Perfume is more than a scent – it’s a mood, an attitude and a feeling. It can be used to convey confidence, power, love, peace, happiness, awe or sensuality – all of which are evoked in different ways by different people. It can also have an aphrodisiac effect, which is why it’s often considered the ultimate seduction tool. This is partly why perfumes are so powerful and have been worn for centuries.
The Ancient Greeks were the first to discover liquid perfume. It wasn’t until the seventeenth century that distillation was developed that the process became commercially viable. The ancient Romans and Arabs then refined the art of perfume.
Fragrance is a complex mix of alcohol, essential oils and chemicals that react to your skin. Perfumes come in a variety of forms, including perfume sprays, roll-ons and solid colognes. When spritzed on the body they’re quickly absorbed through the pores and evaporate from the skin, leaving behind a subtle trail of fragrance. This is called sillage. Some perfumes are very intense and linger longer than others. For this reason it’s important to find a perfume that works well with your body chemistry, so that the base notes last longer and the top notes don’t evaporate too fast. Your skin’s temperature and oiliness will also affect how long a perfume lasts. For this reason it’s best to apply your perfume to the softer skin areas of your body, such as the wrists, base of the neck, earlobes and the hairline.
In a recent study by Herz, fragrance preferences were found to be linked to personal and social situations. For example, women would select a more masculine, woody fragrance for a job interview or a more floral fragrance for a romantic rendezvous. Mood was another factor that affected perfume choice, with women selecting fragrances that they felt reflected their personality or situation at the time of choosing it.
Perfumes can be bought in small bottles, which are perfect to carry in your purse or bag so that you can freshen up throughout the day. This will ensure that your smell always smells good and you don’t lose any of the impact of your fragrance.
It is also important to consider where you’ll be wearing your perfume, as this can influence how much it lingers on your body and the intensity of the scent. For instance, if you’re going to be indoors, it’s best not to wear a very strong perfume as it can cause headaches. In contrast, if you’re going to be out in the sun and enjoying some fresh air, then you can afford to be a little more generous with your application. In addition, a light scent will dry quicker than a stronger one. This is because water evaporates more quickly than alcohol, which leaves the scent on your skin. Having said that, don’t be afraid to experiment with your scents and layer them together! You might be surprised at how good you can look and feel in a fragrance that suits you.