Fragrance FAQ

1. When were Fragrances first used?
2. How Many Fragrances are there in the World today?
3. What are the difference strengths of Fragrances?
4. What types of Fragrances are there?
5. What's a good Fragrance?
6. Did you know Fragrances have three different notes of smell?
7. Are there Erotic Fragrances?
8. How long does a Fragrance last when I'm wearing it?
9. Should I wear a different Fragrance in the day and evening?
10. Can a Fragrance smell differently on different people?
11. Does dry skin require more Fragrance than oily skin?
12. Can I use different Fragrances at the one time?
13. I can't smell the Fragrance after I have worn it for a while?
14. Can a Fragrance influence moods?
15. How long does a Fragrance last?
16. Does a Fragrance strain my clothes?
17. Can a Fragrance spoil?
18. What's the best place to put Fragrance?
19. How much Fragrance should I wear?
20. What type of Fragrance should I buy for someone else?
21. Should I spray or dab on a Fragrance?
22. How many Fragrances can be tried at the one time?
23. When testing Fragrances start with the lighter ones and move to the heavier ones.

When were Fragrances first used?

The Egyptians first used perfume for incense and balms and ointments as part of their religious rituals around 3000 BC.  Around 1500 BC perfume started being used by women as cosmetics and for festivals in Egypt.  The use of perfume then spread to Rome and Greece.  By the seventeenth century perfume had spread to France.

How many Fragrances are there in the World today?

There are approximately 9,000 fragrances in the world these days and there are over 2,000 different ingredients fragrance designers can choose from to make fragrance formulas.

What are the difference strengths of Fragrances?

Fragrances are found in different strengths based on alcohol - water mix.

• Parfum (or Perfume) (Lasts up to 6 hours) 15-30%
• EDP - Eau de Parfum (Lasts 3 to 5 hours) 8-15%
• EDT - Eau de Toilette (Lasts 2 to 4 hours) 4-8%
• EDC - Eau de Cologne (Lasts up to 2 hours) 3-5%

What types of Fragrances are there?

Fragrances are classified into types of families (smell) and uses.

The Families are:

• Aromatic - Sexy cool-warm notes of citrus and lavender, sweet spices and oriental woods. 
• Citrus - Fresh and tangy. lemons, mandarins, bergamot, oranges and grapefruit often combined with floral, spicy and woody notes.  A new generation of musk and tea notes adds an interesting dimension to the green family. 
• Green - Fresh lush forests, green leaves and cut grass often combined with floral and fruity notes. For the formal rather than sporty personality. 
• Aquatic - Fresh and sea breezy, mountain air notes.  Today Aquatic notes are often used to enliven florals, orientals and woody fragrances. 
• Floral - Freshly cut flowers of different notes. lily, mimosa, gardenia, jasmine, carnations, roses to name a few all the way to bouquets of flowers nicely mixed.
• Modern Floral - The marriage of sparkling aldehydes and delicate flowers creates a family of soft, often powdery abstract florals.
• Floriental - Soft flowery and sweet spicy notes.
• Soft Oriental - Somewhat sweet spicy oriental and amber notes with incense overtones.
• Oriental - Heavy spicy oriental notes, opulent flowers, sweet vanilla and musky notes.
• Woody Oriental - Spicy oriental and woody notes of patchouli and sandalwood.
• Dry Woods - These Fragrances have a dry woody character, often with the addition of cedar, tobacco and burnt wood notes.
• Mossy Woods - These fragrances have notes of oakmoss, woods and citrus.
• Woody - Warm woody notes. Often with cedar, patchouli, pine, sandalwood and vetiver. 

The uses are Casual, Daytime, Evening and Romantic.

What's a good Fragrance?

The fragrance should develop from the top note, to the middle (Heart) note and to the base note.

The fragrances heavier notes should hold the fragrances lighter notes.

A good fragrance should have the objective that similar smelling substances will be effective throughout all three phases of the fragrance life.

Did you know Fragrances have three different notes of smell?

This is referred to as "Fragrance Life"

• The top note is the initial impact of a fragrance and lasts 5-10 minutes.
• The middle (heart) note develops a few minutes later and gradually blends into the base note. The heart note takes 10-20 minutes to fully develop.
• The base note provides the most lasting effects of a fragrance after the first two notes and generally lasts for several hours.
• The first note is a fresh note and is generally light.  Very volatile substances generally produce the first note, substances with less volatility produce the body or the middle note (heart) and substances with very low volatility and longer lasting properties produce the foundation or base Note.

Are there Erotic Fragrances?

There aren't generally speaking.  But fragrances that are heavy and warm lie in the category of closeness and intimacy, where fresh and more fruity fragrances are found to be less intimate.

How long does a Fragrance last when I'm wearing it?

A fragrance lasts generally 4 hours.  You need to re-apply once or twice a day to be properly fragranced.

Should I wear a different Fragrance in the day and evening?

It can be a good idea.  Generally lighter, floral, oceanic and citrus types are better for casual and daytime and heavier, woody and oriental types are better for evenings.

Can a Fragrance smell differently on different people?

They certainly can.  A fragrance scent depends on both the condition of the skin and the individual's diet.  It also depends on the person's own smell as everyone smells different.

Does dry skin require more Fragrance than oily skin?

Dry Skin does not hold fragrance as long as Oily Skin, so those with dry skin need to apply fragrance more often throughout the day.

Can I use different Fragrances at the one time?

Rule of thumb is don't.  Each fragrance has its own smell, using more than one destroys the individual fragrance characteristics.

I can't smell the Fragrance after I have worn it for a while?

After a period of time you become used to the fragrance you are wearing and because of this you generally cant smell the fragrance as you get used to it, but for others the fragrance can still be very strong.

Can a Fragrance influence moods?

It certainly can if the fragrance is pleasant.  Pleasant fragrances can soothe, stimulate and calm people that smell them.

How long does a Fragrance last?

Perfume and Cologne lasts up to 3 years from the date of manufacture.  The best way to store your fragrance is at room temperature and in darkness to get the most life out of it.

Does a Fragrance strain my clothes?

Fragrances generally don't as they evaporate.  It isn't recommended though as some types of fabrics can stain.  If the fabric stains washing generally will remove the stain.

Can a Fragrance spoil?

It certainly can.  When this happens the fragrance will become thick and its colour will drastically change and it will smell sour, not fresh.

What's the best place to put Fragrance?

Good places are inside the wrist, behind the ears, elbow area, the temples, shoulders, behind the knees, the back of the neck, the cleavage area, between the toes, ankles, and thighs.

Remember Fragrances rise, so don't just put fragrance on your face or behind your ears as the scent will slowly rise and disappear.

How Much Fragrance should I wear?

You shouldn't wear to much as you want to smell good, but not be to over powering to other people.

Generally speaking your fragrance should only smell around you and not be smelt by others anymore than a metre from you.

What type of Fragrance should I buy for someone else?

Generally look for fragrances that have been around for some time as they have passed many tests and the casual type of fragrances.

Light greens and florals are generally a good idea to look for over heavier woods and orientals as gifts for women.

Light citrus and aquatic are generally a good idea to look for over heavier woods and orientals as gifts for men.

Should I spray or dab on a Fragrance?

Spraying is more even, dabbing is less even and you can loose fragrance.  So spraying is suggested.

How many Fragrances can be tried at the one time?

Generally you can test five or six fragrances if they have different scents and two or three if they are similar scents.

When testing Fragrances start with the lighter ones and move to the heavier ones.

Wait 30 or so minutes before testing each fragrance, this will allow each fragrance to dry down properly and will also allow your nose to clear from the previous fragrance.

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