One of the most powerful senses is smell, because it is connected to our memory more than all the others. Just think about how many times we have associated a fragrance with a specific person, place, or phase of our life, in order to understand the value of perfume. Our scent is our trademark, the imprint that defines our personality.

Types of Perfumes

The difference between types of perfumes is based on the amount of essential oils they contain. As the percentage of essential oils increases, so does the longevity of the fragrance, and therefore its quality and price. The main types are as follows:

• Eau de Cologne: The lightest fragrance, with a short duration of 2 hours. It has a refreshing scent, comes in large bottles due to dilution with water/alcohol, and is economical. Historically, it is derived from citrus essential oils.
• Eau de Toilette: Light and subtle, ideal for daily use, especially during the summer months. Lasts 2-4 hours and contains more essential oils than Eau de Cologne.
• Eau de Parfum: Contains a higher concentration of essential oils, with a duration of 4-5 hours. It has a strong scent and applies well to hair and clothes. It is more expensive than the previous types.
• Pure Parfum: The most intense and luxurious fragrance, with a pure composition. Worn in small amounts, lasts 4-6 hours, and is preferred for evening outings.
• Eau Fraiche: A light fragrance with short duration, contains a high concentration of water, alcohol, and essential oils. Less lasting than Eau de Toilette/Parfum.
• Body Mists: Very light fragrances with a low concentration of essential oils. Used for the whole body, offering a subtle and fresh scent.

Wearing Perfume

Perfumes "love" oily skin, as they last longer there. To prolong their duration, we keep the skin moisturized with a cream that matches the fragrance. If we use products from the same line (e.g. shower gel or body lotion), we enhance the effect even more.

Application:

• Apply perfume after showering, on clean, dry skin with open pores for better absorption.
• Avoid applying perfume on sweaty skin, as the result is not ideal.
• Spray up close, so you don't waste half the perfume on the floor.

Amount and application points:

• Lighter perfumes (Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette) need to be refreshed during the day.
• Intense perfumes (Eau de Parfum, Pure Parfum) last longer even with a small amount.
• Apply perfume to "warm" points of the body where blood circulation is strong: wrists, neck, behind the ears, inside the arms or knees. Do not rub the skin, so as not to alter the scent.

Temperature and seasonality:

• In winter, choose heavy scents, as low temperatures reduce the strength of the fragrance.
• In summer, prefer light, fresh scents.

Precautions:

• Avoid spraying on clothes and jewelry to prevent stains or material damage.

Changing perfume:

• The chemistry of our body changes over the years due to hormones, medication, or diet. If your perfume doesn't smell the same as it used to, it might be time to try something new!

Choosing the right note

• Floral: Main notes from one or more flowers, with the most popular being lavender, rose, jasmine, night-blooming flowers, and peonies. They have been especially popular since ancient times, as they are associated with femininity. They evoke calmness and a strong romantic mood. They can be worn at any time of day and for any occasion. Suggestions: Lancome La Vie Est Belle Vanille Nude, Giorgio Armani My Way, Dior Addict Rosy Glow.

• Fruity: Notes of flowers and fruits such as mango, apple, strawberry, cherry, etc. Recommended for dynamic and extroverted personalities. Suggestions: Emporio Armani Power Of You, Lancome Idôle Peach'N Roses, Rabanne Fame In Love.

• Citrus: They are quite strong and fresh, with notes of orange, bergamot, and other citrus fruits. They are pleasantly worn, mainly during the warmer months of the year. Scents that reduce stress and improve mood. Suggestions: Moschino Cheap and Chic I Love Love Eau de Toilette, Calvin Klein Eternity Eau de Parfum, Hermes Eau Des Merveilles Eau de Toilette.

• Spicy & Oriental: Quite intense and exotic, ideal for evening outings. Especially feminine and sexy, they include spicy notes of musk and amber. Suggestions: Dior Hypnotic Poison, Paco Rabanne One Million, Diesel Loverdose, Lattafa Eclaire.

• Oceanic: First created by Christian Dior in 1991. They are light, fresh, and invigorating. They give a sense of freshness, like the breeze from the sea.  Suggestions: Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia, Davidoff Cool Water Woman Eau de Toilette and Abercrombie & Fitch First Instinct Women Blue Eau de Parfum.

• Woody: They evoke the scent of cedar, pine, and sandalwood. They increase the feeling of freedom and tranquility. They are mainly unisex. Suggestions: Dior Joy, Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum and Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Poudree Eau de Parfum.

Preserving the Fragrance

• We don't forget to put the cap back on after using it, so that our fragrance doesn't evaporate quickly.
• We should store it in a dry and shaded environment to prevent its scent from altering.
• We often make the mistake of placing the bottles in the bathroom cabinet or shelf. This is not correct, as the intense lighting in bathrooms gradually evaporates the fragrance, causing it to lose its strong scent over time.
• The best way to maintain a fragrance's strong scent is to put it in the refrigerator from the moment we purchase it. The low temperature will help keep the fragrance strong until the end.

Discover more notes