasts all day long!

Women’s products are usually categorized as parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilettes, and cologne, while men’s products are sold as perfume, colognes, and aftershave.

Surprisingly, fragrances and music share a common term, notes and sometimes, tones, for more informal terminology. Perfumes are often described by the various “notes” or “undertones,” which make up the scent.

These notes and tones are made to emerge at several times during the time that the fragrance is used or applied, similar with the way an orchestra may use different tools in playing a musical composition.

So yes, a fragrance can change or vary the way it smells throughout the day because the many different compounds present in a perfume bottle.

 

 

3 Stages of Perfume Notes

1. Top notes

These are the most powerful scents but do not survive very long.

This is the initial burst of smell you get when you have a sniff of your favorite perfume. The best notes are often citrus or beige based, because they remain fresh-scented all day long.

2. Middle (or heart notes)

Constitutes the primary part of the scent.

These emerges after the top notes begin to fade out and are generally softer and mellower than the original fragrance. These scents are often floral in character.

3. Base notes

Form the foundation of the perfume.

Normally profound and musky in character. It emerges to blend with the middle notes and not replace them. It usually just reinforces the middle note and becomes a perfect undertone—to give varietion to the fragrance.

 

Conclusion

Fragrances are very complex products, which go through several stages of development before reaching the customer. There are thousands of different perfumes and colognes available now in the market, each one having its own special scent signature and what once was reserved for the wealthy and privileged is currently available to everyone.

Everyone wants to smell pleasantly and it’s almost impossible to find someone who wanted to smell badly.

This is why the fragrance industry continues to thrive, catering to people like you, who cannot go on a day without spritzing yourself with a perfume that can make you smell like a million bucks. However, a lot of people feel like the fragrance they are using is too overpowering and many could not even find a trademark scent that matches their taste—or picky nose!—perfectly, while some even have allergic reactions to colognes.

Indeed, the fragrance world is much more complicated that you think.

In fact, the manufacture and production process takes quite a lot of effort and time and there is definitely a lot that you do not understand about perfumes.

So before dropping a heap of money on a bottle of fragrances, check out these 6 facts about perfumes:

 

1. Expensive price: blame the ingredients!

Have you ever visited a store to buy a perfume, only to find that a tiny bottle exceeds your budget? Don’t worry, you’re not the only person who is despairing over the expensive prices of perfumes.

However, the over-the-top price is actually due to the unique ingredients of perfumes, which includes several essential oils obtained from various flowers and plants that only exist in a particular location. So obtaining the ingredients is among the most costly part of perfume-production.

Packaging perfumes must also be done with utmost care, mostly using fancy glass bottles, since haphazard packing can reduce the quality of the fragrance. The cheaper price of body mists and some colognes is due to the dilution of its essential oils, which allows for relatively lax packaging, so it is released in the market in a plastic bottle.

 

2. Perfume lasts longer in hair than on skin

When you are spraying a perfume on yourself, you probably sprayed a bit on your hair, and later in the day, you find that the scent definitely stayed in your locks and now you are tempted to just put the perfume on your hair all the time. Please don’t! The alcohol in perfumes can take away the shine in your hair, so spritz sparingly.

But the reason for this lies in the difference in absorption of your hair and skin, our skin would easily evaporate the perfume because it releases oil and sweat, when your hair does not. So if you got a thick and curly hair, you would notice that it can pick up different scents in your surrounding and retains those odors for a long time.

Perfumes activate on heat, though, so apply on the pulse points on your body so make sure to apply a bit of fragrance behind your ears, at the bottom of your throat, both of your wrists, and at the insides of your elbow.

 

3. The difference between parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne

The only difference between the four is the concentration, or the amount, or essential oils present in a bottle. Parfums has the highest concentration of the essence, so it could pretty much lasts all day long. They are generally more expensive than the others because it is the pure form of fragrance.

The more common type of fragrance available to the masses is the eau de parfum, because it is less concentrated and therefore costs a little less as well. But they still have a high concentration of essences, so they are still potent and can lasts for a long time. It is the one you mostly use for special occasions!

Eau de toilettes are mostly the “every day” use type of fragrance, something you spritz on for work, for school, or a quick run at the supermarket. It has a lighter odor since it is quite diluted, but it is a cheaper alternative than parfums or eau de parfum. They are also great for hot weather since it is not overwhelming and might be preferable for people who does not like heavy aromas.

Lastly, the eau de cologne is the most diluted type of fragrance that is mostly used by children and babies. It is recommended to them to avoid any allergic reactions to higher concentrations of essential oils.

