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4. What does fragrance Families refer to? Return to TOP
In today’s perfume retail trade, perfumes are generally classified under one of seven family groups, called Perfume Families, or
Fragrance Families, with names indicating the type of perfume they comprise. These "families" are the following.
Floral: Perfumes in this family are sometimes subdivided into four main sections: floral, floral-sweet, floral-fresh and
floral-fruity-fresh. They are good for general daytime wear and for summer evenings.
Green: A fresher, sharper type of perfume than the floral. They are generally regarded as most suitable for outdoors
and sporty mood.
Aldehydic: These are perfumes with a rich watery, tallow fragrance providing a distinctly individual fragrance of their own.
They are regarded as very sophisticated and modern and wearable all year long.
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Chypre: They have a floral or green fragrance with deep Low Notes such as ambergris, making them very long lasting. They are
mostly designed for use by women, for day and evening wear, especially during winter.
Oriental: Sometimes called Amber. A
family of strong, spicy and exotic fragrances with a distinctive heavy sweetness obtained from lower notes. They are most
suitable for wear in the evening.
Tobacco/Leather: A family of fragrances reminiscent of tobacco and/or leather with a woody, spicy and sometimes animalic background.
These fragrances are mostly designed for men.
Fougere: Fragrances in this family have a fresh, herbal lavender character with mossy or hay-like backgrounds. Again, they are
found in men’s fragrances.
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5. What do fragrance notes refer to? Return to TOP
To create a perfume, you need to blend several dozen essences; these essences are called "notes." The composition of these notes makes every fragrance creation
an individual one. There are three different notes. Top note or key note is the fragrance that is instantly perceptible; it is very light and just lasts for 5 to 15 minutes.
The Middle or Heart note which gives the perfume its character becomes apparent in about 15 minutes after application and can last for up to an hour or more. The Lower or
End note is which holds the entire structure together and has heavier ingredients that will emerge to give the fragrance its depth and strength and last the longest, usually
for several hours. The perfume is created by mixing notes that are fruity or tart, woody and flowery or sensual.
Fixatives bind together the ingredients of the composition and lead them from the top note to the end note. Perfume should not break up into three stages. If a perfume is well
balanced, changes during the evaporation process are as imperceptible as the movements of the hands of a clock. A perfume that "falls apart" in stages is badly formulated. A
perfume should be harmonious, rounded-off, but never boring. It should be reminiscent of natural and familiar scents, but also bring new and surprising ones. It should be a
mirror of contemporary aesthetic feeling, but not simply reflect some passing fashion.
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6. How do I test and choose a perfume? Return to TOP
Every skin reacts differently so it is best to test a perfume directly on your own skin rather than on a sales assistant, a spray card or straight from the bottle. Make it a rule to never try more than three scents at one time when you are shopping for a new fragrance. Otherwise your nose will lose its ability to tell the difference and the true scent of the fragrance may never be enjoyed. Each perfume has its own essence. Use one at a time. Apply a few drops to your wrist. Do not rub the fragrance, as this will only bruise or smudge their effect. Allow the heat of the body to develop the fragrance on your skin. If you would like to test one or two additional scents, apply one to the other wrist and the third to the inside bend of the elbow. Let the fragrance settle and dry before you smell each one. It’s better to delay your decision while you shop for other things as it takes a fragrance at least 1½ hours to fully develop into its final scent on your skin. Be sure to write down which fragrance you put where, so you'll be able to refer back to it later on. Never be in a hurry when selecting a new fragrance.
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7. How should I use or where should I apply a fragrance? Return to TOP
Your "scent circle" is approximately an arm's length from the body. No one should be aware of your fragrance unless he or she steps inside your "circle." Fragrance should be one of the most subtle, personal messages you send to those with whom you come in contact. Fragrance should be applied to pulse points where the heartbeat is apparent. This is where the blood vessels are closest to the skin giving off more heat and acting like mini fragrance pumps. Pulse points are the inside wrist, behind the ear, at the temples, inside the crook of the arm, behind the knee, at the base of the throat, and at the bosom. The heat of the body from these pulse points will help to accentuate the fragrance.
Because fragrance rises apply fragrance onto skin from the feet to the shoulders, it allows the fragrance to blossom up. If fragrance is applied only behind the ears, it will eventually rise and disappear. It should not be rubbed on the skin, as that can impair the fragrance. It should be worn for a least an hour and preferably longer, so that the top, middle and lower notes in it will have time to unfold.
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8. How long will a fragrance last on me? Return to TOP
Fragrances are designed to last for about 4 to 5 hours but they vary depending on your skin type and activities. Some people may notice that a particular fragrance lasts all day but by then it will not smell as it's supposed to. You must re-apply once or twice a day in order to maintain the scent. Experiments have shown a link between the colour of flowers and their degree of fragrance. Flower colours are listed by intensity, from the strongest to the least fragrant: White, yellow, red, blue, violet, orange and brown.
