How to Make Sense of Fragrances

Sometimes it can be confusing maneuvering through fragrance types. What does EDT and EDP mean anyway? Here are some basics of how to make sense of fragrances.

Fragrance Groupings

Fragrances are grouped into four categories, based upon the essential oil concentration (fragrance oil). The higher percentage of the essence, the longer the fragrance lasts.

• Body Mists and After Shave have 3% essential oil concentration so the fragrance does not last very long, perhaps 30 – 60 minutes.
• Eau de Cologne contains 5% – 9% essences of oil and will last a couple hours.
• Eau de Toilette (EDT) has 10% – 14% of the oil concentration and lasts several hours, 4 – 6.
• Eau de Parfum (EDP) carry 15% – 18% concentration of oil and lasts several hours, about 8.

Fragrance Notes

You may have heard the terms TOP/HEAD, HEART/BODY, and BASE/BOTTOM notes. These refer to breakdown of the fragrance. Here’s what that looks like:

• Top or Head Note: this is the initial scent of the fragrance; pleasant but gone instantly. Think of it as blowing bubbles. Fun but disappears quickly. These notes are typically Citric, Herbal, Aldehydic, Greens, Marine, or Fruity.
• Heart or Body Note: this lasts quite a while. Just like a beach ball is larger and around longer than bubbles. The heart note can be Floral, Spicy, Woody, or Leather.
• Base or Bottom Note: this is the power source of your fragrance and lasts a long time. Consider the Pilates ball that is larger and heavier than bubbles and beach balls. These can be Animalistic (Synthetic, we NEVER have nor NEVER will do animal testing.), Musk, Amber, or Sweet/Powdery.

Linger Your Fragrance

Some people think that fragrances do not last on them. The reality is the scent lingers on them but they have become desensitized to it. Consider this: if you are baking a cake, at some point you no longer notice the scent. However, when someone new enters the home or room, they smell it right away. It’s the same with your fragrances. You no longer can smell it but if you hug someone, they will. However, here are tips to keep your fragrance going:

• Hydrate your skin with lotion or oil prior. Fragrances hold longer on moist skin than dry.
• Apply fragrance to pulse points.
• Brush your hair with a brush sprayed with your fragrance.
• Store the fragrance in a dry, dark place where it isn’t exposed to UV rays.
• Limit foods with strong scents.

Have fun building your fragrance wardrobe. They are great for changing your disposition. The scents will make sense the more you wear them.