Fragrances Explained

Origins of fragrances

The first known uses of fragrances come from ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Romans and Greeks all used fragrances to varying degrees. Local flowers, fruits, and aromatic woods were combined with oils to create this ancient form of perfume. They were used largely for ceremonies, by society’s elites and rules, as well as in public bathhouses.

After the decline of the Roman Empire and spread of Christianity, the usage of perfumes fell out of practice in Europe. The people of India and China, however, continued to use them in daily items, the home, and places of worship.

The crusades during the 11th century marked the beginning of the return of fragrances to Europe as Crusaders brought back materials and techniques from their time in the Middle East. The Italians are thought to have been the first Europeans to truly perfect the perfume-making process and liquid fragrances began to replace solid or oil based ones. It was around this time that the upper class began incorporating fragrances into their fashion to mark their social status.

France was next to take the popularity of perfumes to the next level. The court of Louis XV (15th) was even called “the perfumed court” because of how much fragrance was used by members on skin, clothing, and furniture.

Scientific advancements during the 18th and 19th centuries led to a larger industry and the emergence of fragrance houses in Europe.

Even though fragrances are made for mass market appeal today, there is a steady resurgence in perfume artisans crafting niche fragrances.

What are the different types of fragrances?

There are actually several different types of fragrances available to both men and women that you should be aware of.

Parfum — this is the longest lasting fragrance available as it has the highest concentration of perfume oils (15–40%). Parfum fragrances tend to be thick and last all day long.

Eau de Parfum — (means water of perfume) the perfume oil concentration is 15–20%. It is suitable for all day, every day wear, and has a low enough alcohol content to be safe for those with sensitive skin. This is how most successful fragrances start before other fragrance types are made available for purchase.

Eau de Toilette — this is the most popular form of daytime fragrance with a concentration of 5–15%. It is said that Eau de Toilettes are better used for daytime wear while Eau de Parfum should be used for the evenings and late nights. Fun fact, the term “Eau de Toilette” came from the French term “faire sa toilette” which means “getting ready”.

Eau de Cologne — while cologne is the umbrella term for male fragrances, this variation is actually used to describe a very light concentration of perfume oils (2–4%). This only lasts for a few hours, so a more generous application is needed unless you are just freshening up.

Eau Fraiche — this is the weakest fragrance with a similar concentration to Eau de Cologne, however contains less alcohol and more water.

What are the different fragrance notes?

There are three main layers to a fragrance.The three are top notes, heart notes, and base notes. The higher a note the higher the volatility, or how quickly they evaporate.

Top notes last around 5 to 15 minutes. Popular scents include citrus such as lemon, orange, bergamot, and floral like lavender, rose, and basil.

Heart notes are the intermediary between top notes and base notes. They can make up to 70% of the total scent and so last longer than top notes or about 20 to 60 min. Popular scents here include jasmine, geranium, cinnamon, pepper, lemon grass, and cardamom.

Base notes are the fragrance’s foundation. They generally begin to appear about 30 min after application and are heavier which means they sink more into the skin and last longer, about 6 hours or even more. Popular base note scents include vanilla, amber, musk, patchouli, sandalwood, and cedarwood.

The most common fragrance note categories include fresh, floral, spice, fruits, woods, and musk.

Fragrances will also smell slightly different on every unique wearer as they interact with the person’s skin and natural body oils and scents.

How to apply fragrances

While knowing what type of fragrance is extremely important, so too is knowing how to properly apply.

• Spray on dry skin, preferably a few minutes after a shower so your open pores can more easily absorb the fragrance.
• Hold the bottle about 3–6 inches away from your skin when applying.
• Apply lightly at first if you are trying a fragrance for the first time.
• Apply to heat areas which include the chest, neck, lower jaw, wrist, forearm, inner elbow, and shoulder. Do not apply to these areas all at once, but only as needed to create an adequate sillage (scent trail).
• Re-apply only when required, such as during the middle of the day.
• Do not crush the notes by rubbing your wrists together as it actually makes the scent weaker.
• Do not waste by doing the “spray and walk”. Most of the fragrance will not have chance to interact with your body this way.
• Do not spray directly onto clothing as it is your body skin, scent, and heat that helps trigger the different layers of notes of the fragrance. This could also lead to stained clothing.
• Remember that less is more.
• The best way to keep your fragrances in good condition is to store them in a cool and dry place away from the sun or other forms of light.