The sense of smell is seen as an elegant way of evoking emotions and abstract feelings. That is why people are taken in by good and nice aromas, like flowers that are enticing to the nose, foods that smell nice, and the smell of a person. How a person smells will describe the characteristics of a person and also evoke some feelings around them. That is why women pay attention to the kinds of perfume they use.
The sense of smell is a key to nostalgic memories and also framing new ones. As one of the five senses of the body, our sense of smell is also the most sensitive because it has the power to entice and repel. This is why people have seen the need to manipulate good smells to help convey a certain feeling from others. And just like music is to the ears, so is perfume to the nose.
Perfumes have a way of conveying feelings like cleanliness, attractiveness, uniqueness, perception, and desire of the wearer. No wonder it is a hot commodity that keeps selling in the markets. That is because people always want to smell good.
Scents can go a long way in the life of a woman, which is why she needs to be armed with the best type of perfume that represents her as a person. This article will dive into everything there is to know about women’s perfume and what you need to buy the best of women’s perfume.
Shopping Guide
It’s not easy shopping for women’s perfume because you have to look at a lot of things, including your character as a person and what you want people to say about you. Also, you might not be sure if a perfume is for you. This section will tell you the basics about perfume and why it is necessary for the life of a woman or man in general.
What is a perfume?
Simply put, a perfume is a liquid mixture of fragrances, water, and alcohol or oil used to emit a pleasant and alluring odor. It is a cosmetic fragrance applied to a person’s body to emit a distinct smell or odor. In the loosest definition, perfume is anything that you wear and has an aroma. Its etymology is from the Latin words ‘per’ meaning “for” and ‘fumare’ meaning “through smoke”.
Perfumes have been in existence for a very long time. There have been notes in history where natural fragrances from plants like aromatic woods, cinnamon, fruits, and flowers. The earliest records of the use of perfumes were by the Egyptians and Macedonians, where they mixed different natural materials to create a liquid fragrant body lotion and applied it on their skin. It was called the “fragrance of the gods”.
Now, perfume has evolved and changed considerably to what it is modern-day. Perfumes still play an important part in giving the body a scented smell or aroma and they are framed to represent the type of fragrance they have, whether it is lowery and light or dark and musky.
What are the types of perfumes available?
Anyone that knows their scent knows no two perfumes smell exactly the same. Some last longer than others and have high potency when it comes to the body. This means that some perfumes have distinct smells, that even when mixed with the body’s natural scent, they still leave their signature scent.
Perfumes can be classified based on their different smell concentration. The most concentrated are perfume oils and they come in different levels that vary from a low to a high concentration. Perfume oils have been pressed out or they have been chemically separated from their original source (a plant or flower). The fragrance molecules of perfume oils are usually 98% alcohol and 2% water.
These smells are identified from the highest smell to the lowest; pure perfume at 25% oil; Eau de perfume at 15-18%, eau de toilette at 10%, eau de cologne at 3-6%; splash perfume and body spray are the lightest.
What aromas can I find in a perfume?
Since every human has a unique taste in scents, there are different ranges of scents that will appeal to the taste of each human. This is why perfumes can also be classified based on their scent families. They are perfumes that are grouped based on their aromatic characteristics. These categories are mostly used by designers and critics.
Naturally, not all perfumes have to fall within the set class but if any of the perfumes you’ve encountered falls within this category based on them, then they can be classified underneath it. Some of the categories include;
- Floral: smell sources are from flowers,
- Fruity: smell sources are from fruits like citrus or tropical fruits,
- Green: sources are from fresh leaves or green,
- Herbaceous: smell sources are from herbs,
- Woody: sources are from different types of wood,
- Oriental: sources are from dried incense-inspired smells like tree resin, amber, sandalwood, etc.
- Animalic: sources are from the natural bodily smells,
- Musk: deep scents like a substance made by the musk deer.
What are perfumes made of?
There are different components and ingredients that make up the different perfumes we have today. These components include solvents, fixatives, and aromatics. Their mixture allows the chemical composition to vary deeply, creating a wide spectrum of smell that would impact the final aroma, how well it stays or persists while you are wearing it.
Most aromatic bases tend to be organic and liquid. They are also versatile, their composition can change based on the scents wanted. Ththate most used solvent is alcohol because of its easy delusion characteristics. Fixatives meanwhile are non-volatile are made of animal or plant products, or a combination of both products. The fixatives also help to prevent easy evaporation and extend the life-span of the various scents available.
How are perfumes made?
Making a perfume takes deliberation and care to get the perfect perfume essence. The process differs based on the type of perfume and also the quality of the said perfume. The first stage in making a perfume is the extraction phase, where the natural source is turned to oil. This involves the use of hot water to release the smell of the natural source. Then it is pressed through steam dilation, maceration, solvent extraction, or expression so that the essential oil is extracted.
Once extracted, the oil is blended according to a special formula by the manufacturing company or lab. Then the derived smell is mixed with alcohol and water. Like wine, a good perfume is left to age out for months or even years after the final blending, before it is bottled and packaged and sold to the public.
What are the various notes in a perfume?
The lifespan of a perfume scent is usually three-themed, starting with the top, the heart, and the base notes. These three steps offer three different themed smells that make up the perfume.
Top note: This is the first smell you encounter when you initially spray the perfume on your body. It is lighter, airier, and it spreads widely to permeate through the air. It can last for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the concentration of the fragrance you are using. The smells of top notes are mostly citrus and floral scents that are light to the nose.
