Fragrance.
An invisible part of your personal style.
The one that has a significant effect on how people perceive you.
Perfumes can:
- · Increase your level of attractiveness.
- · Increase your perceived confidence level.
- · Reduce stress levels.
- · Increase confidence levels.
- · Increase your vigilance.
- · Double your chances of getting a woman's phone number.
Despite all these benefits (links at the end of the article)
- 80% of men do not use perfume regularly!
Why are men reluctant to wear perfume?
Due to lack of basic information, ignorance of different
terminologies and fear of wearing it badly or just smelling bad.
This article is an introduction to the different types of
perfumes - why and… especially how you should select and regularly use a
cologne that complements your natural body odor.
What Are Fragrances?
Perfumes are complex mixtures of what people in the industry
call raw materials. These raw materials can be extracts from natural sources or
synthetic raw materials.
The oils are dissolved in a solvent (usually alcohol), to
keep a pleasant concoction of perfumes. The higher the concentration of oils,
the greater the strength of the fragrance. The strength determines the duration
of an application of the perfume on your skin.
What Is The Difference Between Fragrance, Perfume, Toilette And Cologne?
Perfume is a unisex umbrella term used for perfume. Perfumes come in many forms and are called different names, but generally fall into these categories:
- Eau Fraiche - The more diluted version of perfume, usually with 1% - 3% perfume oil in alcohol and water. Usually lasts less than an hour.
- Cologne (Eau de Cologne) - The oldest term for perfume, used in North America for men's fragrances. Light, fresh and fruity, typically made from 2% to 4% fragrance oils in alcohol and water. Tend to be used in perfumes for young people. Usually lasts about 2 hours.
- Toilette (Eau de Toilette) - A lightweight spray composition with 5% - 15% pure perfume essence dissolved in alcohol. Usually lasts about 3 hours.
- Perfume (Eau de Parfum) - Historically genderless, used to describe male and female perfumes. The best term used to describe a perfume. Contains 15% to 20% pure perfume essence and lasts approximately 5 to 8 hours.
- Perfume - A corruption of the Latin phrase per fumum (by smoke). The most concentrated and expensive perfumes. Slightly fatter, the perfume or fragrance is composed of 20% to 30% pure perfume essence. A single application of perfume can last up to 24 hours.
The Life Cycle Of Fragrances
Perfumes have three timed sections - a dot life cycle - think of an evaporating pyramid.
Each of the three sections contains individual scents or
"notes," which are belted together in what you end up smelling.
These are the individual building blocks of perfume. There are
three different types of notes that make up a scent: top, middle and base
notes.
Top Note - The top or
base note is the initial, lighter scent of the fragrance that hits the nose
first. The top note lasts about 15 minutes - 2 hours.
Typical top and middle notes are various floral scents,
fruity scents, marine / aquatic notes and spices such as cinnamon. Examples of
these notes include citrus, powdery scents, and light florals.
Middle note - also called heart or heart notes - highlights
the main elements of the perfume. These notes develop after the top note wears
off - around 30 minutes and can last 3 to 5 hours after being sprayed.
The middle notes most often include heavier floral scents.
The middle and base notes are the additional layers of scents that give the
scent its distinctive scent.
Base Note - The last to develop and helps set the scent on
the skin. This is where you will feel the bolder notes of the scent, which
become more noticeable when the scent has been on the skin for a while. The
base notes lay the foundation for the scent and will determine how long the
scent lasts on your skin. Base notes tend to last 5-10 hours. Typical base
notes are sandalwood, vetiver, vanilla, tar, leather, smoke, tobacco and musk
As the notes dry, the scent will change, allowing the scents
to evolve and be more interesting. As a rule, the mark of a poor quality
perfume is that it remains monotonous throughout its life.
Linear vs Non Linear Fragrances
Not all scents change and pass through all three layers of
notes over time. These linear scents tend to smell the same on you from the
initial spray until you wash it off. Nonlinear scents change their scent after
interacting with your skin.
Both have their goals.
You may want a clean head scent all day at work instead of a
scent that turns musky after a few hours of application. On a first date, you
might want the opposite effect - a pleasant citrus scent that turns into a
velvety vanilla lavender.
The Two Types Of Fragrances – Designer Or Niche
A niche perfume is made from more expensive / higher quality
ingredients. These are the fragrances created by artists in the industry,
designed for a more selective customer who wants to wear something distinctly
bold or unique. Niche perfumes do not have the universal appeal of a designer
perfume. They appeal most to fragrance lovers who want to push the boundaries
of acceptable scents. These scents typically cost over $ 250.
Pricing - The Perfume Economy
More money doesn't necessarily mean better colognes or
better scents. Some of the most popular perfumes of the past were relatively
inexpensive formulas. It is possible to mix up expensive raw materials and end
up with an expensive mess.
Usually, the amount of concentrate a perfume contains will
affect its price.
Big brands create both scientific and marketing scents. They
have a familiar feel to all of their scents. Ralph Lauren perfumes, for
example, are made to have a family of familiar scents. If you've been wearing
one for years, the brand new Polo fragrance should feel right at home, even if
it's not the same scent you're used to.