 

4. The signature scent of your BFF is going to smell differently on you

Yes, you are dying to smell as good as your best friend, with his/her perfume lasting all day long and keeping her fresh despite the heat and busy schedule you all just have. But you might want to rethink running to the store to get the same perfume, because it might smell differently on your skin.

Everyone has different skin flora and the environment of your skin is totally different from other people. You also emit a really unique biological odor that is yours alone—think of it as your own signature scent, courtesy of biology and nature—and it responds differently to various fragrances. So that scent you love on your buddy might not smell so good on you.

 

5. Perfume Ingredients: Top Secret

As part of the cosmetics industry, fragrances are the only one that does not completely state all of its ingredients, because it falls under some type of “secret recipe” loophole. There might be anywhere from five to fifty compounds hanging out on your perfume jar and you would have no idea, because companies are not required to record them.

Unfortunately, many individuals have experienced breakouts from fragrances (myself included!) because a bottle of perfume may contain a substance that could cause allergic reactions to them. So If you have experienced this, you better try an organic perfume or a more natural-based fragrance, but they are notably more expensive.

 

6. Rubbing the fragrance weakens its scent

In every fragrance advertisement, you can see men and women modelling a perfume by spritzing them all over and then liberally applying them on their wrists followed by rubbing their wrists behind their ears. Sadly, the rubbing act completely weakens the scent of the perfume since it could “smash” the fragrance particles, hence, decreasing the potency of its aromas.

So instead of following the example set by the media, just spray your perfume on yourself and your wrists, but never rub! Just gently pat the spot you sprayed on in order to preserve the scent of your perfume and make it lasts longer.

Different fragrances can have lasting effects on your mood and well-being. Fragrances have been part of different culture, which can be traced back to the ancient times, and it is not merely a serious case of fab or craze, nor is it a hyped-up commodity to fan consumerism.

It is actually hardwired in your brain to give priority to a variety of scents.

In fact, a relatively huge part of the human brain is allotted for storage of scents that we encounter throughout our lives, not only because it helps with association and recognition, and eventually memory storage, but because evolution dictates it—a bad smell meant danger and a good smell meant safety.

Hence, our sense of smell is heightened than our other senses. The scent of our loved ones are actually stored in our brains, so even if they are far from us, a whiff of scent similar to them could immediately invoke memories and create a cascade of emotional response from us.

The ideal perfume could not merely raise your spirit, but also alter your mood entirely.

Indeed, more research is needed to prove the direct involvement of fragrance on a person’s mood, but the papers already available already showed a lot of correlation and here is what experts have to say so far:

 

1. Feeling upbeat, but want to feel even better?

Complement your happy mood with a fragrance that has a hint of herbs. This is biological and evolutionary as well. Our human ancestors used to only rely on herbs for medical purposes, so any whiff of herbs can be rejuvenating, as the brain interprets this as a sign that the body being “healed” somehow.

So better opt for products that have mint, blossom, or walnut scents. The cologne should be fresh, but subtle.

Related Perfumes:

 

2. Prefer to feel carefree?

Nothing cheers up the brain like the sight of sunlight. The sun is an incredibly important part of survival and our lives revolve around its appearance and presence. Sunlight means it is daytime and it is time to hustle. It also meant good weather and in the modern times, vacation and restful holidays!

So spritz on some perfume that smells like the summertime blossoms, if you wish to feel carefree and feel lighter, shedding off some anxious nerves. The scent must not be overpowering.

 

3. Want to be seductive?

 

Fragrances are a huge part of the dating culture in the past and in the modern culture, so if you are for a romantic dinner date with your other half, make sure to take some time in choosing your perfume for the occasion.

There are a lot of scents that are naturally an aphrodisiac, so if you have the money to get one, get your hands on it! So if you’re in a seduction mode, use musky, jasmine, and vanilla fragrances in order to can help capture the mood. They’re known aphrodisiacs and also enriches your libido.

 

4. Want to chill out?

 

If you are merely having an ordinary day without much event to go to, then settle for some scent that are relaxing and subtle. Use scents that contain the gentle scents of lavender and chamomile to promote calmness. They could rejuvenate the senses and keep you calm daily. Sandalwood, bergamot, patchouli, geranium and ylang-ylang are additional calming aromas.

 

5. Feeling disappointed?

We all have our bad days and it’s normal to find comfort in scents that jives with your mood.

But don’t listen to that sad voice in you who wants to gravitate to “sad” scents, instead, go the cheery floral scents to lift you up from your depressed state.

