Today, the fragrance industry is doing much better than ever before. With manscaping trends at their height and women looking to maintain their charm for as long as possible, perfumes are currently considered a necessity and not just a luxury.
Also, they areperceived to be an essential part of good hygiene.Even those that are not die-hard fans of scents will probably shop for a stellar fragrance right before a date. It is safe to say that smelling great can increase your chances of attracting a potential mate.
Research backs up the fact that scents can evoke fond memories and lift your moods. At the very least, a quality perfume or cologne will make you smell good.
How can you tell which smell is a perfect fit for you?
Let’s get down to the basics and look at the concentration levels of different perfumes. You will learn how to pick the best perfume and also how to decipher fragrance notes.
Fragrance Concentration Levels
There are numerous scent categories to choose from, and some of the most common include woody, floral, oriental, gourmand, and aquatic. Identifying the scent category your nose gravitates towards and what this says about your personality is great.
However, it is equally crucial to understand fragrance concentration levels. Here are the basic terms you should know.
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Parfum
Any bottle labeled Parfum will have a 20-30% fragrance. In layman terms, such products have the highest concentration levels of perfume extract. They happen to be the most expensive, and just a small dab can last for a whole 24 hours.
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Eau de Parfum
If a product is labeled Eau de Parfum, it contains 15-20% fragrance. This is the most common fragrance concentration level that describes a decent number of men’s and women’s products in the current markets.
Needless to say, this is highly likely what you will be purchasing. Products with this label last for 5-8 hours.
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Eau de Toilette
If you are looking for more of a light spray, then this is the best choice for you. Eau de Toilette products contain 5-15% perfume extract that is dissolved in alcohol. Such products are cost-effective and only last for a few hours.
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Eau de Cologne
Products labeled as Eau de Cologne have 2-5% perfume extract. While these concentration levels may appear low, the products are a real appeal to a decent number of men and women. Manufacturers make crazy sales by providing cheaper, diluted versions of exciting fragrances that are more expensive.
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Eau Fraiche
It is not common to find products labeled Eau Fraiche in the market. After all, they are not in high demand because they are more or less scented water. All the same, they make excellent gifts for kids and people with scent allergies.
Knowing Your Notes
A bottle of perfume is bound to contain more than one smell. It is typical for a fragrance to evolve, although some products change more than others. For this reason, it is not enough to merely spritz a bottle on your wrist, smell it, and purchase.
It is not practical to judge a perfume by its first impression. Each bottle has three notes that evolve as the hours go by.
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Top Note
When you apply a product on your wrist, the top note is what you will smell. This scent disappears within an hour or less, and it contains lighter ingredients. Typically, the top note may have a floral scent like lavender, a citrus one like bergamot, or an aromatic fragrance like anise.
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Middle Note
Once the top note clears, the middle note kicks in and lingers for 3-5 hours, depending on the concentration levels of a product. This is also referred to as the heart note because it symbolizes the central theme of a specific fragrance.
In this case, the ingredients are heaver. It may contain spicy scents like cinnamon, greens such as grass, and floral scents like jasmine.
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Base Note
This is the scent that develops last. It also happens to be the smell that clings to the skin for an extended period, typically 5-10 hours. Base notes are composed of rich ingredients. They may have a tobacco, musk, vetiver, or sandalwood smell.
Perfumes are ingeniously designed to be pleasant right from the start. In any case, you may find a heavy base scent to be unpleasant if you smelled it before it softens. Fortunately, there is the top note and the middle note that linger for a while, allowing the base note to soften effectively.
The Givenchy Play Intense, for instance, contains top notes like pink peppercorn, orange blossom, and white peach. It then unfolds to an exciting combination of Amyris, Magnolia, Tiare flower, and Orchid.
Also, the base notes are a bit heavy, and they consist of tonka bean, benzoin, patchouli, and sandalwood scents.
When these three notes interwork, the outcome is glorious. Wearing the scent will help you to tell a bold and seductive story about yourself. Click here to find out more about this and other cologne spray.
What Is the Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Perfumes?
Let’s face it; not everyone can afford spending over $300 on a bottle of designer perfume. Now that we are on the same page, we can talk about some pressing questions that most people are too shy to ask. First, are there any tricks to smell expensive? Second, are you paying extra for a pretty bottle and an overrated brand name?
Here’s the deal, if you want a fragrance that lasts longer, you need to dig a little deeper into your wallet. The majority of cheaper products may have a great scent, although they merely replicate the top notes of pricier scents.
In short, a cheap product with a great top note may smell different after a few hours. At the very least, the scent will not last for more than a few hours.
There is more to good perfume than just its scent category, fragrance concentration notes, and price. Sometimes, the right product evokes priceless memories. This is something all the wealth in the world cannot buy.
Final Words
This foolproof guide has all the essential information you need to pick the best perfume that matches your personality and unique style.
The bottom line is that a good product will have several notes, and each note will make way for the next one.These notes will complement each other and ultimately create a cohesive narrative about howunique individual you are.