Heart note: This is the main essence of the perfume that comes after the wear of the top note. This smell emanates after half an hour of wearing your perfume and could last for hours. It is usually categorized by heavy floral scents that give distinctive smells when they mix with your skin chemistry.
Base note: The base note is the smell that stays on the body the longest. It is the lingering familiar smell the fragrance leaves behind. They can last from 12 hours above after spraying your perfume. The base note is categorized by heavier scents like wood scents, musk, and herbs like vanilla.
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Why is perfume recommended?
The rise of perfumes over history came from the need for people to mask their natural body scent and augment scents and the overall presentation of their aroma. The ancient tradition of perfuming is still carried by some cultures to date because of the clean and aromatic aura they present.
Of all the varying reasons why perfume is recommended, the need to enhance the natural body takes the lead. No doubt you want to smell good and perfumes make that possible. Other reasons are self-esteem and confidence boost and also character definition. And using perfume makes you feel attractive and desirable. Some perfumes help you elicit some nostalgic memories that you missed.
How should I apply my perfume?
For you to stay fresh and scented on all occasions you have to know how to wear a perfume correctly. The best way is to apply your perfumes to freshly washed skin and using a moisturizer. This would help increase the duration of the aroma on the body. You have to make sure though that your moisturizer does not mask the smell of your perfume.
Also, it is recommended that you apply the perfume a good four inches away from your body or apply it on areas like your ears, neck, wrists, and the inner parts of your elbows. Fragrances tend to hold their scent the longest in these parts of the body. When applying your perfume, do not rub or massage into the skin, leave the perfume to dry naturally on its own.
How should I store my perfume?
Perfumes are delicate products that need to be stored and preserved properly. If you store and preserve your products well, you can use them optimally. The first thing you have to do is avoid exposing your bottle to the sun or other heat sources. This is because a higher temperature easily facilitates the evaporation of the perfume. Keep the bottles in cool areas, like closets or cabinets.
The average shelf lifespan of a perfume is two years at most. To let it survive that long you have to keep the bottle closed at all times except when in use.
What are the adverse effects a perfume can cause?
The ingredients that make a perfume include alcohols, aromatic essences, stabilizers, and other chemicals. Some of the ingredients are naturally sourced while the others are chemically manufactured. Both natural and chemical sources can have effects on the skin based on the type of skin you have and your allergens.
A common adverse effect to the skin is aromatic dermatitis which affects the areas the perfume is applied on. Also, another side effect is asthma, headaches, or even nausea. Some perfume ingredients might also affect the immune, endocrine, or nervous systems if they don’t match well.
Pros and cons of perfumes
Here is the list of advantages and disadvantages of using a perfume will be highlighted. They include:
Pros
- Gives pleasant aromas.
- Builds confidence in yourself.
- Helps to improve self-esteem.
- It relaxes the body and mind.
- Evokes nostalgic memories.
Cons
- Can cause migraines
- You can suffer from dermatological reactions
- It can interact with the immune and endocrine system
- It can also cause asthma.
Buying Guide
Before you buy your perfume, you have to check some criteria off your list. These criteria will help make a decision on the best perfume to buy and what you should look out for in a perfume.
Type of perfume
When buying your perfume you have to realize that the type of perfume you are buying affects the duration, smell intensity, and aromatic concentration levels of the perfumes. If you are looking for something light and fresh, you should go for Eau de Fraiche, while if you are looking for something intense and long-lasting, the eau de toilette is perfect. Eau de perfume, colognes, and eau de toilette are mid-range products that are good for frequent use.
Type of fragrance
Perfumes can also be categorized by fragrance. The fragrance you choose that appeases your sense of smell and characteristics is what you have to search for. In the current market, there are many different fragrance combinations to sample, so it can be tasking to find the right one.
Also, each fragrance is determined by the occasion you wish to use it for, time of day, and year. You can go for a citrus scent for spring and summer because they tend to be fresher and lighter in scents. You can also opt for a floral or woody smell in colder months because they tend to be denser and sweeter. Knowing what scent fits you in a given situation or occasion will help you in choosing the right fragrance combination.
Composition
This has to do with the ingredients that make a perfume. The components or composition of perfumes will influence different factors of choice. The unique blend of chemicals and oils will dictate the aroma, the type or intensity of the fragrance, and the longevity of the perfume. You should note that some chemicals might irritate more than others when blended. So you have to know what percentage of the ingredients make the perfume formula.
Health conditions
Your allergic reactions are also important when deciding what type of perfume to use. Some people’s skin reacts to the composition of the perfume more than others and it could lead to some adverse reactions in the body.
If you have a history of skin reactions, it is best you see a dermatologist before buying any perfume. They will advise on the right products you should use and what to avoid. You can also opt for natural products with no artificial or chemical ingredients, which will likely contain fewer irritants than the normal perfume.
Container
The size of the bottle is not as important as the rest but it should be considered as well. For instance, smaller bottles tend to conserve perfumes longer than bigger ones. Also, containers that come with applicators help to better spread the scent than caps.
Summary
A perfume does more than smell nice. It can boost our self-esteem and confidence, and improve our desire. The use of perfumes also helps in shaping the way we perceive the world and the people around us. but the best part o it all is that there are a variety of women’s perfumes to choose from, all ranging in different fragrances. They can also be grouped based on their long-lasting effects.
There are different perfumes on different occasions, times of the year, and situations. That is why they are versatile and are as good as your second skin you can show the world. Now that you know everything you need to know, you can get the best women’s perfume.
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