Let's talk about perfume - Stylish Cocktails

The perfume is part of us, it is pure desire, a potential carrier of imagination. Coco Chanel said that “No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.” It defines the feminine identity, harmoniously complementing a woman’s personality. Whether it is strong or delicate, perfume is an extremely subjective matter. It is the ultimate accessory, it represents the final touch of a woman’s style.

You need to choose your perfume according to your personality, the strong feelings or sensations you have.

When choosing your perfume, it should let you be guided by intuition, and not choose a perfume just because it is fashionable, or promoted by a certain celebrity. Also, the choice of a perfume should always come from a very rigorous self-critical examination. It is extremely important to find a flavor that is in perfect harmony with you, who you are and who you want to be. A correctly chosen perfume will always be a form of freedom, it will give you courage and confidence. A perfume is like a statement, a statement that captures the essence of your charm and sensuality.

EDC, EDT, EDP & perfume – what’s the difference?

You’ve probably come across the above-mentioned names on the perfume bottle, but you may not know exactly what they mean. The difference is quite simple and consists in the concentration of perfume oil and implicitly in persistence. Below you will find the concentration of perfume oil that can be found in each variant:

Eau de cologne: 2-5%
Eau de toilette: 6-12%
Fragrance water: 12-15%
Fragrance: ≥16%

Olfactory families:

floral
Oriental
fresh
sweet
vanilla
fruits
woody
musk
spicy

Olfactory pyramid – top, middle and base notes

The fragrance contains individual components divided into 3 parts: top, middle and base (or top, middle and low notes). The olfactory pyramid, also known as the 3-stage pyramid, describes the basic information about arranging the notes in the composition of the perfume, as well as about their gradual release.

The top, middle and base will form a whole that harmonizes perfectly, the individual parts complement each other and intertwine smoothly. Keep in mind that after applying to the skin, the scent of the perfume will change during the day, due to the gradual release of the notes.

Top notes (start notes): this is the first flavor that is felt from the moment of application. These exterior tones create the first impression of a fragrance that catches your eye. Therefore, perfume manufacturers place a special emphasis on top notes. The light molecules of the substances in the top notes evaporate very quickly and can no longer be felt in 15 minutes. Top notes therefore use the most volatile oils such as citrus, fruit or light floral.

The middle notes (middle notes): are felt after the top notes have disappeared and persist for up to 4 hours. These notes come from heavier oils, which are released slowly and make up the bulk of the mixture. The middle notes therefore represent the heart of the perfume and denote its character. Among the oils that form the base notes we mention: fatty florals, (lavender, white flowers such as jasmine / tuberosa / gardenia, rose, spices (seeds, herbs, barks, lighter woods, sweet notes, leaves and rhizomes smelling from violet to iris root.

The base notes (low notes): represent the base of the olfactory pyramid, it gives the perfume depth and resistance, having a role in fixing the aroma, slowing down the evaporation process of the notes easier. The ingredients used are selected in such a way as to be in harmony with the components of the perfume. The most used aromatic ingredients that appear in the base of the perfume are resin, vanilla, musk, amber, sandalwood and cedar wood. Some perfumes use so-called fixatives, which can double the life of the perfume.

There are also perfumes with a so-called linear composition. Their scent remains the same after application on the skin and does not change over time.

It is interesting that the smell of the same perfume differs when applied from one person to another. This is because each person has their own specific smell, which depends on their skin properties, diet and lifestyle. That’s why buying a perfume is a very personal thing.

How to choose your perfume?

The perfume must be sublime, but discreet, in the application of the perfume using the principle – less is always more. An elegant woman knows that it is preferable to use eau de toilette or cologne during the day, so as not to disturb those around her. The perfume will be used only for special occasions.

Last but not least, you have to know that the perfume will be chosen depending on the season. On hot summer days you will be able to opt for perfumes with fresh, citrus or floral scents, as well as their derivatives. In the cold season you can choose a perfume with oriental notes, but this rule is not necessarily a must. Your choice should depend on your taste and lifestyle.

How to apply perfume?

It is preferable to apply the perfume on areas where the skin is heavily vascularized, such as the neck or wrists, where the skin is warmer, to make it easier for the perfume to develop fully. You can apply the perfume on the hair, spraying over the head, or on the hair brush. Of course, the places where you apply perfume depend on your personal preferences.

It is not recommended to apply perfume on clothes made of natural materials and furs, on white clothes, or clothing made of thin material such as natural silk.

How to take care of the perfume

Improper storage of the perfume can change its odor or even fade it. If the perfume is carefully stored, it will not change its properties after opening and will last for several years. How do we store a perfume correctly?

keep the perfume away from a direct source of heat – the darker the storage space, the better the scent will hold.
do not keep the perfume in the heat – the heat can break down the chemical bonds in the composition. It is preferable to store the fragrance at temperatures below 20 ° C.
avoid humid conditions – excessive moisture can also break down the ingredients in the perfume. It is therefore not advisable to store the perfume in the bathroom, because steam is formed when you take a shower. Storage in the bathroom is only acceptable if there is a completely steam-free cabinet. In fact, it is safest to keep the perfume in the room.