Perfume 101: How They Are Created and Why You Should Use Them

A scent holds the power to awaken deep-seated emotions and ignite passions with just a spritz or two. It wraps around you like an extension of your energy and personality, leaving an indelible impression on those around you. The above reasons demand you put in considerable time and effort to find your perfect match, a perfume which tells your story even before you enter a room. And to help streamline your efforts to find your signature perfume, we are here with an exhaustive guide – perfume 101, if you will.

We take you through the creation process of perfumes and the many benefits they bestow upon us. Towards the end of the article, we help you with tips and tricks that enhance your signature scent and make it last longer. But before that, let’s understand the different concentration levels, perfume families, and notes.

• How Are Perfumes Created?

The formulation of perfumes is a complex and elaborate process that involves oil extraction, infusion, aging, and review. In this blog, we delve into the scent-creation process to help you better understand fragrances. Perfumes are created by using a natural oil in the mix. These

oils are derived from a litany of botanicals, fruits, and wood. In many other instances, manufacturers use a synthesized component to mimic the scents that don’t exist in nature.

• What Are the Benefits of Perfume?

1. Alleviates Stress: Spritzing a pleasant scent takes all your stress away. It leaves a soothing effect on the mind and body instantly.
2. Elevates Mood: An ambrosial scent, lingering all day long, keeps your spirits high.
3. Extension of Personality: Scent is one of the easiest ways to channel your mood! Whether you’re feeling playful or a tad somber, the right fragrance can help you put forth this energy for everyone you come in contact with.
4. Makes You Attractive: Since the world perceives an individual with the aid of all five senses, spritzing a captivating scent will make you instantly attractive. Additionally, the right fragrance can help you come into your own and exude immense confidence.

• How to Pick a Perfume

While the selection process is unique to every individual, here are some key pointers to bear in mind when looking for your perfect perfume.

1. Concentration: There are two broad categories of perfume concentration in the market – EDP and EDT. EDP, an acronym for Eau De Parfum, carries a whopping oil concentration of 15 to 20%. These formulations last longer than their counterpart, EDT, which boasts a fragrance percentage of 5 to 10%.
2. Pick a Scent Family: The universal wheel of fragrance families houses the following categories: woody, floral, fresh and oriental. To grab a fragrance best suited to your personality, an infallible knowledge of the above four is indispensable.
3. Learn about the Notes: All perfume formulations carry three notes – top, middle or heart, and base. The top note (floral in nature, like lavender, rose, etc.) is light and quick to dissipate. It provides the first feel of the formulation to you (and those around you). The heart note, as the name suggests, is the essence of your signature! It forms a considerable 50–60% of the scent. Adding a layer of nuance to your perfume (and your aura) is the base note, often bearing woody undertones.
4. Test and Try: If you are buying a perfume, it’s advisable to sample it in person first. A single perfume formulation interacts differently with distinct skins, resulting in a handful of variations of the placeholder. Experiencing the scent >>> theoretical knowledge (unless, of course, it’s from a trusted source).

• How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer

If you’re splurging money on a luxuriant perfume, follow these steps to help your scent last longer.

1. Apply Post Shower: Cold water opens your pores and lets the perfume infuse into the skin. This is why we recommend spraying your perfume post-shower.
2. Moisturising Helps: According to experts, moisturised skin exhibits greater scent-holding capacities compared to dry skin. So, ensure to moisturise diligently and spritz your skin (not the clothes).
3. Spray on the Pulse Points: To enhance your scent and make it more consistent, spray it on pulse points like the back of the knees, nape, and right behind your ears (among other areas). According to experts, applying a touch of Vaseline beforehand helps put a lock on the scent for a longer time.
4. Spray it in Your Tresses: Spray your signature scent on the bristles of a comb and run it along your hair. Alternatively, you can spray it on your fingertips and run it through your hair.
5. Let it Sit Raw: Contrary to popular belief, rubbing your fragrance on the wrist is futile and counterproductive. Let the scent sit raw on the wrists!

• The Right Way to Wear Perfume

Buy perfume online that has a formulation that sits in a bottle with a nozzle on the brim – keep it 5 to 8 inches away from your body and spritz. Alternatively, you may dab it on the pulse points (as discussed earlier). However, don’t commit the rookie mistake of rubbing it vigorously into your skin. Let it sit raw. If you want to avoid the stress of reapplication, use Vaseline on the pulse point before introducing the scent. Remember, consistency is core for weaving a sensorial experience with your perfume. This is why we recommend applying a little formulation on your hair locks. Just spritz on a hair comb and brush it through the length of your hair for the best results.