Know Your Scent: Things You Need To Know About Perfumes

There are some ever classic things that never change with the ages and one of them is perfumes. All of us buy perfumes but none of us really bother to go beyond the smell or the brand. For all you beginners as well as regulars, this is a guide to let you know about the basic things there is to know about perfumes so that you can go ahead and choose your scent carefully.

Notes

Notes are the most important parts of a perfume, which is why I am mentioning it at the start. The different scents that we get when the perfume is applied are referred to as notes. Notes are widely categorized into three divisions – top, middle, and base. It is recommended to focus on the middle and base notes since they last longer than the top notes.

1. Top Notes:

The top notes are the ones that you get with the first few whiffs. Hence when you apply perfume, the dominant scents for the first 10-20 mins are the top notes. This is quite an important scent because this is the first thing that will ensnare you when you are buying the perfume or the person in front of you when you break it down. The most popular top notes nowadays are citrusy scents like bergamot, orange, lemon, basil etc.

2. Middle Notes:

Once the top notes fade away, the middle notes come to play. Also called as “heart notes”, these are more full-bodied and usually floral in nature. The heart notes usually linger for the next 1-3 hours due to their slightly heavier molecular structure than the top notes. The heart notes that are most prevalent in recent times are lavender, rosemary, geranium, juniper, and black pepper.

3. Base Notes:

Now comes the core of the fragrance i.e. the base notes. The heart notes smoothly transition to the usually woodsy or musky base notes. The base notes are the scents that help make a lasting memory in your mind as well the ones you are with. The base notes last the longest, their duration varying from somewhere around 3 to 5 hours. Vanilla, cedarwood, sandalwood, jasmine, and patchouli are some of the widely used base notes.

Types

The types of perfumes are basically divided into categories based on the concentration of perfume oil in the mixture. The concentration can vary from maker to maker but we still broadly classify the types into 4 groups.

1. Parfum:

The priciest one of them all, parfum contains 20-30% perfume oil concentration. This is also known as “pure perfume” since it has the highest concentration of oils in it. Parfum can last for 6 – 8 hours and is said to be the longest-lasting type of perfume. Parfums are believed to linger throughout the day with only one application on the wrists or pulse points.

2. Eau De Parfum:

The second most concentrated of all the types, the eau de parfum has about 15-20% aromatic components as the ingredients. The eau de parfum is blessed with more stable and lasting properties so you can be certain that it will last for at least half the day. Officially, the duration of the perfume is given to be until 6 hours.

3. Eau De Toilette:

Eau De Toilette has about 5-15% concentration when it comes to the perfume oils. This makes the scent last for 2 to 3 hours maximum. The highlight of the eau de toilette is that they are focused more on the top notes, which is why you would feel them hit you strong and fresh when you apply them. However, these are the most popular perfumes that you will get in the market nowadays.

4. Eau De Cologne:

Eau De Cologne has the least concentration of perfume oils in the concoction. The concentration borders on a mere 4% that can hold the perfume till 2 hours. Therefore the only hassle is applying it more than one time to actually keep the smell.

Some Tips to Make Your Perfume Last Longer

1. Always apply your perfume at pulse points like your neck, your underarms, and your knees to retain your smell.

2. Do not indulge in the myth of rubbing your wrists together to help the smell last longer. It won’t – in fact that just makes the scent fade away faster.

3. Apply the perfume after a shower when your body still has moisture in it. Moisture helps to hold the scent even longer. In case that is not possible, you can also apply some moisturizer or toner in the places you will spray so that you can smell good for however long you want.

I have told you just about every important detail that everyone using perfumes should know.  Hurry up to pick your favourite perfume online.

Do let us know your experiences and views.

About Author:

Hello, it is Damayantee this side. Reading, writing and travelling are what you will find me doing during my free time. My secret power is that I can exist in two worlds at the same time – physically in reality and mentally somewhere else like Narnia or Hogwarts.