Often what you end up paying is the marketing cost and image
associated with a brand and not necessarily the cost of the raw materials that
make up the perfume.
When you decide to buy a new perfume, let your nose decide!
The strength of a Cologne
The strength of the cologne determines how far the perfume
travels. A stronger cologne is projected further and can be smelled several
steps away, while a softer one is only noticeable to someone in a close
embrace.
In the case of perfumes - strong is not necessarily better
than sweet. Everything that is noticeable a few steps away is overdone. Use
discretion when applying a strong scent. With strong blends, only a little
touch is enough.
High quality vs. Low quality cologne
What are the key factors in determining if a perfume is of
good quality?
Longevity, uniqueness of smell and projection are important
for obvious reasons - if people are unable to smell and appreciate your scent,
what's the point in wearing one?
Winter scents generally last longer than summer scents. The
lighter aquatic / citrus notes of a summer scent tend to evaporate within 4-5
hours of application. A good summer scent should last 5-7 hours.
Winter scents have more intense base notes which tend to
last much longer. Expect a good winter scent to last at least 10 hours.
When looking to buy a perfume, spray it on your wrist and
wear it for a day to observe the transitional nature and longevity of the
scent. Avoid spraying on paper as this will only reveal the top notes and is a
bad indicator of how the notes of the perfume will blend with the oils in your
body.
How To Select And Buy The Right Perfume
Scientific studies suggest that an individual can choose the
scent that works best with their natural body odor. Don't let others choose for
you, instead let them reinforce your judgment.
Don't try a blind buy - buy a perfume on someone else's
recommendation.
You need to test whether the scent complements your natural
body odor. Department stores are a handy place to test out different samples,
just make sure you don't buy until you're ready. You shouldn't try more than
four scents at a time (two is ideal).
How to test fragrances:
Spray one on each wrist and inner elbow.
In between scent of cologne, refresh your palate with
something strong, like coffee beans (usually provided).
Smell all the notes. Avoid using the paper strips provided
to test the scent. The initial smell of the top note is not necessarily the one
that lasts the rest of the day.
After spraying the perfume on your wrists, walk around the
department store and smell the colognes at various intervals up to an hour.
What are the different sizes available?
Perfumes are available in different bottle sizes, typically
ranging from 1 oz. at 3.4 ounces.
I recommend smaller bottles for men who are trying perfumes
for the first time - simply because it's cheaper. You don't know how often you
will wear it yet. It is likely that your tastes will change after experimenting
with other colognes.
The uniqueness of a scent is often overlooked by most men.
Different scents convey different vibrations, and knowing
these vibrations and choosing accordingly matters. Additionally, people associate
perfumes with souvenirs and other people (especially women). If you wear
mundane or common scents, you'll smell like everyone else.
Your clothes are an outward expression of how you see
yourself. The same goes for perfumes.
Rules For Perfume Application
Spray perfume on dry skin, preferably right after showering.
Hold the spray nozzle 3 to 6 inches from your skin and focus on these rules for
applying the scent:
- Pulse Points - Your body heat will propel the scent throughout the day, creating a beautiful trail of scent commonly known as a wake. Start with the warm parts of your body - chest, neck, lower jaw, wrist, forearm, inner elbow, shoulder.
- Re-spray only when needed - You can add more sprays to your wrists or remove sprays depending on how long the scent lasts.
- Don't kill the note - Rubbing perfume on your skin seems like a smart thing to do. It actually breaks the molecular bond, making the scent weaker.
- Don't Spray and Walk - Spraying a perfume in the air and walking in the mist is worthless. Most perfumes fall directly on the floor.
- Do not spray perfume on your clothes - Perfume is not allowed to mix with your oils and therefore cannot go through the note stages naturally as it should. The oils in a perfume will stain many fabrics.
- Don't Splash Too Much - If you are applying cologne from a regular bottle, take a finger and press it against the opening of your bottle, then gently rock it.
- Less Is More - "The perfume must be discovered, not announced". People need to be close to smell the scent, but not be overwhelmed by it.
The average lifespan of the perfume
The average shelf life of a perfume bottle is 3 to 5 years
from the date of manufacture.
It is virtually impossible to specify the exact number of
applications from a perfume bottle. You can roughly expect the following shelf
life from your perfume bottle:
One 100ml dispenses 1000-1500 sprays and should last 14-16
months.
The average number of sprays in a 50ml bottle is 735, which
should last 7-8 months.
Extend the life of your perfume by storing it in cool, dark
and dry environments, such as your bedroom. Rapid heat fluctuations (like in a
bathroom) will cause the molecules of a scent to break down. Sunlight also does
the same. Make sure the bottle cap is securely attached to prevent the
fragrance from evaporating.
Smell is our strongest sense. It is linked to our memory -
we make a deep connection with emotion. Our reaction to fragrances is quick and
strong although our understanding is in its infancy at this time.
Women love to be with guys who smell good.
Wearing perfume is a distinctive way of expressing
yourself. Depending on the scent you choose, wearing a scent can make you more
attractive and accessible.
Once you've found scents that you feel comfortable with and
enjoy scents that complement your natural scent, you'll take the next level of
perfume buying - choosing them just because you like the smell they smell.
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