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9. How do you choose which perfume to wear and when to wear it? Return to TOP
A perfume is a personal way to communicate one’s sensuality and attractiveness. It should be considered an integral part of one’s personality as much as is one’s type of skin, voice or smile. A special touch of fragrance can make an unforgettable impression on others.
A perfume should never be allowed to overpower its surroundings. Less is always more appropriate than more. Different types of perfumes suit different personalities and different occasions. The selection of what is the most suitable perfume for a particular person is very much a matter of personal preference and taste, depending on her or his style and the circumstances in which she or he will be wearing it. Fragrances are just like clothing and accessories that are dependent on the time of day, time of year and occasion. There are different scents for different times and occasions.
During the day, and summer months try the lighter fragrances where as evenings and winter lend themselves to heavier fragrances. Blends of floral and citrus-based fragrances are recommended for casual and daywear. Spicy, woody or warm amber-based fragrances are traditionally favourites for evening and special occasions. Plan on having a range of fragrances that might include a sexy oriental, a sophisticated multi-floral, a fresh green, a delicious fruity type, a single flower fragrance or simple bouquet for lighter occasions.
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10. Why does a fragrance last longer on some people? Return to TOP
This depends on a person's skin type. Perfumes last longer on individuals with oily skin. The result of the interaction of the perfume’s oil and the skins oil is a more intense scent. Those with dry skin will have a lower effect of the perfume as their skin oils have a smaller magnitude interaction with the perfume’s oil. Natural moisture and oils in the skin helps in retaining the perfume’s oil longer. So people with dry skin will find that fragrances tend not to hold as well and they have to re-apply more often.
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11. Why do fragrances smell differently on different people? Return to TOP
Body chemistry, diet and age affect the reaction of perfume oil with the skin’s oil. A person's diet can affect the way a fragrance smells and lasts on the skin. If an individual is on a high fat or spicy diet, the fragrance will be more intense. A dramatic change in diet can alter skin chemistry, causing fragrances to smell differently. Also, fragrance consists of many essential oils. Certain essential oils have affinity to our skin, and they may be absorbed while on some people it may not. This also creates an imbalance on different skin types and accounts for the difference in scent. The individual level of acidity (PH levels) in our skin varies and it will determine how each ingredient in a fragrance will react. The result of that reaction is the scent that we smell.
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12. How can I make my scent last longer? Return to TOP
To achieve a longer fragrance effect, use an unscented moisturizing soap or gel in the shower and then use an unscented moisturizing body lotion. After that, try applying your favourite fragrance. If this is too much, you can just apply some unscented moisturizer on the areas that you are going to apply the perfume. Also try applying the fragrance on lower areas of your body, so that the scent rises and you won’t lose it quickly. Besides the traditional places, try a light spray in your hair as it has a different absorption level compared to your skin. There is also the old trick of spraying the fragrance and walking through it to give that all over envelopment!
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13. Does it need special handling? Return to TOP
Fragrances should be kept away from excessive heat or cold. Keep all fragrances in a cool and dry area away from windows as sunlight can disturb the delicate balance of the perfume and change its scent. To avoid evaporation and fragrance integrity, the cap must be tightly closed. Ideally, opened bottles will last longer if they are kept in a box. Once a bottle of perfume is opened it should be used and enjoyed. Otherwise it will begin to fade or change its character with time. Fragrances usually last 3-5 years from the date they were manufactured.
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14. What are the other uses of a fragrance? Return to TOP
You can put a few drops of your favourite fragrance in a bath or a few drops in the water when
washing your lingerie. You can also spray on artificial flowers to give your room a fragrant effect.
15. Why makes fragrances so expensive? Return to TOP
Fragrances contain a certain amount of natural ingredients, which are expensive. To make one pound of rose essence, it takes well over 2000 pounds of rose petals, and this cost can range up to fourteen thousand dollars. The final scent is the combination of a multitude of these essence varieties from different flowers, leaves, fruits and other sources.
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16. How can you sell fragrances for less? Return to TOP
We do not follow the selling prices set by the manufacturers. Manufacturers set the retail and wholesale prices to avoid their so called ‘authorized retailers’ from starting price wars on their products, which in their belief will reduce their brand’s Image and value. Simply stated, they create a non-competitive environment between the hand selected ‘authorized retailers’, so that all parties can maximize their profits, and retailers will encourage sales as they don’t have to worry of any price wars. This is definitely an unfair trade practice and is not in the consumer’s best interest.
We buy our products in volume from very reputable manufacturer’s authorized distributors that do not enforce any retail or wholesale price polices. We also waive any promotional product give-away offers or supplement advertising offers which further reduces our costs. We also work on lower profit margins and keep our operational cost at a minimal. We also have an efficient marketing and distribution network. Our goal is to provide customers with the best products in the market at the lowest possible prices. All our products are factory fresh and brand new. We do not compromise quality for price!
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Picture Credits - Grasse Museum, France.
- Barcelona Perfume Museum, Spain.
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