So when you are feeling a little depressed or low, use a perfume with strong citrus scent to immediately boost your morale.

 

8. Need energy?

There are times when we needed to hustle and our hectic schedule needs all the extra energy we can obtain. So immediately use a fragrance that can energize you to shoulder the busy days ahead.

Take a whiff of something with peppermint prior to a lengthy workout or a long day in the office for that extra push you need to excel.

Scents that are similar to carrot, strawberry or orange are also thought to be energizing.

Perfumes have been an important and even necessary part of our daily lives. Hence whenever you leave home without spraying on some fragrances, you feel incompletely for the day. With the hustle and bustle of modern life as we all lead a busy schedule, perfumes are needed to keep us fresh and odor-free.

Unfortunately, most perfume bottles are made of glass, quite heavy, and space-consuming. So it is hard to bring the bottle as we leave our home.

So perfume atomizers to do the rescue! Perfume atomizers make it easier to bring your favorite scent to work and is more convenient for applying perfumes on-the-go.

It also reduces waste and mess, since it provides a light mist of perfume.

How Perfume Atomizers Work?

Atomizers were already used in the past, with the use of a bulb syringe that is connected to a plastic tube that goes inside the bottle of perfume.

It works by mixing oxygen and liquefied perfume, which results to a fine must of fragrance that is uniformly dispersed on the skin or the surrounding.

At present, perfume atomizers work the same way, but the bulb attachment is no longer used.

 

5 Benefits of Perfume Atomizers

Better control and less waste, perfume atomizer is truly a gift for perfume-users, which is almost all of us, but it also prevents the spoilage and evaporation of the perfume itself since air is can only be introduced to the perfume bottle during application.

 

1. Lightweight and Transportable

One of the problems with perfume bottles is that the packaging may be beautiful with flamboyant designs, but it is hardly suitable for travel. Plus it can be really heavy. Perfume atomizers can help you here, you can easily place it in your small handbag, in the pocket of your backpack, and in suitcases, so you won’t ever encounter problems when flying an airplane anymore.

So whether you are going on a long-term travel or simply attending an important party, you can always have your perfume.

 

2. Durable: may last forever!

Although it is lightweight and quite vulnerable-looking, especially among all the things packed in your luggage, do not be fooled by your perfume atomizers appearance, because original branded perfume atomizers are truly durable.

So unless you are carrying a 100-kilo dumbbell with you that could roll over your perfume atomizer, there is no need to worry about it. Many companies providing perfume atomizers have made sure that it can lasts for a long time and would not be “squashed” without effort.

 

3. Good Fragrance Delivery

Most perfume atomizers are just the length of your hand and sometimes, people doubt that it can even provide a good fragrance mist because it’s so tiny.

It is common for perfume atomizers to weigh around 12-grams, but it usually delivers an amazing 50 sprays! This would certainly lasts for two weeks or even a whole month, if you are not an excessive-user.

 

4. You can see its contents

Perfume atomizers that are easily available in the market are mostly transparent, so it is literally easy to see how much content is left in the bottle. So you can gauge how much more use it could provide for you.

On the other hand, the really expensive perfume atomizers are not transparent, its body is made of sophisticated, but minimalistic, design and very opaque coloring.

But there is always a barometer available on one side. It is sort of like a window for monitoring process.

 

5. Easily Refillable

Once you have a good look in your perfume atomizer and seeing that you are running low on perfumes, it is time for refilling. Perfume atomizers make this really easy and there’s no fuss involved, the process is actually very straightforward.

You simply remove the spray head from the perfume bottle, make sure the perfume atomizer is upright on nozzle peg and then pump it full with perfume. Close it again and you have successfully refilled your atomizer.

1. Spray perfume in your clothes drawers

2. Spritz on any material you wish to be fragrant

3. Use it on carpet-cleaning

4. Spray on curtains

5. Give it to others as a gift

6. Spray it on your bedding

7. Spray it on toilet paper rolls

8. Use your perfume as an air freshener

9. Produce your own “Poo-pourri”

10. Spray it around your room

11. Steam the atmosphere with fragrances

12. Spritz perfume on your lamp shades

13. Place a scented handkerchief in the wash

14. Spray perfume on tissue paper for travel and storage

15. Make your car smell really good

16. Spray perfume on your next bath steam

17. Make a scented lotion

18. Create some fragrance DYI

19. Scent up your own fans

20. Stop the bad garbage smell

21. Keep old bottles for decoration

22. Reduce buying more than you need